Friday, December 26, 2014

Cracker Christmas

Now that all the "have dos" are done and Christmas Day is past, it is time to catch up on my blogging for the month!  The weather here in sunny Florida today has been anything but!  I am not one to go out the first few days after Christmas and fight through mobs of shoppers returning their gifts and searching for bargains.  I'd rather sit in the comfort of my recliner and reflect on the season just past.

Going back to the beginning of Dec, as you know, Stephen and Amber got married.  That weekend, we still had a house full of guests and what better way to entertain them than to take them to the Cracker Christmas event in Christmas, Florida.  SO, Diane, Jim, Sandra, Mary, Clif and I headed out.

This is a reenactment from the early 1900s in which the Christmas community comes to life. For those of you who don't know, there is a town named Christmas, Florida.  The street names are common for the season: Rudolph Lane, St. Nicholas Drive, etc.

 From Native Americans, to the soldiers, the early pioneers and the encroachment of the new era, there is plenty for everyone to enjoy.  As you go through the homes and businesses you realize you have gone through the years starting around 1900, and eventually stopping in the 1950s!

We started at the farthest point and worked our way forward.  Mary was going to have a long drive back to SC, and she is not interested in the craft part of the event.  So off we went.  The Native American was busy making arrowheads.



Musicians were on the porches entertaining with festive songs.



The militants were busy boiling their peanuts.





The post office was open.  (Although not for business.  A new modern post office is down the street.)



Fresh ham being smoked the old fashioned way.



Workers prepared the sugar cane.  Sandra got her piece and munched on it like an old timer!



We had a wonderful time observing the iron workers, rope makers, embroiderers, rug makers, etc, etc.  But I thought I'd at least give you a taste of Christmas "Florida style"!
If you happen to be in Central Florida the first full weekend of December, you might just want to add this to your list of things to see and do.  It is free, and well worth the time to catch up on some Florida History!

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