In honor of Christmas in Southern Appalachia, we’re sharing one of our favorite Appalachian Christmas traditions with you: Old Christmas.
A centuries-old Appalachian custom said to originate with Scots-Irish settlers, Old Christmas was celebrated on Epiphany — aka Jan. 6, 12 days after Christmas — which, according to some traditions, is the day the Three Wise Men arrived to bring gifts to Jesus.
Between the Dec. 25 and Jan. 6, communities would gather and celebrate with song, dance, and stories. Old Christmas itself was more serious, with time for prayer, church + family. Instead of multiple gifts, stockings on Old Christmas were often filled with fruit, nuts + candy — something we still see with Appalachian Christmas treat bags, which some locals remember as treat pokes.
Here’s what we know about the beliefs surrounding Old Christmas:
- Animals would pray at midnight, either by making lots of noise or actually beginning to speak when the Holy Spirit descended to Earth.
- Elder bushes would suddenly sprout from the frozen ground, but not grow any higher until the spring. Other plants would suddenly flower.
- Water would transform into wine or blood.
- People never loaned anything to anyone on Old Christmas, because they believed it would never be returned if it were borrowed on that day.
Chances are those who celebrate Christmas may still have practices associated with Old Christmas in their house, even if they don’t know it. For instance, Traditionally, Jan. 6 is the day to take down the Christmas tree + decorations.
Want more Old Christmas? Check out this traditional fiddle tune honoring the day.
