Sycamore Shoals State Historic Park, Elizabethton, Tennessee, demonstrates how colonial ancestors celebrated a holiday called “Old Christmas.” In Colonial America, Christmas was celebrated as a 12-day holiday with many traditions and customs. These 12 days of feasting, and merrymaking known as “Christmastide” began Dec. 25 and ended Jan. 5, or “Twelfth Night,” with a grand celebration.
On Saturday, Jan. 3 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday, Jan 4 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., the Washington County Militia holds their annual Old Christmas Celebration.
As you walk through the gates of Fort Watauga you will travel back in time to an 18th century Old Christmas “Jollification.” Each cabin in the fort is the setting of Christmas, New Year and 12th Night traditions as celebrated by the settlers of different cultures on the colonial frontier. Many of our modern Christmas customs are taken from centuries old practices such as English Christmas Guns, the Irish Holly Wreath, the German Tannenbaum, Scottish First Footing and the Dutch Sinterklaas. See how our Christmas practices of today are steeped in these old-world traditions.
Arrive ready to be filled with the spirit of Christmas. Sycamore Shoals State Historic Park is located at 1651 W. Elk Avenue in Elizabethton, Tennessee. For more information contact the Park at 423-543-5808 or visit www.tnstateparks.com/parks/sycamore-shoals or www.sycamoreshoalstn.wordpress.com.
