Yesterday, January 6, was Old Christmas. I had never heard of it until I started the Blind Pig.
Here’s an entry for old Christmas from the Dictionary of Smoky Mountain English:
old Christmas noun An alternative observance of Christmas, celebrated in the 20th century usu on January 6 and reflecting the date of the holiday according to the Julian (or Old Style) calendar. The more precise Georgian (New Style) calendar was adopted in continental Europe (esp in Catholic countries) in 1582, but not until 1752 in Britain, where the populace continued to observe Christmas according to the older calendar and associated the day with such miraculous events as the kneeling of livestock at the stroke of midnight on Christmas Eve and the sudden blooming of flowers. The observance was brought by early settlers to the mountains. In some places in southern Appalachia the belief that the day was the true, sacred Christmas persisted well into the 20th century. The observance has no connection with Twelfth Night or Epiphany. (For discussion, see Chester Raymond Young, “The observance of old Christmas in southern Appalachia” in An Appalachian Symposium, ed. J.W. Williamson, 1977). See esp 1944, 1970 citations.
John Parris explained Old Christmas in one of his many articles on Western North Carolina. Here’s an excerpt:
But in another age-back when a changing world walked ever so slowly in the hidden hills-many a mountain family celebrated Jan. 6 as the day of our Lord’s birth.
They came of English or Pennsylvania Dutch stock and they passed on to their children some of the ballads and folklore their forebears fetched over from the Old Country.
When my grandfather was growing up a hundred years ago over in the Macon County hills, many a mountain family still clung to the old tradition.
“When I was a boy,” he used to recall, “a heap of folks kept Christmas on Jan. 6. The old folks said it was the real Christmas. They argued that the Christmas we’ve come to keep on Dec. 25 was a man-made Christmas.”
Unlike New Christmas with its gaiety and feasting, Old Christmas was celebrated with prayer and choral-singing.
To the folks of that long ago era there were 12 days of Christmas beginning Dec. 25 and ending Jan. 6.
On Old Christmas Eve, just before the clock on the fireboard scratched for midnight, the family gathered about the hearth. There was the telling of The Story and talk of the night when miracles come closest to earth. The old ones told the young ones if they would go out at midnight they would see cow brutes and nags kneeling. They said that all the cattle and horses everywhere stood up and then lay down on the other side. This, the old one said, was the sign that Jan. 6 was for truth our Lord’s birth night.
They said too that alder buds burst and leafed out on Old Christmas Eve and that the bees would roar in the bee-gum like they wanted to swarm. Some said that water turned to wine at midnight of Old Christmas. My grandfather said he never believed this, albeit he went to the spring many a time just to see.
There were those who said it was bad luck to watch for Old Christmas signs a-purpose. “If you just happen to see a sign, it’s all right,” they said. “But if you try to watch, somethin’s liable to get you.”
Except for the water-into-wine belief, Grandpa held with the other signs. “I’ve seen the cows get down on their knees,” he said. “And I’ve heard the low mooin’ of the cows and the whinny of the nags in the night of Old Christmas Eve. Right at midnight that was. Then they all got quiet. I knew other folks who had seen it too.”
With the arrival of Old Christmas, many a family brought out a jug of sweet cider and sang:
Love and joy come to you, And to your wassail too And God bless you and send you A happy New Year, And God send you a Happy New Year.
Roy Helton (1885-1977) wrote a poem about Old Christmas titled “Old Christmas Morning.” I’ve had many older folks tell me they were required to memorize the poem for school. It is sort of a Christmas ghost story.
Several years ago Kim Taulbee made an amazing music video of the poem.
Old Christmas Morning
“Where you coming from, Lomey Carter,
So airly over the snow?
And what’s them pretties you got in your hand,
And where you aiming to go?
“Step in, Honey: Old Christmas morning
I ain’t got nothing much;
Maybe a bite of sweetness and corn bread,
A little ham meat and such,
“But come in, Honey! Sally Anne Barton’s
Hungering after your face.
Wait till I light my candle up:
Set down! There’s your old place.
Now where you been so airly this morning?”
