1 00:00:04,160 --> 00:00:06,680 Speaker 1: Hey, and welcome to the Short Stuff and a Happy 2 00:00:06,720 --> 00:00:10,360 Speaker 1: New Year to you. This is Short Stuff with the 3 00:00:10,400 --> 00:00:12,239 Speaker 1: Happy New Year edition. It's right. 4 00:00:12,600 --> 00:00:15,800 Speaker 2: I believe this is coming out on New Year's Day, 5 00:00:15,840 --> 00:00:18,079 Speaker 2: so I guess I mean that's still Happy New Year. 6 00:00:18,840 --> 00:00:21,919 Speaker 1: Yeah. Happy twenty five to you, Chuck, yeah, and to 7 00:00:22,040 --> 00:00:25,960 Speaker 1: you and to Jerry. Yeah. So it's appropriate that we 8 00:00:26,120 --> 00:00:29,320 Speaker 1: are talking about watch Night tonight because it is a 9 00:00:29,560 --> 00:00:34,760 Speaker 1: long standing tradition in the African American community, specifically the 10 00:00:34,840 --> 00:00:41,200 Speaker 1: African American Methodist community that every New Year's Eve they 11 00:00:41,320 --> 00:00:46,120 Speaker 1: typically hold a service starting maybe around seven pm, maybe 12 00:00:46,159 --> 00:00:50,360 Speaker 1: ten pm, and that it traditionally ends just after midnight 13 00:00:50,400 --> 00:00:53,040 Speaker 1: after the New Year. And the reason that it's so 14 00:00:53,440 --> 00:00:56,800 Speaker 1: deeply rooted in the African American community in the United 15 00:00:56,840 --> 00:01:00,800 Speaker 1: States is because there was the what's considered the first 16 00:01:00,840 --> 00:01:05,559 Speaker 1: watch Night in this tradition, came on December thirty first, 17 00:01:05,640 --> 00:01:10,839 Speaker 1: eighteen sixty two. The next day Abraham Lincoln's executive order 18 00:01:10,880 --> 00:01:14,360 Speaker 1: known as the Emancipation Proclamation would come into effect. 19 00:01:14,920 --> 00:01:17,679 Speaker 2: That's right at the stroke of midnight, bringing in that 20 00:01:17,760 --> 00:01:22,040 Speaker 2: new year. Was a very special time obviously in America, 21 00:01:22,600 --> 00:01:25,360 Speaker 2: and it was called Freedom Eve for that reason as well. 22 00:01:26,080 --> 00:01:30,160 Speaker 2: But also watch night because you're you know, you're watching 23 00:01:30,200 --> 00:01:34,280 Speaker 2: that clock ticking towards freedom. When they gathered them that 24 00:01:34,400 --> 00:01:37,080 Speaker 2: first watch night, there were a lot of churches who 25 00:01:37,080 --> 00:01:43,880 Speaker 2: got together obviously still legally enslaved people, and they waited. 26 00:01:44,520 --> 00:01:49,200 Speaker 2: It's a pretty amazing tradition. You know. Beyond that, it 27 00:01:49,280 --> 00:01:54,440 Speaker 2: celebrates community, It celebrates faith obviously, and perseverance. There's a 28 00:01:54,520 --> 00:01:58,560 Speaker 2: description from the African American Museum that says, many congregants 29 00:01:58,600 --> 00:02:00,520 Speaker 2: across the nation bow and prayer me it's before the 30 00:02:00,520 --> 00:02:04,680 Speaker 2: midnight hour, as they sing out, watchman, watchman, please tell 31 00:02:04,680 --> 00:02:07,279 Speaker 2: me the hour of the night. In return, the minister 32 00:02:07,320 --> 00:02:09,920 Speaker 2: will reply, it is three minutes to midnight. It is 33 00:02:09,960 --> 00:02:13,040 Speaker 2: one minute before the new year. It is now midnight. 34 00:02:13,200 --> 00:02:13,880 Speaker 2: Freedom has come. 35 00:02:14,560 --> 00:02:18,480 Speaker 1: Yeah, pretty neat tradition. That's amazing. I say we take 36 00:02:18,480 --> 00:02:20,280 Speaker 1: it early a break and come back and talk a 37 00:02:20,280 --> 00:02:21,560 Speaker 1: little more about this tradition. 