Christmas Traditions of Old Appalachia: Cutting the Christmas Tree – In the times before the artificial tree, picking and cutting down the perfect Christmas tree was a cherished family tradition for many in America. For most, the tree of choice in Southern Appalachia was the Eastern Red Cedar. The cedar grew in abundance, was an evergreen, and had a pleasant aroma. Unfortunately, their rapid growth often prohibited grass growth and affected the land for grazing livestock, so farmers were more th

Christmas Traditions of Old Appalachia: Christmas Gift! Christmas gift is an old Appalachian game in which many children would participate. The purpose was to sneak up on a friend or relative on Christmas Day and yell “Christmas gift!” If they didn’t see you, they were obligated to give you a small gift (candy, a marble, a coin, etc.). However, if you were caught before you could shout, you owed them a gift. Many people made sure to have candy or small gifts in their pockets when they went visit