Society & Politics

Appalachian/Southern Christmas traditions: Recipes, traditions, music & more!

The holidays are upon us, So that means traditions that have been passed down from generation to generation will again be practiced. Today I thought I'd share some mountain holiday traditions.


Facts:



  • Some folks of Appalachia still do not believe in the concept of a Christmas Tree or Santa Claus. This is due to some parts of the area still being ultra conservative and assocating such as having pagan roots.

  • Many families often times did not have the money to buy gifts and toys like they do today,and sadly some still do not. During the Depression Era of the 1930's It was not uncommon for Christian Missionaries and Community organizations such as The Salvation Army to take children from the community to a Christmas party hosted by the organization and be given a gift purchased by a stranger off of the Angel Tree. Still today this is practiced.

  • In Southwest Virginia,West Virginia,Kentucky,and Tennessee, the miners who worked in the mining camps and their families were all invited to Christmas parties hosted by the companies. The children usually got fruits, candies,toys, etc... Families in these communities also received packages of fruits, nuts, and candies well into the 1960s. Often the cost for these gifts were cut from the miners’ paychecks.Textile,Furniture,and other factories in the South often did the same. Every year where my Grandpa worked in the 1970's the textile mill would have a Christmas party for all the children and families of the workers. Children got good gifts,one year yhe factory got all kids bicycles! They even got to visit Santa.

  • The well-known holiday carol, “The Twelve Days of Christmas,” is rooted in mountain tradition. Appalachian people celebrated “Old Christmas” on Jan. 6, the final day of the 12 days of Christmas. Also called “The Day of Epiphany,” or simply “Epiphany,” Jan. 6 marked the end of a two-week celebration, known as Breaking Up Christmas, that bridged the gap between Christmas and the New Year.

  • On Old Christmas Eve, Appalachian people believed animals bowed to pray in their barns. Young people enjoyed raucous activities, such as setting bonfires and going serenading, which involves shooting guns and firecrackers as well as singing. In some North Carolina towns, shooting is still common at the start of the New Year.I'm from North Carolina and i'm just now learning this lol.


Foods:


Applesauce Cake

Appalachian/Southern Christmas traditions: Recipes, traditions,music & more!


3 cups all-purpose flour, spooned and leveled
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 1/4 teaspoons ground cardamom
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
2 cups packed light-brown sugar
1/4 cup honey
2 large eggs
2 cups Basic Applesauce, or store-bought chunky applesauce
Nonstick cooking spray
Confectioners' sugar, optional


DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and cardamom. Set aside.
In another bowl, with an electric mixer, beat butter, brown sugar, and honey until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating until combined. With mixer on low speed, gradually add flour mixture; beat just until combined. Beat in applesauce.
Generously coat a nonstick 9-inch tube pan with cooking spray. Spoon batter into pan; smooth top. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean (but slightly wet), 50 to 60 minutes.
Cool on a wire rack 10 minutes. Turn out of pan onto a cutting board or baking sheet; invert cake onto rack, top side up. Cool completely. Dust with confectioners' sugar before serving, if desired.


Fruitcake


1/8 cup chopped dried cherries


1/8 cup chopped dried mango


1/4 cup dried cranberries


1/4 cup dried currants


2 tablespoons chopped candied citron


1/4 cup dark rum


1/2 cup butter


1/4 cup packed brown sugar


1 egg


1/2 cup all-purpose flour


1/8 teaspoon baking soda


1/4 teaspoon salt


1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon


1/4 cup unsulfured molasses


2 tablespoons milk


1/4 cup chopped pecans


Soak cherries, mango, cranberries, currants, and citron in 1/4 cup rum for at least 24 hours. Cover tightly, and store at room temperature.
Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Butter a 6x3-inch round pan or loaf pan and line it with parchment paper.
In a large bowl, cream together butter and brown sugar until fluffy. Beat in egg. Whisk together flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon; mix into butter and sugar in three batches, alternating with molasses and milk. Stir in soaked fruit and chopped nuts. Scrape batter into prepared pan.
Bake in preheated oven for 40 to 45 minutes. Cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then sprinkle with 2 tablespoons rum.
Cut out one piece parchment paper and one piece cheesecloth, each large enough to wrap around the cake. Moisten cheesecloth with 1 tablespoon rum. Arrange cheesecloth on top of parchment paper, and unmold cake onto it. Sprinkle top and sides of cake with remaining rum. Wrap the cheesecloth closely to the surface of the cake, then wrap with paper. Place in an airtight tin, and age for at least 10 weeks. If storing longer, douse with additional rum for every 10 weeks of storage.


Music:


Here is a old Christmas song very popular in Appalachia and actually started here in Appalachia, The Twelve Days of Christmas.


Here is a popular Christian Christmas carol presented in the Tradtional Appalachian Mountain way!


Those are just some of our customs and traditions here in the Appalachians! There are more,but I'll leave it at this for now! Thanks to @CHARismatic110 and @Ginnyweasley97 for giving me ideasto stick to my traditions in a previous post! I hope y'all enjoy learning about my culture and the Holidays mountain style!

Appalachian/Southern Christmas traditions: Recipes, traditions, music & more!
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