One thing that can be said about Florida is that the Sunshine State’s history dates back a fair distance. As someone who looks into the history of things, I was curious about early Christmas celebratory practices. It came as little surprise that, in the United States, the first recorded Christmas celebration appears to have happened in Florida.
The event occurred a long, long time ago, in 1530. It was not a classic Christmas, nor a particularly peaceful occasion for those celebrating the holiday. It was probably rougher for those who weren’t. It happened after Spanish conquistador Hernando de Soto arrived with 600 people, a number that included soldiers, enslaved people, and a dozen Catholic priests. The group settled in an abandoned town in what we consider Florida’s panhandle. The town, called Anhaica, was near present-day Tallahassee.
The people who lived there, the Apalachee, saw the advancing Spanish force and, wary of the interlopers, abandoned their village. Upon arrival, Soto and his group made themselves at home. When the Spaniards celebrated their Christmas feast, they raided the town’s stores of maize, beans, and other foods. As it could be imagined, the Apalachee were upset and, in an effort to hasten the thieves’ departure, threw torches and shot arrows.
Christmas celebrations and the Christmas spirit have certainly come a long way since it was introduced to the country. While Santa Claus might not have shown up on that first Christmas, he has found his way to Florida and down to the Keys for a long, long time. The Dec. 27, 1928 edition of the Key West Citizen noted: “The usual Key West Christmas. Not a serious accident or disorder to mar the pleasures of the season. Speaks well for the community. Few cities of this size can truthfully claim such a commendable record.”
In the same edition, the following was printed: “Old Santa was lavish in his remembrances of Key West kiddies. He put a lot of them on wheels and gave many little tots the very things they most desired. Don’t tell them there’s no Santa Claus and expect them to believe it.”
While the subtropics don’t generally come with festive temperatures, and the houses do not typically come with fireplaces enabling Santa to spread his holiday cheer, Saint Nick’s presence is felt up and down the island chain. He is also known to bring some of that quirk unique to the Keys.
Here, Santa is more likely to show up in local neighborhoods atop a shiny red fire engine than a sleigh drawn by magic reindeer. He can also be spotted napping in hammocks, riding around on boats, and occasionally walking down Duval Street.
Also, it isn’t just everywhere that attracts national attention when a scuba diving Santa Claus is filmed swimming out at one of the local reefs.
While the rest of the country is decorating pine trees and putting Santa hats on snowmen, a nighttime drive down the Overseas Highway – when Christmas lights begin twinkling with white, blue, green and red – reveals lighted palm trees, dolphins, turtles, manatees and so much more of our island goodness.
One of the highlights of every holiday season is the lighting of Fred the Tree. Who is Fred, and why does the tree bear his name? Fred is a minor Florida Keys celebrity who most recently appeared in the Jake Gyllenhaal remake of the Patrick Swayze classic movie “Road House.”
What makes Fred special is that the tree has managed to dig its roots into the crumbling remains of the Pacet Channel Viaduct, a section of one of the old Flagler railroad bridges (one of four that make up the old Seven Mile Bridge). What Fred might do best is remind the world that anything is possible. For years now, every holiday season, elves scale the old bridge and adorn Fred with some much-welcomed holiday cheer. When the magic of the holiday season is upon us, Fred’s message is one that needs to ring loud and clear.
One of the Christmas traditions I’ve been celebrating for the last several years is participating in the annual Lignumvitae Christmas. Every year, the Friends of the Islamorada Area State Parks organize the event – which not only shines some light on one of the island chain’s often-overlooked state parks, but celebrates the island’s tremendous history.
The island’s historic home, the Matheson House, built of coral rock in 1919, is decorated for the holiday the way it was back in the 1930s. Park rangers lead guided walks along trails through the island’s relatively unspoiled hammock. Lawn games like croquet are set up in the grass. A local group of musicians called the Mangrove Swamp Band plays Christmas tunes and other favorites.
For my part, I’ll be sharing stories about the island’s early residents, its connection to Indian Key, and answer the question of why the tombstone of Jacob Housman, the wrecker king of Indian Key, is on Lignumvitae Key instead of where the notorious wrecker was buried in 1841. I’ll also be sitting at my booth all day talking history with anyone who stops by to chat. Also, if you still need to pick up a copy of one of my books, what a perfect opportunity to get a signed copy. They make great gifts, too.
Every year, Lignumvitae Christmas is an amazing way to spend the day indulging in some good old-fashioned Florida Keys fun while supporting a great cause. Tickets are limited for this event, which includes a boat ride from Robbie’s of Islamorada to and from the island. Act quickly! Lignumvitae Christmas is happening this Saturday, Dec. 7. For more information, call 305-664-2540.
