The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1955-12-30
OBSERVANCE OF OLD
CHRISTMAS JANUARY
9Th AT RODANTHE

Rodanthe on the eve of Old Christ
mas, Thursday night, January 5th.
The celebration will take the form
of play arranged by some of the
ladies of the community, followed
by an oyster roast.
Old Christmas, or Epiphany
which falls on January 6, is still
observed in some of the Eastern
countries, and some parts of
Europe, as the true anniversary
of the coming of the Magi. In fact
the observance continued in some
parts of England, although the
calendar had been changed, as
many people held to the theory
that although the calendar may be
changed by legislative degree it
still doesn't change the anniver-
sary.
The custom of observing Old
Christmas came down through
many generations on the North
Carolina coastland, being handed
down by the early English settlers.
Fifty to rs years ago the celebra-
tions were pretty general, but
gradually went out of style. 1t has
remained longer at Rodanthe than
elsewhere for good reason. There
being two communities at this spot,
separated by. about two miles and
of equal size, it used to be custom
for one community to play host to
the other at Christmas time, and
the. favor was returned some ten
days later when "Old Christmas"
rolled around.
In more recent years, publicity
about the event has aroused much
interest in distant localities and
many people have desired to come
to Rodanthe to take part in the
event. For long time it has been
the occasion of a neighborhood get
together-a time of good fellow
ship. Various citizens of the COM
munity take part in arranging the
affair. The rampage of "Old
Buck" strange horned beast,
creates much interest and merri-
ment.
Mrs. Nora Herbert, chairman of
the committee on planning for the
annual Old Christmas celebration
at "Reminiscences on January 5,
was in Manteo Wednesday gather
ing material for a Negro Minstrel,
which will be one of the amusing
highlights of the event this year.
The celebration this year, to be
held in the schoolhouse at Rodan-
the, will include in addition to the
Negro Minstrel, carol singing,
music and square dancing and of
course, the traditional appearance
of Old Buck the wild bull of Cape
Hatteras Woods, which of late has
received about the same amount of
publicity as Nashua, the famous
race horse which sold for over a
million dollars early in December.
The Old Christmas celebrations
at Rodanthe are not private af-
fairs. Everyone is invited, and
judging from some of the crowds
present during the event in recent
years, lust about everyone who
can get there accepts the invita-
ton. There is usually no charge
of admission except for the square
dance and minstrel, and the fee
is so small that it is hardly notice
able. Monies thus collected help
defray expenses.
A finale to the celebrations
each year is big oyster roast.
This phase of the celebration is
held in the schoolhouse yard.
1t is folks like Mr.. and Mrs.
Herbert, the Levene Midget fam
lily, the Herbert Midgetts and
others in the Rodanthe-W Waves area
who have helped keep alive the
traditional Old Christmas celebra-
tions each year. Each of those
mentioned and others too in the
communities are now busy making
ready for the celebration. And you
are invited to attend.