38 00:02:21,680 --> 00:02:22,640 Speaker 2: All right, let's do it. 39 00:02:42,680 --> 00:02:46,760 Speaker 1: So, Chuck. This is very much associated with again the 40 00:02:46,800 --> 00:02:51,799 Speaker 1: African American, specifically Methodist community. One of the other traditions 41 00:02:51,919 --> 00:02:54,560 Speaker 1: is that on New Year's Day, they'll have an amazing meal, 42 00:02:55,200 --> 00:02:59,720 Speaker 1: usually of Southern cuisine like Hopin' John. Of course, potato salad, 43 00:03:00,080 --> 00:03:03,920 Speaker 1: which is more German than Southern cornbread. That's a big one, 44 00:03:04,840 --> 00:03:08,360 Speaker 1: and it just sounds as delicious as can be. And 45 00:03:08,520 --> 00:03:10,839 Speaker 1: a lot of people say, like, Okay, yes, watch Night. 46 00:03:10,880 --> 00:03:13,760 Speaker 1: The first one ever was December thirty first, eighteen sixty two. 47 00:03:14,120 --> 00:03:16,760 Speaker 1: But what a lot of people don't understand is that 48 00:03:16,960 --> 00:03:21,080 Speaker 1: watch Night was already a tradition in the Methodist denomination. 49 00:03:21,840 --> 00:03:24,919 Speaker 1: So the enslaved Africans who got together for this first 50 00:03:24,960 --> 00:03:28,000 Speaker 1: watch Night were actually doing two things. They were observing 51 00:03:28,040 --> 00:03:32,720 Speaker 1: that traditional Methodist watch Night service, but this one was 52 00:03:32,800 --> 00:03:36,920 Speaker 1: extra special because of the Emancipation Proclamation coming into effect 53 00:03:36,920 --> 00:03:37,560 Speaker 1: the next day. 54 00:03:37,880 --> 00:03:40,119 Speaker 2: Yeah, and it kind of took on a double meaning 55 00:03:40,160 --> 00:03:44,000 Speaker 2: at that point. Interestingly, it goes back to the Moravians, 56 00:03:44,320 --> 00:03:46,800 Speaker 2: who I know we've talked about more than once on 57 00:03:46,840 --> 00:03:48,000 Speaker 2: this show over the years. 58 00:03:48,360 --> 00:03:51,200 Speaker 1: That doesn't sound right. 59 00:03:51,400 --> 00:03:55,280 Speaker 2: The Moravians and I would be the Czech Republic now. 60 00:03:55,320 --> 00:03:58,080 Speaker 2: Way back in seventeen thirty three, John Wesley was the 61 00:03:58,080 --> 00:04:03,360 Speaker 2: founder of the Methodists, got it from the Moravians, brought 62 00:04:03,360 --> 00:04:07,320 Speaker 2: the watch Night vigil along to his denomination in about 63 00:04:07,360 --> 00:04:10,560 Speaker 2: seventeen forty. But these they would hold once a month 64 00:04:10,600 --> 00:04:13,680 Speaker 2: on full moons, they would have a service. I believe 65 00:04:13,720 --> 00:04:16,159 Speaker 2: the first one was in in the United States at 66 00:04:16,240 --> 00:04:18,760 Speaker 2: least was in seventeen seventy in Philadelphia at Old Saint 67 00:04:18,839 --> 00:04:25,400 Speaker 2: George's Church, and they continue to this day as Covenant 68 00:04:25,560 --> 00:04:29,280 Speaker 2: of Renewal Services. So, you know, it's a bit different 69 00:04:29,320 --> 00:04:32,080 Speaker 2: obviously than the meaning it would have later on with 70 00:04:32,120 --> 00:04:36,000 Speaker 2: the Emancipation Proclamation, but the double meaning is still held 71 00:04:36,000 --> 00:04:36,799 Speaker 2: true and dear. 72 00:04:37,240 --> 00:04:41,120 Speaker 1: Yeah, in the original Watch Night and still today. One 73 00:04:41,160 --> 00:04:43,680 Speaker 1: of the big threads to it, or the point to it, 74 00:04:43,720 --> 00:04:47,400 Speaker 1: is to get Methodists to reflect on just how well 75 00:04:47,400 --> 00:04:50,919 Speaker 1: they're living their life. I think the Snopes put it 76 00:04:50,960 --> 00:04:54,640 Speaker 1: in a way that if you basically die tomorrow, yeah, 77 00:04:54,800 --> 00:04:57,520 Speaker 1: where are you going to go? Essentially? And then, I 78 00:04:57,560 --> 00:05:00,160 Speaker 1: guess is a pretty good thing to reflect on every 79 00:05:00,480 --> 00:05:03,599 Speaker 1: four weeks because a lot of stuff can happen in 80 00:05:03,640 --> 00:05:04,119 Speaker 1: four weeks. 81 00:05:04,160 --> 00:05:07,400 Speaker 2: You know, I was doing good last month, this month 82 00:05:07,440 --> 00:05:07,720 Speaker 2: not so. 83 00:05:07,720 --> 00:05:12,560 Speaker 1: Much, right, But yeah, that eighteen sixty two Watch Night 84 00:05:12,720 --> 00:05:15,880 Speaker 1: just changed everything so much that people don't even associate 85 00:05:15,920 --> 00:05:20,640 Speaker 1: it with that original version, that Covenant Renewal Service any longer. 