It’s the 23rd annual Christmas Night dance at the Nelson Town Hall. Festivities begin at 7:30 pm. We’ll stop dancing early because there will be a dessert potluck afterward so bring treats. Admission is free — the Monadnock Folklore Society sponsors this dance as a gift to the community.
Once upon a time, in the town of Nelson, a wonderful tradition was born.
Some years ago, the callers and dancers at a Monday Night Contra Dance
realized that Christmas was going to fall on a Monday that year. Imagine
the dilemma! Nelson has always held a public contra dance on Monday nights.
If they were to skip Christmas, then the world record would end. Not
wishing to jeopardize the record, and wishing to see good friends and family
again, the tradition began!One year we had three feet of snow. But Bob McQuillen drove up for the
dance, Don Primrose showed up to call and there was a family visiting from
New York that wanted to dance on Christmas Day. We couldn’t get into the
hall because of the snow, so we moved the furniture from our living room and
Bob played his accordion. That night was my favorite of all the Christmas
dances.”
This story about one of Nelson’s traditions was submitted by Val Van Meier.