The 18th century home of Gen. William Lenoir will share the spirit of the season when its hosts the annual Colonial Christmas at historic Fort Defiance.

The Colonial Christmas will take place today and Sunday, Dec. 13 from 1-4 p.m. each day at the restored fort, established in 1792 by the Lenoir family.

Executive director Becky Phillips said an 18th century approach has been taken in decorating Fort Defiance for Christmas, though it will be adorned more now than it probably was when the Lenoirs made their living in the Patterson/Happy Valley are along the Yadkin River.

"We've taken a unique and artistic approach to decorating; we probably have more decorations than they would have had during that time period," Phillips said. "People expect to come out and enjoy an old-fashioned Christmas, and that's what we try to give them."

Fort Defiance has been hosting the Colonial Christmas for some 20 years, and people come back year after year to take in the sites, sounds, smells and even tastes.

"We've been doing this for a while, and it's always well-received," Phillips said.

The fort will be decorated with all-natural greenery, most cut from the grounds, and fruits. Phillips said she tries to avoid any artificial decorations if possible. Holly, boxwood, white pine, yellow pine, cedar and magnolia are plentiful on the grounds of Fort Defiance, hence the use of such greenery to adorn the Lenoir home.

While the decorations are enough to take in, the fort also will offer 18th century music as well as some colonial cooking for visitors to sample.

Wassail, a traditional spiced apple cider, will be available for guests, and there will be some traditional meats prepare over an open fire for sampling. Phillips said venison, chicken, goose, duck and ham are among the meats that may be tasted.

The traditional burning of holly will take place Sunday at 4 p.m. Reminiscent of the Yule log, holly burning is a burning away of the year's transgressions, a starting over with the coming of the new year, Phillips explained.

Fort Defiance's Colonial Christmas was featured in the December 2008 edition of Our State Magazine, and Phillips said that copies will be available this weekend for visitors to take a look at while they visit the historic fort.

Admission will be $6 for adults and $4 for children.

Fort Defiance is located on N.C. 268, 5.5 miles off U.S. 321 in the Patterson/Happy Valley area of Caldwell County.