“Graveyard, Sally Anne.
Up by the trace in the salt lick meadows
Where Taulbe kilt my man.”
“Taulbe ain’t to home this morning . . .
I can’t scratch up a light:
Dampness gets on the heads of the matches;
But I’ll blow up the embers bright.”
“Needn’t trouble. I won’t be stopping:
Going a long ways still.”
“You didn’t see nothing, Lomey Carter,
Up on the graveyard hill?”
“What should I see there, Sally Anne Barton?”
“Well, sperits do walk last night.
There were an elder bush a-blooming
While the moon still give some light.”
“Yes, elder bushes, they bloom, Old Christmas,
And critters kneel down in their straw.
Anything else up in the graveyard?
One thing more I saw:
I saw my man with his head all bleeding
Where Taulbe’s shot went through.”
” What did he say?” ” He stooped and kissed me.”
“What did he say to you?”
“Said, Lord Jesus forguv your Taulbe;
But he told me another word;
He said it soft when he stooped and kissed me.
That were the last I heard.”
“Taulbe ain’t to home this morning.”
“I know that, Sally Anne,
For I kilt him, coming down through the meadow
Where Taulbe kilt my man.
“I met him upon the meadow trace
When the moon were fainting fast,
And I had my dead man’s rifle gun
And kilt him as he come past.”
“But I heard two shots.” “‘Twas his was second:
He shot me ‘fore be died:
You’ll find us at daybreak, Sally Anne Barton:
I’m laying there dead at his side.”
—Roy Helton 1885-1977
The poem by Helton reminds me of the many ballads associated with Appalachia. Kim’s video certainly fits that genre too.
If you celebrate Old Christmas I hope you’ll leave a comment and share your traditions.
Last night’s video: A Year in Appalachia…It Was Beautiful!
Tipper
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Thanks so much! I’ve been looking for this poem for decades. I was one of those children who had to learn it, though I can’t remember if we had to memorize it. I’m from the Deep South, not Appalachia. I slightly misremembered the title but Google found it just days after you posted it, after all this time.
This was so interesting and informative. Thanks for sharing all the different perspectives of “new” and “old” Christmas. No matter your opinion on the matter of both Christmases we should all remember, it’s to celebrate our Jesus coming to bring us all the opportunity to accept Him and celebrate the Salvation we’re allowed because of Him, praise the Lord oh my soul. Thank you Jesus today, tomorrow and always. As I’ve always heard , even so come Lord Jesus, come.
We celebrate Epiphany in our church as do some other denominations here in NWNC which is January 6. It is a religious holiday to celebrate visitation by the Magi to the Christ child as he was revealed as Light of the world. The Lutheran church here celebrates 12th night on January 6 with a celebration of Breaking up Christmas which is as I understand a very old tradition which is centered around faith, family, and community. The evening is filled with bluegrass, folk music, hymns, dancing, food, and fellowship. Before moving back to NWNC, I had not heard of 12th night or Breaking up Christmas celebrations in the Lutheran Church. Maybe someone can share about 12th night celebrations years ago in Appalachia. Seems they would go on back in the mountains for neighbors who would celebrate in their communities for the 12 nights of Christmas. These celebrations would take place at neighbor’s homes each night of the consecutive 12 nights ending on January 6 with music, dancing, food, and fun that would go on until all hours to celebrate the season.
AMEN !!!!!!!
oh Lord I wish the world would celebrate Christmas for the right reasons in today’s time
I forgot to comment on the poem.
What a wonderful ballad. Does anyone know if it was ever put to music? It would be better than the musical rendition of the ballad of Tom Dula, IMO.
Scroll back up to the video just before the comments. You can hear the ballad there. nicely sung and played, Robert.
In 1752 the Gregorian calendar was adjusted to correct for errors that had crept in over time due to the Earth’s rotation not being exactly 365 days. After September 2 of that year the next date became September 14; thus Christmas came ealier on the calendar. Some people chose to continue to celebrate the old date for Christmas which became January 6 on the revised Gregorian calendar.
January 6 also coincides with Epiphany, which churches celebrated because it was the date that the magi visited the newborn Christ.
