To be sure, they usually began with a solemn, early-morning ride in a wagon to a nearby church for a service. Even the method for igniting them was carefully prescribed. A shovelful of coal embers, carried to a field or to the edge of the yard, did the trick nicely. In the grand tradition of George Washington, no self-respecting Southern host or hostess should allow Christmas to pass without offering guests a toast and a cup of eggnog. These beverages were originally fueled by a strong dark ale or beer, but Southerners adapted them, adding our indigenous alcoholic beverage, bourbon.
Food also sets the Southern Christmas tradition apart.
As far back as Colonial times, it was said that a Virginian could lose all his senses except the sense of smell and still know that Christmas had arrived. And from Maryland to Mississippi, the scent of oranges, a rare commodity in those times, was another giveaway. Given their wide range of enjoyment, not even the old Southern standby of black-eyed peas and hog jowl on New Year's Day can accomplish this today. Yet thankfully, differences still remain. The Southern Christmas tradition reflects the wide ethnic and cultural differences of all the original Southern settlers.