Show OLD chrs CHRISTMAS STILL KEPT UP had origin in first english colony in new world each year we read with sentimental interest descriptions of the celebration of old christmas by and other residents of the ancient a m village of rodanthe Kod anthe on t the he long and narrow outer barrier islands that impound pamlico sound off north carolina sometimes we read that the celebration Is 11 held on january 5 and sometimes that it Is held on january 6 the difference being that twelfth night or old christmas eve may have greater emphasis in celebration than twelfth tide on twelfth day old christmas day as the villagers continue a celebration that extends back to their forefathers and even the time of sir walter raleigh and establishment of the first english colony in the new world however it if we search the back districts of the missouri ozarks it Is a quite likely that we could find this belated celebration of christmas much closer to our own modern homes as well as hear bear the belief expressed that on twelfth night cattle of the fields kneel in greeting to the newborn new born christ this tradition and refusal to accept the calendar corrections of pope gregory were brought to this country by early settlers from britain and persisted j persisted for many generations not only in the barrier islands that protect north carolina from the raging sea but in the mountains along the eastern eastern seaboard spreading even to the ozarks of missouri and arkansas as the mountaineers sought new homes it Is lit fitting bitting ting however that the tradition had bad its spread only by family and that the outstanding community expressions remains near the place it was introduced to america in dare county north carolina where the first white child to be born in america came into being this child was virginia dare granddaughter ol of john white a leader whose small email roanoke Iloa noke island colony disappeared without trace while white was wag on a journey home for supplies rodanthe Eod anthe Is only about a score of miles from roanoke island and a part of the same chain of banks with kitty hawk where the first successful airplane flight was made mad only a few miles away on the same sama chain so what better place could be found for the support of tradition even though there be some uncertainty whether it Is in observance of old christmas eve or old christmas day dar that fishing nets aro are laid aside st louis globe democrat |