Gullah Cultural Legacies by Emory Campbell
Binya store founder, Lola Campbell’s uncle, Emory Campbell, writes about early Christmas Traditions in the Gullah community in his book, Gullah Cultural Legacies. Given that Christmas is only a few weeks away now, we thought it was fitting to share some of the traditions. What you’ll see is that it all boils down to community and family and really, not that much has changed, has it? Maybe some roads…
For the Gullah people generations ago, Christmas was considered to be a very important holiday — even more so than it currently is, according to Dr. Campbell. During the late 1950s, there was only one large, narrow winding road through the island. It extended from the Jenkins island dock and ended at the old lighthouse on Lemington. This was a bit of a different experience, because of course, Santa would have a hard time reaching these houses with just one narrow road connecting them. (Assuming he was driving!)
Christmas was a time that almost everyone looked forward to. Christmas meant eating “exotic” fruits that weren’t abundant on the island at the time. These exotic fruits included apples, grapes, bananas, and oranges. It meant playing with and receiving new toys which usually didn’t happen at all, and tasting new treats with people and relatives you didn’t see often. Loved ones coming back from up North to visit was possibly the most exciting thing for a lot of children and islanders, this one day a year meant that the people you had no contact with, suddenly appeared right in front of you, ready to celebrate alongside you and the family.
Christmas then was weighted significantly by Santa bringing gifts, and good thing, because it would’ve been difficult for him. This day was the 25th of December, which meant Christmas was weighted by the fact it was Jesus’ birthday. “When Jesus was Born” was the most common Christmas song sung amongst the islanders, and was a tradition that most people participated in. The faith of the Gullah people is very strong.
It seemed that every season was just inching closer to Christmas, so much so, it was even preparation time in April when Christmas Turkeys would begin hatching so they could be sold in December for money towards toys and clothes.
By the time Christmas Eve rolled around, the festivities were in absolute full swing. Every neighborhood would conduct Praise House services until Christmas was actually there, decorating trees meant putting all natural “ornaments” on them. These consisted of Spanish Moss, holly bushes, and pine cones. Parents would cook all night from the time the kids went to bed, and the children who were too old for Santa’s gifts would help prepare courses such as; fresh pork, raccoon, rabbit, and turkey.
In the morning after breakfast on Christmas Day, kids and men would separately visit different homes to be served with a variety of different snacks and treats. The men would sing old spiritual songs and swap folk tales whilst visiting.
When Christmas came to the inevitable end, the people began celebrating New Years, and then began preparing anew for the next Christmas. Yes, they really prepared early right away!
For the Gullah people, Christmas was a time not just to be spoiled with new fancy things, but it was a time where the entire community gathered and loved, and saw relatives or friends they’ve been missing the whole year. It was a time that everyone shared together, and it stood as the most important holiday on the island.
In reality, many more roads have been added and we now have an abundance of the “exotic” fruits, but the faith, family, and cooking has remained.