Many, all over the country, practice Elizabethan Christmas traditions that were brought from England to the Outer Banks over 400 years ago. The celebration of Old Christmas and New Christmas came into effect due to a change in calendars in 1752; the Great Britain government adopted a Gregorian calendar to replace the Julian calendar. In order to accommodate the change in calendars, 11 days were dropped from the month of September 1752. The dropping of the 11 days made Christmas Day fall on December 25, this became New Christmas. Many North Carolinians, with roots deep in tradition, celebrate Old Christmas in January as well.
In the early 1900s, Duck Village celebrated New Christmas in December with lively parties. Old Christmas was honored later, with no drinking, dancing or carousing allowed. Hatteras Island, on the other hand, celebrated Old Christmas with parties, music, bonfires, oyster roasts and the appearance of 'Old Buck,' a representation of a large white bull that is rumored to roam the forest. Rodanthe is the most noted Outer Banks village to still honor 'Old Christmas' every year. One feature of this celebration is the sharing of music, bonfires, oyster roasts and the appearance of Old Buck, a four-footed creature made to resemble a bull that is rumored to roam the forest throughout the year. The origin of Old Buck is unknown, although it is believed to originate from celebrations in Scandinavian and England.
An Elizabethan Christmas consisted of goose, wild boar and Christmas pudding. A traditional Christmas pudding was made from spices and meat with the filling made from oatmeal and cooked within the gut of the featured wild boar. Brussel sprouts were also introduced into Elizabethan Christmas in the 1580's.
No matter what your holiday traditions, we wish you a joyous celebration.
Happy Holidays from everyone at Sun Realty!