Christmas in Old Appalachia Recreates Christmases of Old

By Jeaneane Payne

The Museum of Appalachia in Norris, Tn, has recreated an old-fashioned Christmas with popcorn balls and paper chains, carols by the fire, and fruits and nuts in the stockings. The museum recreates the old Appalachian Christmases during its annual "Christmas in Old Appalachian." Through December 24, the museum will welcome many people who love the nostalgia of Christmas of old.

Traditional trees and homemade decorations, typical of austere pioneer days, transform the Museum's authentic log buildings; and in the one-room, dirt-floored "Dan'l Boone" cabin, strings of popcorn and cotton bolls circle a dormant tree. Paper chains and other ornaments trim the tree in the Little Tater Valley Schoolhouse.

Sweet gum and sycamore balls are strung throughout the Mark Twain Family Cabin, and a traditional silver star tops a native red cedar Christmas tree in the turn-of-the-century Peters Homestead House. Apples, nuts, homemade toys, and oranges fill stockings hung in the cabins.

Special holiday exhibits include the Children's Display in the Hall of Fame, with toys and furniture made by loving parents and grandparents. One of the more popular exhibits is Granny Irwin's traditional Christmas Crazy Quilt.

Sing Christmas carols along with musicians in the Homestead House, where they'll be singing holiday and traditional songs every day during December. Sit and visit with the kids over some hot chocolate and Christmas cookies from the Museum Restaurant.

Pick up some stocking stuffers in the Museum Gift and Antique Shop, which features everything from hand-crafted ornaments, locally made muscadine and moonshine jellies, and beautiful pottery, along with baskets, quilts, and plenty of Appalachian specialties. You can also just simply relax in a rocking chair by the cozy, crackling fire in the big stone fireplace.

The museum is located at 2819 Andersonville Hwy, Clinton, TN.

Published December 12, 2011