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Old Christmas Outer Bankers have always been independent and Old Christmas is evident of that. When King George II ordered England and its colonies to switch from the Julian to the Gregorian calendar in 1752, which meant a loss of eleven days, Outer Bankers rebelled and continued to celebrate Christmas on the old day, which that year fell on January 5. The tradition has continued. Now Old Christmas is celebrated on the Saturday closest to January 5 (so long as it doesn't fall on New Year's weekend), with a shooting match, oyster roast, chicken stew, and square dance at the Rodanthe Community Center. Highlight of the occasion is the traditional appearance of Ol' Buck, a mythical maverick steer that could never be found during open-range roundups. "Be good," generations of Outer Banks children have been told, "or Ol' Buck will get you." Buck shows up once a year just as a reminder. In years past, Old Christmas celebrations were a bit rowdy. "There used to be more fighting," one resident remembers. "They would fight until the last man would fall."
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