Who said time travel isn’t real?
Residents had the opportunity to visit Sycamore Shoals Historic State Park over the weekend and step back in time for the annual portrayal of “Old Christmas” inside Fort Watauga.
Frigid temperatures outside could not keep the public at bay with several attending the weekend dates to learn about the different cultures that ultimately formed modern-day Christmas cultures.
“I’d say we had around 65 to 70 folks come through yesterday, and I was amazed by that,” said Chad Bogart with Sycamore Shoals. “There are people looking to get out and enjoy some of the things going on. We’re always happy to offer events like these for the community to get involved in. This is our first major event of the new year.”
Over the course of the weekend, members of the Washington County Militia presented the public with the 18th Century Old Christmas “Jollification.”
Bogart explained that each cabin inside Fort Watauga was decorated with different cultures from the colonial frontier.
“Many of our modern Christmas customs are taken from centuries old practices,” Bogart said. The park representative cited a pair of examples, including the Irish tradition of having a candle outside the window and the German tradition of having a Christmas tree.
According to information received from the park, Christmas was celebrated as a 12-day event with many traditions and customs in Colonial America. Individuals celebration of “feasting and merrymaking always ended on Jan. 6, better known as the “Twelfth Night” — which is where “The 12 Days of Christmas” song originated from.
“We had a lady visit from England yesterday and she said she appreciated the fact the we showed that Christmas doesn’t end until January 6,” Bogart said. “She mentioned that so many people start celebrating Christmas right after Thanksgiving.”
One of the true treats of the event was the Watauga Valley Fife and Drum Corps, which braved the elements to perform for attendees each day.
“They have been the real troopers of the weekend,” Bogart said.
The coming months will prove to be a busy but exciting time at the park, according to Bogart. Several workshops are scheduled at the park while Sabine Hill, Carter Mansion and other assets provided by the park will be available to the public.
To learn more about upcoming events, visit the Sycamore Shoals State Historic Park website.