Beautiful BelsnickleAuthentic Bed & Breakfasts are hosting the Lancaster Belsnickle Tour.  So, I’m hearing you say – what’s a Belsnickle?  According to Wikipedia:

The Belsnickle character originated in the Rhineland. When people immigrated to Pennsylvania, they brought their German traditions with them.  Belsnickle was known in Pennsylvania in the early 1800s.  Amongst the Pennsylvania Germans, Belsnickle is the character who visits homes prior to Christmas to check up on the behavior of the children. The traditional Belsnickle showed up at houses 1–2 weeks before Christmas and often created fright because he always knew exactly which of the children misbehaved.  He would rap on the door or window with his stick and often the children would have to answer a question for him or sing some type of song. In exchange he would toss candies onto the floor. If the children jumped too quick for the treats, they may end up getting struck with Belsnickle’s switch.

Frosty Santa - Carriage Corner Belsnickle TourAuthentic Bed & Breakfasts of Lancaster County have figured out a way to make Belsnikle fun – for the third year in a row, Authenic is hosting the Belsnickle Tour – where you have a chance to visit our homes prior to Christmas.  This year, the Belsnickle Tour happens on December 2 and 3rd, 2017 and 19 bed and breakfasts are opening their doors for you to take a peak.  Each one will be decked out in their holiday finery and have a Christmas cookie available for you to sample as well as the recipe to collect.

Jay and I attended the Belsnickle Tour last year.  We managed to visit 9 of the participating bed and breakfasts on the only day we had available.  We had a great time!  The cookies were amazing and the houses – wow!  I loved being able to peak into all of them.  Most of them will allow you to look into guest rooms provided they are not occupied. Holly Jolly Santa - Carriage Corner Belsnickle Tour

Because we had such a fun time touring the houses last year, we have decided to put Carriage Corner on the tour this year.  We have been making Christmas decorations for a few months now and purchasing decor at the mud sales and local shops.  We have decided to offer 2 complimentary tickets to guests who book 2 nights during the tour.  We have 1 room available for Friday & Saturday and 2 rooms where you could come in on Thursday and leave on Saturday.  Saturday evening, we plan to have a little evening event with cocoa and homemade marshmallows.  We hope you can make it.

Even if you aren’t able to stay at Carriage Corner – we do hope you’ll check out one of the other Authentic Bed & Breakfasts and book your stay.  Or just purchase your Belsnickle Tour Tickets – proceeds go to Make-A-Wish.  Along with the tour tickets, you get an admission ticket for the National Christmas Center – if you haven’t had a chance to visit this treasure, you’ll want to do so this year as we’ve learned it will be closing the doors for good in January 2018.  You don’t want to miss this!

We look forward to meeting you and showing your around Carriage Corner!  Happy Holidays.