As the Christmas season comes to a close, the above old-time dancers just may be dancing to the fiddle tune, "Breaking Up Christmas." Breaking Up Christmas parties are held in Greensboro; however, they are believed to have originated in nearby Surry County. In the days before electricity and multi-media entertainment, people would gather in each others' homes, push back the furniture and dance to fiddle and banjo tunes. These parties remain especially popular in the time between Christmas and the Epiphany,today, January 6th (read more about the Appalachian tradition here). Guilford County is home to many fabulous old-time musicians and dancers, many of whom are, well, breaking up Christmas. Listen to master old-time fiddler, Benten Flippen, playing Breaking Up Christmas here.
If your New Year's resolution was to exercise more, put on your dancing shoes and head on over to the Vintage Theater in Winston-Salem TONIGHT to hear two fine Greensboro old-time musicians, Rich Hartness and Tolly Tollefson, with Kenny Greer calling (7:30 dance lessons, 8- 10 pm dancing; $7).
I have lived in Greensboro for many years, but have never heard of "breaking up Christmas." Is it just known among the fiddlers or is it practiced generally? JTM
Posted by: Jane Mitchell | Tuesday, January 06, 2009 at 09:47 AM
"Breaking up Christmas," is just known among the fiddlers/old-time music community.
Posted by: greensboro daily photo | Tuesday, January 06, 2009 at 10:22 AM
Paul Brown (NPR commentator & fine old-time musician) put together a CD several years ago that told the story of the "Breaking Up Christmas" tradition. I think it was called "A Blue Ridge Holiday." The parties apparently moved from house to house over a two week period.
On iTunes you can search for the fiddle tune "Breaking Up Christmas." The Camp Creek Boys' version is a classic.
Tommy Jarrell (1901-1985) sings on the Fred Cockerham, Oscar Jenkins and Tommy Jarrell version in iTunes. Tommy claimed to have authored the second and third verses. The third is
"Santa Claus come, done and gone,
Breaking up Christmas right along."
Posted by: David Thompson | Tuesday, January 06, 2009 at 06:53 PM
Looks like green grass clogger feet.
Posted by: Yo-Yo Ma | Friday, January 16, 2009 at 10:16 PM
They are indeed Green Grass Clogger feet. Two of the earliest members photographed at a music retreat. Thanks for noticing.
Posted by: GDP | Saturday, January 17, 2009 at 05:19 PM
Wow-love the photo! One of my readers sent me this link. Even though I'm from Western NC-I had never heard of Breaking Up Christmas until about 2 years ago. I wrote about it here if you're interested: http://www.blindpigandtheacorn.com/blind_pig_the_acorn/2008/12/johnny-b-good-breaking-up-christmas.html
Posted by: tipper | Friday, January 07, 2011 at 06:56 AM