Breaking Up Christmas

Dear Sweet Reader,

Have you gotten your Christmas tree down and stored away? I still see a few trees peeking from houses in the hollow. 

Mace Cutshaw told me he liked to keep his outdoor lights up for a few weeks after Christmas and New Year's to keep the warm and fuzzy feelings the holidays brought close to his heart.I guess by next week all signs of the season will be packed up along with all the sweet memories that were made. In the gazette below you will see how Christmas was enjoyed as long as possible before the dark winter took hold of the hollow.

Thistledown Hollow Gazette

January 2023

Vol. 4

In times past the custom of Breaking up Christmas was widely practiced in the Appalachian Mountains.

Once Christmas is over, the old custom of “breaking up Christmas” would begin deep in the mountains' hollows, ushering in a time of music, dancing and food. Folks would take turns going to each other’s home for the two weeks after Christmas, possibly to extend the merriment of the holiday before the bleak winter reality set in. The host home would roll up the carpets and push furniture aside in sweet anticipation of mountain reels. 

Guests would bake a single layer of a spice cake to be assembled with those of other guest. A delicious applesauce would go between each layer. Story telling was also enjoyed at the get togethers. Festive colored punch would grace the table laden with finger foods. What a lovely idea; mountaineers were certainly good at making the best of any situation. The last sweet strains of Christmas carols are symbolically packed away with the tree ornaments. I know of several families here in Thistledown Hollow that keep the custom of Breaking up Christmas.

Church Project

Both Thistledown Baptist Church and Ivy on the Rock Church are collecting used snow gear to be refurbished for the children in the hollow. Sleds seem to be the first thing the kids want when a snow comes. . . so, go through your garages and storage building and see what you have. You are asked to drop the items off at either church before three o'clock on weekdays. If you have skills please feel welcome to come join in the refurbishing on Wednesdays at two in the TBC fellowship hall. Bring tools.

Medical and Mishaps

Hudson Hollifield is feeling better after his tangle with his large artificial Christmas tree. Hudson has a great shed where he stores his Christmas and other holiday decorations. On his way to the shed, Hudson slipped on a walnut. The Christmas tree kept rolling down the hill on the way to the shed. Hudson kept a death grip on the tree and ended up on top of the tree as it came to rest in front of the building's door. Hudson said after checking to see if he had any broken bones, (fortunately he had none) and checking to see if anyone saw the incident, he found only a few scrapes and a deflated ego. As for myself, I would have loved to have seen Hudson and his. . .tree ride.

Speaking of artificial trees, 

After Christmas Sale at Akins Feed and Seed.

Any Christmas items left are sixty percent off! Cash Greenleaf said about all he saw yesterday was a couple of rolls of garland and a few tired looking artificial wreaths and several boxes of Christmas ornaments in odd colors. Maybe there is someone who is in need of a rust colored candy canes...maybe.

Road Warning

Be careful Thistledownians on Barn Owl Road...the recent rain storms have created a few deep holes about half way up on Barn Owl. If anyone lost a hubcap there recently, we leaned it up against tree for your viewing pleasure. But here's a picture of where we found it. 

Sweet Readers,

Be kind to each other in the New Year.

Love to you and yours,

Ruby Lee Brown

In case you missed last week, click here to read the last edition.