Currituck

GOBGB : Old Christmas

Pray tell, what are you doing?” LeRoy asked Bubba.

Bubba continued on his mission, wrapping the small box in brightly covered foil paper.

“Why I’m gettin’ ready to celebrate Old Christmas,” Bubba replied rather matter-of-factly.

LeRoy scratched his head in wonderment, “I don’t think I’ve ever heard of that one.”

“Well that’s probably ’cause you’ve never had occasion to venture south of the ol’ Oregon Inlet Bridge during the winter,” Bubba began.

LeRoy nodded and listened intently as his good friend continued, “You see, folks down around Rodanthe way enjoy celebratin’ Christmas two times.”

Bubba continued, “once on December 25 and a second time on January 5.”

“Now how did that come about?” LeRoy asked.

“Well most of those folks down there celebrate Christmas Day on the date she used to fall before the calendar change,” Bubba said - enjoying sharing his knowledge of local lore with his good friend.

“You see, back in the 1750’s, this whole area was still loyal to the Brits,” Bubba continued. “And around September of 1752, the Brits adopted a new calendar - shoot they dropped 11 days from that month in one shot,” Bubba explained.

LeRoy listened all wide eyed and engrossed in his good friend.

“So you see, now, instead of Christmas falling on January 5th, it falls back on December 25th,” Bubba added.

“So how did you know all this?” LeRoy asked his friend.

“Oh my great grand pappy ventured down her to cut lumber - that was back when they had tall trees down here,” Bubba recounted.

“And I reckon it stuck with him, ‘cause we’ve always celebrated Old Christmas, whether we went down to Rodanthe, or stayed up here and had oysters and seafood,” Bubba added.

LeRoy perked up, “Sounds like a good excuse for an oyster roast!”

Bubba laughed, “oh you ain’t seen the half of it my friend. There’s music and bonfires, oysters, shrimp, and all other kinds of seafood - shoot it makes that shindig old Marc puts on pale buy comparison.”

LeRoy chuckled and listened as his friend continued.

“And if you’re lucky, you’ll get to see ‘Old Buck’,” Bubba said kinda eriely.

“Old Buck, what’s that?” LeRoy asked.

“Well he’s a four legged critter, part bull part deer,” said Bubba. He continued, “folks down there say he roams the forest - or whats left of them - during the year, and comes into the village to celebrate with the ‘hoi toiders’.”

“well sounds like there’s some drinkin’ going on down there too,”?LeRoy said with a laugh.

Bubba shared a laugh with him, as they loaded up the truck and headed for points south.

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© 2008 NE NC News.