SHOP OUR BSB MEDIA FAVORITES

Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. All opinions remain my own.

Black Southern Belles Share Special Watch Night Memories and NYE Traditions

Black Southern Belles Share Special Watch Night Memories and NYE Traditions

We know the food traditions and even have a few treasured recipes to bring in the New Year. But sometimes it’s the memories and family traditions that linger and inspire even more. These wonderful Black Southern Belles (and Belle affiliates) share some of their Watch Night memories and New Year’s Eve traditions with us. Seven is the number of completion, so these reflections are a great way to complete the old year. 

By Unknown httpscdnbritannicacom92213392 050 960FC1CACarte de visite Watch Meeting December 31 1862 Wating for the Hour African Americans Emancipation Proclamationjpg Public Domain httpscommonswikimediaorgwindexphpcurid=100909372

Rhonda McKnight, Author, SC

My most memorable Watch Night service taught me the history of Freedom’s Eve. The African Methodist Episcopal churches in our county, of which I attended one, held a joint service one year. The service included a play. The production recreated the evening of December 31, 1862, on a southern plantation. The characters included enslaved adults and children. There was also an overseer and a Black preacher. There was singing, poetry recitation, and prayers. The show included liturgical dance and mime. Tall posts were placed in the four corners of the room, where enslaved men squatted in wait. They were the watchmen. At midnight, a proclamation was read by the overseer. The men on the post blew trumpets, jumped down, and shed their worn, tattered clothing, for shiny new ones. Confetti filled the night sky, music filled the air, and thunderous dancing began. I was twelve at the time. The celebration of Freedom’s Eve became indelibly etched into my memory, and I’ve forever held it close to my heart.

Advertisements

Dawn Courtney, Writer and Speaker, Salisbury, NC

I lived with my grandparents in Virginia; however, during the holidays, my sister, best friend and I would visit my aunt and uncle in Maryland. As children, our New Year’s Eve festivities consisted of being at home while the adults would attend some New Year’s Eve gatherings. We would stay up and watch Dick Clark on television. It wasn’t until I was a teenager that I went out for New Year’s Eve. My first time going out on New Year’s Eve was to a party with my dad and my uncles.

By African American Photographs Assembled for 1900 Paris Exposition Library of CongressCatalog httplccnlocgov99472262Image download httplcweb2locgovservicepnpcph3c200003c240003c248003c24828vjpgOriginal url httphdllocgovlocpnpcph3c24828 Public Domain httpscommonswikimediaorgwindexphpcurid=32256483

Kenya Woodard, Journalist and PR practitioner, Tampa, FL

When I think of celebrating New Year’s Eve as a kid, I’m reminded of resolutions, new beginnings, and video countdowns. I’m also reminded of pizza. And not just any pizza. But a kitchen sink whopper of a pie from Rico’s called The Works. If I try hard enough, I can still taste the combination of briny green olives and slightly acidic tomato sauce. Dressed in our pajamas, my sister, brother, and I would huddle around the kitchen table – likely with our six-day-old dolls and gadgets in tow – gleefully gobbling down the squares. It was the star of a junk food feast arranged by my mother, who made sure we had our stash of snacks and drinks before she and my stepfather left us with the babysitter. I participated in this ritual until I left for college and began spending New Year’s Eve with friends.

Falan Goff, Agribusiness Expert and Genealogist, Fort Lauderdale, FL

My family is Creole and Catholic. New Year’s Eve was spent attending mass, then returning home to cook for New Year’s Day. We had and have a woman-centered tradition of gathering in the kitchen to make gumbo and desserts, while the men sleep or do something else. It is special, because it’s one of the occasions we gather from all points – Mobile, AL, NOLA, Florida and beyond. The joy of being with elders who dispense wisdom, family stories and laughter freely and lovingly is what I cherish about New Year’s Eve then and now. 

Karen Riley Simmons, Writer and Fine Arts Advocate, Alexandria, LA

My Watch Night memories are filled with black church—singing and praying, preaching and testimonies. When I was growing up, our family worshiped at a large United Methodist Church in New Orleans. The service was spirit-filled, while reflective. Songs we sang on Watch Night were mostly hymns with some old-time gospel songs sung by the choir. Folks would stand and share about how God had blessed them through the old year and the pastor would preach or one of the members would bring a meditation. One year, when I was in my mid-20s, our pastor asked me to speak. My meditation was titled “A New Year’s ReVolution” and I talked about how revolutionary a New Year’s resolution to follow Christ truly could be.

In the early years of my marriage, my husband was the Minister of Music at a large Baptist church in one of Louisiana’s rural River Parishes. Worship services there were generally livelier, with much more clapping and vocal praise and shouting. I loved the pageantry of the Watch Night services: the “knee-bowed and body-bent” prayers of the deacons; the “Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah” lined-out devotional hymns; the “my determination” and “pray for me, saints, as I pray for you” testimonies of the members; and especially the 11:59 pm “don’t want this year to end and me a sinner” conversions. I especially loved those!

