Newspapers / The News-Journal (Raeford, N.C.) / Dec. 23, 1982, edition 1 / Page 38
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Colonial Christmases Were Festive Occasions Although the earliest American Christmases were rather grim due to the fact that the Pilgrims disap proved of celebrating the holiday, Christmas in the colonies in time was generally pretty festive. There were no Christmas trees, as the German custom was not in troduced into this country until the 1880s, but in other ways, Americans made merry. In Williamsburg, Virginia, for instance, the celebrating began a week before Christmas and lasted until Twelfth Night, or January 5. Festivities included caroling, danc ing and much feasting. The holiday season was ushered in with a huge bonfire and candles were lit in every window, while fid dlers and singers filled the air with music. Balls, fox-hunts, and visits be tween neighbors and family set the tone for the social season in col onial Virginia during the holidays. The Dutch who settled in Manhattan Island brought over their Christmas customs from Holland, including the legend of Sante Klaas. So intent were the Dutch on celebrating Christmas that all Council meetings were call ed off from December 14 to three weeks after Christmas! In Maryland, the many Catholic settlers brought holiday customs from their native England to keep a merry Christmas, too. Food, of course, was an impor tant element in all colonial celebra tions, although it varied in ethnici ty. The Dutch, for instance. favored doughnuts, sweet cakes, short cakes and ginger cakes, fruit pies, preserves, fried shad, roasted chicken and bowls of milk and cream. Virginians feasted on roast turkey with grapes, kumquats, roast beef, cranberry mold, spiced crab apples and glazed sweet potato slices. Christmas Day itself always centered around church services, ranging from morning worship to midnight mass, with churches festively decorated and voices rais ed in praise of the season. Because colonial settlers were often widely scattered, greetings at Christmastime were likely to be sent by way of musket fire. This custom of firing muskets, as a mat ter of fact, has evolved into setting eff firecrackers in some parts of the south today. Although the colonial Christmas did not have Santa as we know him, or a tree, or gift-giving to the extent of modern times, it was a time of joy. A poem published in the Virginia Almanack during Col onial times expressed it best: "Christmas is come, hang on the pot, Let spits turn round, and ovens be hot; Beef, pork, and poultry, now provide To feast thy neighbours at this tide; Then wash all down with good wine and beer And so with mirth conclude the year." ? i HA NDMA DE -- Handmade Christmas wreath decorates the front door of State Trooper and Mrs. R.V. Lee's home on Cole Avenue Extension, Raeford. Mrs. Lee made the wreath. Vie thank all of our lo\al patrons and wish everyone a very Merrv Christmas. We hope we can share many more Christmases together! (Eanbleatick CCrafta ELWOOD AVE. BETTY GII.L May Christmas bring contentment to your heart, the best of health, food lock and good will to everyone. Arabia Cash Mart & Auto Sales Arabia, N.C. The First Noel Bom Is The King The first noel the angels did say Was to certain poor shepherds in fieldsas they lay In fields where they lay keeping their sheep On a cold winter's night that was so deep Noel, noel, noel, noel, Born is the King of Israel. They looked up and saw a star Shining in the east, beyond them far And to the earth it gave great light And so it continued both day and night. Noel, noel, noel, noel, Born is the King of Israel. And by the light of that same star Three Wise men came from country far To seek for a King was their intent And to follow the star wherever it went. Noel, noel, noel, noel, Born is the King of Israel. This star drew nigh to the northwest O'er Bethlehem it took its rest And there it did both stop and stay Right over the place where Jesus lay. Noel, noel, noel, noel, Born is the King of Israel. Then enter 'd in those Wise men three Fell rev'rently upon their knee, ?'And offer'd there, in His presence Their gold and myrrh and frankincense. Noel, noel, noel, noel, Born is the King of Israel. Eden tootoufl b^esta urant l^cOu itfi? Tuttie BeP81' SO,ViCe Bruce and Myrtle Swartn's mobile home near Rockfish. As the Yuletide bells ring out their message of good cheer, we extend our best wishes to our good friends and patrons. McGinnis Plumbing & Supply 112 S. Main Our best wishes for a joyous Noel to all our wonderful patrons. May the best of the Holiday Season be yoursl Jones Intercable Red Sfrhfi, N.C.
The News-Journal (Raeford, N.C.)
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Dec. 23, 1982, edition 1
38
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