LOCATION
2819 Andersonville Hwy.
Clinton, TN 37716
FEATURED ARTIFACT:
Christmas Traditions of Old Appalachia: Christmas Gift!
Christmas gift is an old Appalachian game that many children would participate in. 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 visiting with family and neighbors on Christmas.
This video is of Sally Scruggs (1900-1999) of Clinton, Tennessee, explaining to museum founder John Rice Irwin and WATE’s Lori Tucker about how she remembers playing “Christmas gift!” as a child.
Join us at the Museum of Appalachia for our Homestead Holidays Tour happening the entire month of December! The tour is a self-guided journey through a handful of old Appalachian Christmas traditions and Christmas related artifacts!
This clip is from WATE 6 On Your Side “A Tennessee Christmas From the Museum of Appalachia,” December 21, 1993.
Roam our 65 picturesque acres and experience a recreated Appalachian community complete with: 35 log cabins, barns, farm animals, churches, schools, gardens.
Over 250,000 artifacts in 3 buildings, with vast collections of folk art, musical instruments, baskets, quilts, Native American artifacts, and more.
The Museum also contains a restaurant specializing in Southern Appalachian country cooking, a Gift Shop featuring locally made products, and a Banquet Hall for events!
Founded by John Rice Irwin in 1969, the Museum is now a non-profit organization, and a Smithsonian Affiliate museum. Visit our “About Us” tab, or see below for more info.