Kimberly Brock Brown, National President, American Culinary Federation, Charleston, SC

Growing up in Maywood a western suburb of Chicago, we had a fairly simple lifestyle especially on New Year’s Eve. We were at home with the TV on watching Dick Clark and playing games. Pokeno or card games (spades, gin rummy, tunk…) board games (Trouble, Sorry, Life…).

The holidays were the only time the “good” wine glasses were used and we children were given a glass of Morgan David. We thought we were doing something special drinking wine at midnight from mom’s beloved gem colored wine glasses! 

Robin Caldwell, Black Foodways Writer and Researcher, Up South in St. Louis

I’ve only attended a handful of Watch Night services, so the memories are a bit vague. There would be lots of music, a sermon, and it would end at 11 p.m., so people could go to their parties or continue celebrating at home. However, one of my most memorable New Year’s Eve experiences involved my great-uncle and aunt and parties at their house. I was always the youngest one there, by default I was the go-get-it-girl for a bunch of wonderful, raucous elders who were my uncle and aunt’s lifelong friends, sorority sisters, church members and neighbors. They played great music, turned on Dick Clark at midnight to watch the ball drop, and after that, they reveled with storytelling and dancing. Until he turned 90, my uncle performed his annual New Year’s Eve trick of doing a headstand, and holding it. My aunt was the consummate hostess from East Texas, so we had ribs and chitlins, fried chicken, and there was always a roast. I think my favorite part of these celebrations was feeling loved and needed, and even adored by them and their friends. And my next favorite part was taking home tons of leftover food, so I could begin the new year without having to cook. 

By Russell Lee US National Archives and Records Administration Public Domain httpscommonswikimediaorgwindexphpcurid=17046859

Robin Caldwell

Robin Caldwell is the blogger behind freshandfriedhard.com and academic researcher focusing on Black history, heritage and culture. Public historian primarily in Black American historical foodways: antebellum and regional.

More Posts

Follow Me:
TwitterFacebook

3

Comments

comments

Follow:
Robin Caldwell

Robin Caldwell is the blogger behind freshandfriedhard.com and academic researcher focusing on Black history, heritage and culture. Public historian primarily in Black American historical foodways: antebellum and regional.

Find me on: Twitter/X | Instagram | Facebook

1 Comment

Leave a Reply to Rhonda McKnight Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Instagram
1   25
0   21
2   101
2   31
2   19

Follow on Instagram

Shop Our Favorites!
LEROY CAMPBELL CAREFREE HAND SIGNED AFRICAN AMERICAN ART
Gullah Spirit: The Art of Jonathan Green
35″” x 35″” Juneteenth by Synthia Saint James Canvas Art Print – Masterpiece Art Gallery
‘Beyonce’ Graphic Art Print on Wrapped Canvas Size: 18″ H x 26″ W x 1.5″ D
HBCU’s Canvas Print
A Different World (TV) 11 x 17 TV Poster – Style A
(27×40) Eve’s Bayou Movie Samuel L Jackson Lynn Whitfield Original Poster Print
Yes. Jesus Loves Me (Religious) – Katherine Roundtree 16×20 Black Framed
Dancing in The Living Room (Girls) – Katherine Roundtree 24×32 Black Framed – African American Black Art Print Wall Decor Poster
The Goodbye Kiss (Buffalo Soldier) – Katherine Roundtree 24×32 Black Framed – African American Black Art Print Wall Decor Poster
Amanti Art Funeral Procession Framed Art Print
Goddesses by Synthia SAINT JAMES Canvas Wall Art 3 Piece
227 – TV SHOW 80’S CLASSIC SHOW PRINT, GIFT FOR BEST FRIEND, FOR MOM, HOME DECOR, BLACK ART POP ART, FEMINIST
MASTER PIECE LESSONS GULLAH ISLANDS WALL ART, 35X35
GULLAH IMAGES: THE ART OF JONATHAN GREEN
GULLAH GEECHEE HERITAGE IN THE GOLDEN ISLES (PAPERBACK)
MASTER PIECE JOOK JOINT GULLAH ISLANDS WALL ART, 35X35
MY KIND OF NET ART PRINT BY GULLAH LIVING SERIES BY SAMANTHA CLAAR – X-LARGE
35″ X 35″ GULLAH GEECHEE CONJURE WOMAN BY SYNTHIA SAINT JAMES CANVAS ART PRINT – MASTERPIECE ART GALLERY
RING SHOUT GULLAH ISLANDS – UNFRAMED PRINT ON CANVAS WORLD MENAGERIE
MASTER PIECE GATHERING GULLAH ISLANDS WALL ART, 30X40
Shop Now

Click to Shop!

Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. All opinions remain my own.

SHOP OUR FAVORITES
Shares