“On January 6, Greek Orthodox Christians celebrate the feast of Theophany, which commemorates the baptism of Christ in the river Jordan. At Christ’s baptism, the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove descended on Christ, and the voice of God the Father was heard – the manifestation of the Trinitarian God.” – from Claude AI
When I lived in Clearwater, I took my family to Tarpon Springs (of Greek sponge diving fame) to witness the ceremony and the young boys who dove in to retrieve it for good luck for the year. If you have the chance, it’s worth making the time to see the event.
I love Old Christmas. Last night we enjoyed the lights for the last time this season. The Moravian Star sent out its gentle glow for one more night. Today we are putting the Christmas decorations to bed for a few months….and maybe it is my age…but I would love to let the 25 th sail right on by and celebrate on January 6th next year, with more of an emphasis on what the day is really about.
I heard it called “Little Christmas” as a kid.
Good Morning Tipper and Matt and Acorns. I usually spnd a quied day reading scripture and studying the meaning and looking thru Greek and Hebrew translations and Listening to Christmas music. Yesterday we spent the day traveling up into Virginia to see my son, Ed’s Gastroenterologist. Ed got sick in the office and almost went downstairs to the ER. But things settled down in about an hour and tests were scheduled and we cam back home and he went to bed for 18 hours. But, Praise the Lord, we got the needed tests ordered and dates set. We need prayers and blessings abound. Our GOD gets us thru every day. I keep y’ all in my prayers. I love Y’all.
Barbara, I will keep praying for you both! So glad you got the tests done.
It’s been many years since my family called it Old Christmas. At school we always sang the 12 Days of Christmas. The first weekend after January 6 was when all the Christmas decorations came down. Now the church calls it Epiphany when the Wise Men arrived and brought their gifts to baby Jesus. Happy New Year to you and your family, Tipper.
My Daddy always said you should plant English Peas on Old Christmas.
Thank you for sharing this tradition. It’s beautiful to see how Old Christmas connects both Southern and Ukrainian customs.
I too have never heard of this. Thank you for this post, beautiful music!
As always praying for Granny.
The area that I live in Alberta was settled by Ukrainian’s centuries ago. They all celebrated what they call ‘Ukrainian Christmas’. Many today still celebrate Christmas on January 6th and also, there are several Ukrainian New Years celebrations this coming weekend. I had never heard of this until I moved to Alberta in 1993.
I read about Old Christmas years ago in a book.
And yet many Bible scholars think Jesus was born in the summer. Doesn’t really matter when it happened as much as the reason he put on flesh and lived and died for us.
I grew up hearing of Old Christmas, and we never took the tree or any decorations down until after January 6th, and my husband was of the same thought. Interesting read, Tipper, and I enjoyed the video. Thanks for sharing. May this year be a good year for each one of us. Prayers continue for Granny.
My grandparents always wanted Christmas decorations left up til the 6th. I never knew why except mommy said it was in poor taste to get those decorations down too quickly. At my age most of it’s too much so I pick my battles and that ain’t it. I don’t care what STUFF goes up or down, Jesus Christ and a personal relationship with the Master is all that matters. I’ve had money tied up since September and at the time it worried me. It’s been such a struggle, I almost don’t want it and loathe it only because it’s been prolonged and dragged out unnecessarily. It feels like I’ve had a dry court biscuit rammed down my gullet til I choke. I roll my eyes and sigh. My only joy is Jesus. He’s not done til HE rightly takes first place in all and through all. The poem was marvelous and if you ask me, that old murdering devil needed “airing out” and I’m glad old gal took care of business! Now yall gonna grab a shovel and get to digging and HESH UP and keep this a secret betwixt ya? What happens in those woods by moonlight at midnight and 3 am is often never told… loved the poem, Tipper-I’m SKEERT!!!
The book Grandfather Tales by Richard Chase is based on family and friends celebrating Old Christmas by sitting around the fire and telling stories. He also wrote the book The Jack Tales. Both are good. I used to read them to my students when I taught school.
