Want some Christmas cheer around Kansas City? Check out our historic mansions and houses

Throughout the Kansas City area, historic homes dating back nearly 200 years are opulently decorated for the holidays, demonstrating how the Christmas season was celebrated in years gone by. These venues show off their festive décor with tours, events, and performances during December.

You probably know the iconic holiday song “Deck the Halls,” but you might not realize it began with a melody of an old Welsh tune from the 16th century.

The melody was first published as “Nos Galan” in 1862, with Welsh lyrics that celebrated the New Year, rather than Christmas. The English lyrics that are known today come from Scottish songwriter and author Thomas Oliphant and once contained the line “Fill the mead cup, drain the barrel.” The American version in 1877 erased any mention of drinking, although that still may be a Christmastime tradition in many homes.

Around Kansas City, you can find some remarkable decking-of-halls this time of year: mansions that sparkle like tinsel hung from a tree; Victorian homes that look like they were transported from the North Pole; historic buildings that take us back in time to when the song was originally published.

As the song states, “Tis the season to be jolly,” and an adventure around the metro to visit these magnificent homes will put anyone in the holiday mood. Not only can you see garlands strung across marble fireplaces and Christmas trees gleaming in bay windows, but many of these homes have special seasonal programming for all ages – from Victorian-era libations to Kansas City’s fairy princess tradition.