‘Christmas comes to Currie’ and takes the community back to the year 1776

WILMINGTON, N.C. (WECT) - The Moores Creek National Battlefield invited people to experience Christmas in 1776.

Historians want to share the holiday experience of people who lived through the Battle of Moores Creek Bridge.

They held an event on Saturday with several stations that showed demonstrations of their lives. It included a naval store booth, a candle-making activity, a corn husk doll class and a food presentation.

One employee said this was one of the best storytelling tools.

“We can talk about history and it’s fine, but until you can actually come and experience it first hand, like actually take your hand dip a candle, make a corn husk doll. See all these different things for yourself I think it always history to have more impact and make it real for most folks,” said Jason Collins.

Collins said their holidays didn’t have modern-day traditions.

“Christmas trees weren’t around too much, but you do have wreaths on doors. No Christmas lights, but that’s why we have a candlemaker here. You would have seen candles in windows,” said Collins.

On a bench sat a woman in a dress. She represented what a middle-class woman would have been doing during the season. She was practicing her embroidery. They were also the ones who made wreaths for wealthy people.

The children back then also had a different experience.

“One of the demonstrations is our musket firing program. It was not uncommon for kids to be given musket as Christmas presents which is kind of surprising today,” said Collins. “We are showing Christmas morning, it would not have been unusual to hear muskets firing because kids were playing with toys.”

The employees also invited a special guest to include a modern-day twist. Santa Claus showed up for the children.

The Moores Creek National Battlefield has more events planned.

It will do something for the 250th anniversary in February. It hopes to have similar demonstrations and a reenactment.