Beautiful! ❤️
I leave my Nativity up until after Old Christmas. Don’t know where I first heard about it, but have always known about Old Christmas. Somewhere along my years I’ve heard the “Old Christmas Morning”, probably from my mama. I loved your video, “A Year in Appalachia”. Beautiful! I have wanted a Chef camp stove for canning to set up in my garage, but being just me I don’t relish the logistics of setting it up and tending to it in the hot harvest days, and having to go back and forth to the kitchen to fill more jars. Guess I’ll have to stick with messing up my kitchen, but that’s ok because I just love to can and will continue any way that works for me to handle. I would love for you to do a video on canning from start to finish. You are so blessed to have family to share in the loving care of Granny so she can be home. Having just one sister nearby and my son’s family an hour away, I worry about the nursing home possibility in the not so distant future. Son & wife are already asking me to consider moving closer to them in Atlanta, but I would definitely wither away in that mess. I pray to stay in my little mountain home. You are all so blessed! Your girls are grounded in the Lord and I just love that. Many prayers for your family and all the “acorns”.
My grandparents lived in the mountains of East Tennessee and they alwsys left their Christmas decorations up until after “old Christmas.”
I don’t think anyone in our family ever celebrated Old Christmas, but I do leave my Christmas decorations up until the 6th, especially the Nativity sets.
My father said his parents, who were born in the 19th century of Scots-Irish and English ancestry and lived in the Ozark Mountains i Arkansas, talked about Old Christmas. The animals would kneel in the barn and “speak” at midnight. I don’t know if they meant speak like humans or just make their usual animal sounds. I just read about the Irish custom of celebrating Nollaig mBan, “Women’s Christmas.” It is celebrated still in some parts of that country. After all the hard work of cooking and cleaning etc that women do to make Christmas, on January 6 they get the day “off “. The men take down the Christmas decorations and cook dinner and clean up. Meanwhile the women get together for a “girls day out” and go to the pub together or meet at one’s house. Sounds like a lovely tradition!
loved the comments, poem and song! I never heard of Old Christmas before reading the BPATA. So interesting!
The Eastern Rite Catholic Church still follows the Julian calendar. Many in my area leave their tree and decorations up until January 7 which is what locally we call Greek Christmas. Merry Christmas!
My son and my sister were both born on Old Christmas. We try to keep Christmas in our hearts for a season, instead of a day. We always keep our Christmas tree and decorations up until after Old Christmas. We also celebrated our son’s birthday with him and his family last evening with dinner and a special cake. Have a wonderful day everyone!
I’ve heard of old Christmas, but in my mind associated with the 12 days of Christmas. Thank you for the history on it.
Around where I live there are many Hispanic people-mostly from Puerto Rico. January 6th is a much bigger holiday for them than December 25th.
God bless you friends, thank you for praying for me and my family, have a great day,
Our son in law has worked for the Amish for years and they have always celebrated Old Christmas. They close the business from new Christmas through old Christmas so everyone can celebrate their own way.
They did a good job with the poem. Haunting. It captures the feel of walking in the mountains at night. Creepy, tales, haunting, and hidden secrets. Our family has some secrets in those old Appalachian mountains. Some still coming to light and finding a way to be told. Our aunt (we say ain’t) told us years ago we are gonna dig up something we really don’t want to find. The mountains hold a lot of tales and truths.
I think it is different depending on what area the Amish live. I know last year I took homemade donuts to them on New Years day and they were working and the kids had went to school that day. I thought that was wild.
We have amiah neighbors that moved in across the road about 3 years ago. this last year they finally got their saw mill up and running. Yesterday my nephew who lives next door to me said, strange the saw mill isn’t running today. I didn’t think anything of it. Then at about noon it dawned on me, yesterday was old Christmas and Amish are sure to still celebrate that day. So mystery was solved because this morning the mill is back up and running as normal.
I had never heard of Old Christmas until reading about it on here. I like the idea of celebrating Christmas with praying and singing carols. I am not sure what choral singing means unless it means choirs. I would like doing this with family, I think this would be more appropriate than the way Christmas is more often celebrated on December 25. I think many never give a thought to true meaning of Christmas.