Show OLD CHRISTMAS S STILL KEPT UP had origin in first english colony in new world each year we read rend with sentimental interest descriptions of the celebration of old christinas by and other residents of the ancient village of rodanthe on the long and narrow opter barrier islands that impound pamlico sound oft off north carolina sometimes we read that the celebration Is held on january 5 and sometimes that it Is held field on january 0 the difference being that twelfth night or old christmas eve may inay 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 dis districts tracts of the missouri ozarks it Is quite likely that we could find this belated celebration of christmas much closer to our own modern homes as well ns as hear the belief expressed that on twelfth night cattle of the fields kneel in greeting greetin to the newborn new born christ this tradition and refusal to accept the calendar corrections of pope gregory were brought to this country hy by early settlers from britain and persisted for many generations not only in the alie barrier islands that protect north carolina from the raging sea but in the mountains along the eastern seaboard spreading even to the ozarks of missouri and arkansas as the mountaineers sought now new homes it Is fi fitting ang however that tho the tradition had 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 whore where the first white child to be born in america came into being this child was virginia dare granddaughter of john white a leader whose small ronnoc e island colony disappeared without trace while white was on a journey home for supplies rodanthe 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 only a few miles away on the same 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 eye eve or old christmas day that fishing nets are laid aside st louis globe democrat |