Time for Surnatin’
Before I talk about surnators let me tell you one of the neatest things we got for Christmas was some fresh eggs. The eggs were laid by Rhode Island Red Hens and they are beautiful. I used to know a needy lady in Georgia who would blow the inside of the egg out. You bought the eggs, gave them to her and she blew them for her family to have eggs , then gave the shells (still intact) back to you. That way they could be decorated in whatever manner chosen. These would be so pretty decorated for Easter — and are so different. They are tan– a lot darker than ecru. Wonder if I could blow them. I used to have an uncle who would visit this house and if eggs were on the table he made a hole in each end and drank the egg. Ugh!!
Back to surnators — no I didn’t mean serenaders. Perhaps way back when they were supposed to be called serenaders, but here on the mountain it was pronounced surnators. The week between Christmas and New Year’s was a time of celebration, slow-paced country living with lots of visiting. So it was the time for surnators to go a-callin’.
Surnators reminded you of what trick or treaters are today; however, they were adults and teenagers — they traveled in groups and usually went inside the home — at least some homes — and partied. They came dressed in “costume” and had on masks. Masks were made from paper sacks with holes – or maybe a stocking pulled down over the face. Of course, the home owner probably knew these people and they invited in and served goodies. I remember some coming to the home of my sister when she lived in Fyffe. She played the piano and they sung Christmas carols. Lots of laughing, joking and talk went on at one of these get togethers. I remember Sis served peanut brittle and parched peanuts — along with coffee and hot cider — things most farmers on the mountain would have on hand. We no longer see surnators — today people would be afraid to open their homes to masked men and women. .
I was a little girl at that time and I remember to this day how afraid I was of all those strangers. That was a different day and age and a different kind of country living