Christmas on the Chesapeake 1609-2013 by James Dawson The Chesapeake has seen many Christmases over the years. In fact, it saw one of the first Christmases in the New World when Capt. John Smith spent Christmas 1609 with a Native American tribe, where Capt. Smith had “plenty of victualls” with the “Salvages.” WHAT follows are highlights of some Christmases through the centuries on the Chesapeake.
Circa January 6, 1609 ~ In his Generall Historie of Virginia published in 1624, Capt. John Smith describes a very early Christmas in THE Native American village OF Old Point Comfort in Virginia. However, I might add that this one was not celebrated on December 25, nor had his Native American hosts ever heard of Christmas, nor were they even Christians! But, those
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