THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, June 28, 1995 TAG: 9506270131
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 13 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JOAN C. STANUS, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 73 lines
Fireflies danced among the dusty shadows as summer's longest day slowly shifted into night.
From under a towering 200-year-old magnolia tree, flush with fragrant blooms, came the melodic sounds of bagpipes, a tap drum and hammer dulcimer, and the singing of ancient folk tunes.
Inside the historic Adam Thoroughgood House, decorated with freshly cut herbs and roses, 10-year-old Amanda Pacenza combed her hair while standing in front of a mirror and eating an apple, so she could ``see'' into the future and discover the face of her future husband.
In the backyard garden, amid candle-lit lanterns, 3-year-old Gabrielle Scanio of Virginia Beach played with a wooden Jacob's Ladder, similar to ones crafted in Colonial America.
And at every turn, during this 17th century-style midsummer's night celebration, revelers were looking for fairies.
``This is a mystical, magical night,'' historic interpreter Nancy Baker said. ``The fairies are here, so watch out for them.''
In true Colonial fashion, summer got a festive welcome June 21 at the Thoroughgood House in Virginia Beach, where a special evening celebration was held to commemorate the year's longest day. Some 35 visitors were treated to interpretive tours, folk music by the band Celtica, refreshments and other merriment.
Tales of witches, fairies and fortune-telling kept visitors enthralled as they moved through the house, learning about the myths, customs and superstitions surrounding midsummer's night during the 1600s.
Interpreters told of how young girls would put the herb Saint Johnswort under their pillows each midsummer's night so they would dream of their future husbands. They told of how Colonial Virginians left milk and bread out for the fairies, whom they believed danced among the evening shadows on that magical night. And they told how women would carry roses and nosegays to dispel unpleasant odors.
``They used myths in place of the scientific knowledge we have today,'' explained Marilyn Sinkez, an interpreter and one of the home's floral decorators.
As the modern-day visitors moved throughout the house and into the gardens, they were charged with solving a traditional riddle based on their observations and lessons from the tour.
Outside, under an ivy-covered trellis, interpreter Sandra Canipe teased 7-year-old Nicholas Pacenza of Chesapeake with a clue.
``When is fire wet?'' she asked while fanning candles floating in a makeshift pond.
Suddenly, Nicholas made the connection.
``Yes, that's right,'' Canipe told him. ``Now, can you pick up a candle without dunking it? If so, you'll have good fortune.''
After a few attempts, Nicholas successful grasped a lighted candle. Canipe then invited him to sit down beside her to have his fortune told.
As Canipe told of his bright future, the boy blushed.
``Now, you're ready for the next part of the riddle,'' the interpreter finally told him. ``When is the dragon met?''
Nicholas, his mother, father and sister headed to the gift shop, where they found a festive feast of dragon cake and orange punch and the answer to the riddle's final clue.
``This is really a great way to start the summer,'' said Andrea Burzyk, education specialist for Norfolk's historic homes.
Indeed, the fairies already had begun to work their magic. ILLUSTRATION: Photo by JOAN C. STANUS
The band Celtica, with Beverly Yeskolski on hammer dulcimer and John
Ickes on guitar, performs at the Adam Thoroughgood House in Virginia
Beach.
by CNB