Christmas is a very historic holiday, a very historic time of the year. Lititz is a very historic town, a very historic place.

The Lititz Historical Foundation (LHF) is hosting a pair of upcoming events over three days that will honor the Christmas season and celebrate the holiday's history and tradition.

"We want to show visitors what Christmas was like in Lititz 200 years ago," said Cory Van Brookhoven, who's been LHF's president for 11 years. "(Back then) families were close together. They did not put a tree inside the house. They gave each other handmade gifts. They went to church on Christmas Day, not the day before."

On Thursday, Dec. 12, at 6:30 p.m. at the Lititz Moravian Church, 8 Church Square, Lititz, LHF will present its annual Christmas Carol Sing. The community event is free to attend, but freewill donations will be accepted.

The Moravian Trombone Choir will be there performing holiday classics, and attendees can sing along with family members, neighbors and friends. When the music concludes, everyone is welcome inside the church's fellowship hall for light refreshments.

"Generally speaking, the events are designed to promote the history of the Lititz area," said Van Brookhoven. "Things were done differently 200 years ago versus the way they are today. The atmosphere is festive, and it's historic."

The Christmas Carol Sing has been conducted in Lititz around the holidays for about 20 years now.

From 5 to 8 p.m. on both Friday, Dec. 13, and Saturday, Dec. 14, LHF will present its annual Christmas Candlelight Tours of the 1792 Johannes Mueller House, 127-139 Main St., Lititz. The 40-minute tours depart every 15 minutes, and tickets can be purchased at http://www.lititzhistoricalfoundation.com prior to the event or next door at the LHF Museum the day of the event, if tickets remain.

With candles serving as the only source of lumination, guests will learn the story of Johannes Mueller and his family, as well as the customs and history of the Lititz Moravian community in the 18th century. There will be tour guides present in each room providing information and insight.

Ticketholders will be treated to holiday refreshments after the tours and will receive discounts on items purchased at LHF Museum's gift shop.

"People love to learn about local history," said Van Brookhoven. "They're surprised by how people lived 200 years ago, without electricity and the internet."

In addition to its two Christmas events, LHF conducts between 18 and 23 fundraisers and community gatherings each year. LHF was established in 1951.

"As a nonprofit, we're always looking to raise funds," said Van Brookhoven. "Our mission is to promote and preserve Lititz area history by offering tours and fundraisers. We have many artifacts on display in our museum."