Christmas and New Year's are pretty laid back in the mountains. The only claim to fame we have is the (in)famous "Possum Drop" over in Brass Town--there were 72,000 attendants this year. Now, before y'all call PITA (who fights this every year), have you ever seen a possum? I don't know where the idea of friendly possum Mommies hanging upside down from tree branches, along with her numerous offspring, but let me tell you...there ain't no such thing in these here parts. Possums are some of the nastiest,vicious types of vermin you'll ever come across. They have razor-sharp teeth, will attack anyone or thing in its way (including small pets), and carry every sort of disease imaginable. The folks that originated the Possum Drop would find a healthy adult, place him in a large cage and feed him delicacies that only possums can appreciate. On New Year's Eve, our now-full bellied possum is escorted into a large plexiglass chamber containing more of his favorite snacks, plenty of water and more air holes/vents, one isn't always sure the chamber, filled with a fat possum and all those dots and slashes for ventilation, not to mention all the tiny, white sparkling lights that surround the the entire container--mimicking NYC's Time Square spectacle. And at the 10 second countdown to the new year, His Highness, King Possum encased in his brightly lit carrier, is lowered to the ground at the stroke of midnight, celebrating the arrival of the new year. He is then released back into the forests that make up these mountain, complete with a sort of Special Agent to ensure that the possum makes it out of the sight of the crowds and can resume his life of avoiding cars on the highway.
According to WRTB, the NBC affiliate in Chattanooga, TN, reported that the "
residents say it's just good, clean family fun.
"Rednecks have a lot of fun, and it don't take a lot of money or things to do. We just do plain old silly, stupid stuff, just Southern things that we do," says event founder Clay Logan. "You know, we're not rednecks anymore, we're Appalachian Americans so we can do other things now than just being silly."
The event featured music, fireworks and a womanless beauty pageant. "
To experience the festivities for yourself, follow the link below.
http://www.wrcbtv.com/story/24340754/north-carolina-residents-celebrate-possum-drop
Music, food , (slowly) dropping possums AND a
womenless beauty contest? What more could anyone ask for? Whoops! Gotta go! Just saw someone walk by with a place full of deliciousness! Oh, and girls? If you want to know what its like to be treated like a
Lady, believe me...you won't be disappointed! 2014, bring it on!!!!!!!
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