HAMPSTEAD, N.H. — A holiday candle beamed from every front window of Margie Gove's historic Main Street house Wednesday. But there's much more decorating to come before Gove and her husband, Wayne, open their door Dec. 6 to visitors on the Hampstead Holiday House Tour.
"I have eight bins to go through," she said. "I usually start the day after Thanksgiving."
The Goves' house, which is the oldest in town, is one of six on this year's tour, where guests can explore holidays past and present, according to Jacqueline Dimando, the tour organizer.
The Goves' 1735 house has been on the tour three times before, but this year, the decorations will be a bit different. Gove plans a tribute to children's author Tasha Tudor, who died earlier this year. Tudor emulated the lives of people in the 1820s and that fits with the theme of past holidays, Gove said.
The tour benefits the Friends of Hampstead Library, who run summer reading programs and other events to supplement the public library's regular offerings, Dimando said. The ticket includes refreshments at Hadley House on Main Street.
"It's a really nice tradition, and I'm glad we can offer it again," she said.
For the first time in the Hampstead House Tour's 20-year tradition, visitors will have a chance to sample potato pancake latkes and play a children's game with a dreidel at a Hanukkah party at Sarah Sandler's house.
"We're doing this because the library's a very good cause," she said. "And also, a lot of people may not have had the opportunity to understand this holiday. We're showing people, so it's not as much of a mystery."
Hanukkah celebrates the rededication of the temple in Jerusalem after the Maccabees' victory when there was only enough oil to light the eternal flame at the altar for one day. Miraculously, the oil lasted eight days, long enough to keep the eternal flame burning.
"My kids will light candles and sing prayers. And I'll serve potato latkes hot off the griddle. The latkes are very symbolic," Sandler said, "because they're cooked in oil. It's really about being with family, having a nice hot meal together and games to play. It's a very homey kind of holiday."
If you go
What: Holiday House Tour
When: Noon to 5 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 6
Where: Six homes in Hampstead
Price: $12 for advance tickets at the library or at Hampstead public schools; $15 for tickets the day of the tour
Information: 329-5422
