What's the tradition behind "Breakin' Up Christmas"?

Hoo-ray Jake and Hoo-ray John,
Breakin' Up Christmas all night long.

Way back yonder a long time ago
The old folks danced the do-si-do.

Way down yonder alongside the creek
I seen Santy Claus washin' his feet.

Santa Claus come, done and gone,
Breakin' Up Christmas right along.

Embrace a Blue Ridge holiday tradition when The Lincoln Theatre presents "Breakin' Up Christmas" on January 7, 2006 as part of the Song of the Mountains series. The concert will pay homage to a beloved ritual whose actual origins are somewhat mysterious.

While some believe the music-based holiday party originated in the North Carolina mountains during the 1920s, other evidence indicates that "Breakin' Up Christmas" celebrations date back to at least the mid-19 th century. William Norman of Surry County, NC wrote of this tradition in his memoir, A Portion of My Life, published in 1864. And according to NPR reporter Paul Brown, the mother of North Carolina mountain musician Johnny Vipperman claimed that "Breakin' Up Christmas"existed in local slave communities, when slaves were given a lighter workload during the holiday period. The interruption of their routine continued as long as the backlog (a large log at the back of a fireplace) burned; to keep the backlog burning as long as possible, slaves would first soak it in water and mud. Other stories tie the duration of the celebration to the 10-day period between Christmas Day and Epiphany, or Old Christmas, on January 6.

Wherever and however they began, the "Breakin' Up Christmas" gatherings were for many years typified by house parties filled with music, dance, food and drink. Furniture was moved out of the houses to make way for players and dancers, and the party sometimes moved from house to house for a week or two after Christmas. In addition to the lyrics quoted at the beginning of this segment, Johnny Vipperman recalled a "Breakin' Up Christmas" dance that resembled a cross between the Virginia Reel and a minuet. While the "Breakin' Up Christmas" tradition waned during and after the days of World War II, it enjoyed a resurgence of popularity during the 1970s and continues today in dance halls, civic buildings and homes throughout southwest Virginia and northwest North Carolina.

Paul Brown, a newscaster/reporter for National Public Radio who is himself a bluegrass musician, served as producer and host of a 1996 award-winning NPR music special, "Breaking Up Christmas: A Blue Ridge Mountain Holiday." The radio show included personal recollections of "Breakin' Up Christmas" experiences by old-time musicians, classic recordings of traditional songs, and performances on location at "Breakin' Up Christmas" celebrations in Beulah NC , Toast NC , Oak Grove NC and Damascus VA.

The audio is available on CD from County Records/Sales in Floyd VA, a venue on The Crooked Road. www.countysales.com or call 540-745-2001.

For more information about Paul Brown's interests in mountain music, visit http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=2100309 .

Song of the Mountains proudly continues the "Breakin' Up Christmas" tradition and invites you to join us for our January 7 show.