A tradition begins: The story of Biltmore’s first Christmas

Have you ever wondered what it would have been like to be there when George Vanderbilt opened his home to friends and family for the very first time during Christmas 130 years ago?

We invite you to step back in time and experience the magic of Biltmore’s first Christmas in 1895.

While there are no images from the first Christmas, we know from records that the home was elaborately decorated and a towering tree was raised in the Banquet Hall.

Weeks of preparation

Months before the festivities, preparations for Biltmore House’s grand opening were well underway. On October 26, George Vanderbilt officially moved into his new home, signing the first line of the Guest Book.

Deliveries of food, furniture, and art arrived daily, some by private railcar and others by horse-drawn wagon along the newly built estate roads. Inside, workers carried crates through the snow-dusted courtyard as the sounds of hammering, polishing, and unpacking echoed through the halls. Upholsterers adjusted draperies, maids polished marble floors, and gardeners gathered evergreens for garlands and wreaths. By December, the house was alive with anticipation.

Beyond the estate, word of the preparations spread through Asheville. The Des Moines Register reported that “a great many little sewing women in Asheville are the richer at Christmas for the big orders they receive for dozens of simple garments, heaps of knitted things, and scores of children’s frocks meant for the Biltmore celebration.”

Imagine Biltmore House’s main kitchen abuzz with action in preparation for hosting the first Christmas celebration.

The work behind the wonder

Before dawn on December 24, the kitchens were already humming. Fires were lit in dozens of hearths across the grand home, silver was polished to a mirror shine, and the scent of roasting meats and baked puddings filled the air. Head Housekeeper Mrs. Barker oversaw the final preparations with practiced precision, coordinating footmen, maids, and cooks who had only recently arrived from New York.

Outside, estate workers carted loads of perfectly dried firewood that Vanderbilt had specifically requested, “must be perfectly dry, because if the wood sits in the rain, it snaps when it burns.”

Within the Banquet Hall, last touches were placed on the towering spruce tree that reached nearly forty feet toward the vaulted ceiling. Evergreen garlands, mistletoe, and holly berries adorned the mantels, while the newly installed electric lights glowed softly in the greenery.

Downstairs in the servants’ quarters, anticipation was high. The scent of baking bread mixed with coal smoke, and the echo of hurried footsteps filled the corridor. For the hundreds of employees who kept Biltmore running, the day promised its own well-earned celebration.

During the first Christmas, newly hired staff dressed in equally formal attire served multiple courses of fine cuisine for Vanderbilt and his guests.

An evening of celebration

On Christmas Eve, dozens of Vanderbilt family members and friends arrived by private railcar at the base of the hill, where George Vanderbilt greeted them warmly at the Esplanade, eager to share his new home.

That evening, the Banquet Hall came alive with music from the Imperial Trio and the sparkle of candlelight reflected in crystal and silver. According to The Asheville News and Hotel Reporter, “the guests gathered in the Banquet Hall, where there was a Christmas tree forty feet high, beautifully decorated… the rich costumes of the ladies, the soft lights and tastefully draped garlands created a scene beautiful to look upon.” Beneath the great tree, gifts were exchanged among family and friends before the evening turned to dinner and celebration.

The long dining table stretched nearly the length of the room, adorned with flowers, polished silver, and fine china. Guests dined on multiple courses prepared by Biltmore’s skilled kitchen staff, featuring local game, seasonal produce, and delicacies brought in from New York. It was a feast that embodied both refinement and abundance, setting the tone for the many more Christmases to come.

As shown on this 1907 receipt, George’s future bride, Edith, took over the task of gift giving for their celebrations.

The gift of generosity

The next morning brought a celebration of a different kind. At eleven o’clock, George Vanderbilt opened the Banquet Hall once more, this time to the estate’s employees and their families. According to contemporary reports, the eyes of the children danced with delight as Vanderbilt and several guests distributed gifts from beneath the great tree.

During this first employee Christmas celebration, every estate worker received a gift, and each household a hearty Christmas dinner. The Asheville Citizen later reported that “each servant received an envelope containing ten dollars,” a significant sum in 1895. Hundreds of men, women, and children shared in the young host’s generosity, marking a day that combined grandeur with genuine goodwill.

130 years after Vanderbilt first welcomed friends and family to Biltmore, the tradition of hospitality and celebration endures.

From the first Christmas to today

As the festivities continued into the New Year, Biltmore House glowed with the energy of family, music, and firelight. Guests dined beneath the soaring ceiling of the Banquet Hall, toasted “Our Host,” and danced past midnight before greeting 1896 with a chorus of Auld Lang Syne.

Biltmore’s first Christmas was more than a housewarming. It was the beginning of a tradition spanning generations.

As Biltmore marks its 130th Christmas in 2025, Vanderbilt’s vision endures, inviting you and your loved ones to share in the same sense of wonder and welcome of the season.