86 00:05:20,680 --> 00:05:24,000 Speaker 1: They just associated with it the freedom from slavery, and 87 00:05:24,120 --> 00:05:29,120 Speaker 1: of course the emancipation proclamation didn't just like immediately free slaves. 88 00:05:29,240 --> 00:05:32,400 Speaker 1: It did on paper. Legally, as far as the US 89 00:05:32,440 --> 00:05:36,560 Speaker 1: federal government was concerned, all enslaved people were free as 90 00:05:36,600 --> 00:05:41,279 Speaker 1: of January first, eighteen sixty three. But the United States, 91 00:05:41,360 --> 00:05:43,960 Speaker 1: the Union was at war with the Confederacy, and the 92 00:05:43,960 --> 00:05:48,640 Speaker 1: Confederacy wasn't exactly observing new federal laws, especially ones that 93 00:05:48,720 --> 00:05:51,080 Speaker 1: freed the enslaved people in the South. 94 00:05:51,440 --> 00:05:54,480 Speaker 2: Yeah, they weren't like, okay, well, comply it sounds good. 95 00:05:55,200 --> 00:05:58,040 Speaker 1: No, it just did not go like that. But just 96 00:05:58,160 --> 00:06:02,440 Speaker 1: the gravity of what had just happened. This executive order 97 00:06:03,240 --> 00:06:07,679 Speaker 1: proclaimed by Lincoln, which apparently first came in September twenty second, 98 00:06:07,680 --> 00:06:11,000 Speaker 1: eighteen sixty two, he basically said, hey, everybody, get ready 99 00:06:11,040 --> 00:06:14,280 Speaker 1: for it, because on January first of next year, all 100 00:06:14,360 --> 00:06:16,760 Speaker 1: enslaved people are going to be free. He said that 101 00:06:17,000 --> 00:06:20,280 Speaker 1: all persons held as slaves within any state or designated 102 00:06:20,320 --> 00:06:22,560 Speaker 1: part of a state, the people whereof shall then be 103 00:06:22,600 --> 00:06:26,480 Speaker 1: in rebellion against the United States, shall be then thenceforward 104 00:06:26,640 --> 00:06:30,919 Speaker 1: and forever free. And there's probably no sweeter words for 105 00:06:31,120 --> 00:06:34,560 Speaker 1: enslaved people to hear coming out of Abraham Lincoln's mouth 106 00:06:34,560 --> 00:06:35,120 Speaker 1: at the time. 107 00:06:35,480 --> 00:06:39,120 Speaker 2: Yeah, and then Lincoln kind of grinned and said, man, 108 00:06:39,360 --> 00:06:40,880 Speaker 2: just wait that you see the statue they're going to 109 00:06:40,880 --> 00:06:43,640 Speaker 2: build up me. Yeah, it's going to be bossed like, 110 00:06:43,720 --> 00:06:45,160 Speaker 2: people are going to love me. This is going to 111 00:06:45,240 --> 00:06:48,760 Speaker 2: be so great. Yeah, and for great reason. These days, 112 00:06:48,880 --> 00:06:54,400 Speaker 2: the services can vary kind of depending on the congregation. Sometimes, 113 00:06:54,400 --> 00:06:56,200 Speaker 2: like you said, they'll start a little earlier in the 114 00:06:56,240 --> 00:06:59,159 Speaker 2: evening and maybe end at like ten o'clock, so you 115 00:06:59,160 --> 00:07:00,839 Speaker 2: can still go out and you know, celebrate New Years 116 00:07:00,880 --> 00:07:03,320 Speaker 2: however you want. Sometimes that is New Year's for you, 117 00:07:03,640 --> 00:07:06,039 Speaker 2: and you take it all the way to midnight. Depending 118 00:07:06,040 --> 00:07:11,240 Speaker 2: on the church, they might really emphasize the Emancipation Proclamation 119 00:07:11,320 --> 00:07:13,920 Speaker 2: aspect of it. Sometimes they might do that at all. 120 00:07:14,200 --> 00:07:16,280 Speaker 2: It kind of just depends on where you're going, because 121 00:07:16,280 --> 00:07:18,080 Speaker 2: it does. It is a night that very much has 122 00:07:18,200 --> 00:07:19,400 Speaker 2: two distinct meanings. 123 00:07:19,840 --> 00:07:24,720 Speaker 1: Yeah, for those congregants whose services end at ten, they're 124 00:07:24,840 --> 00:07:27,120 Speaker 1: very well known to hop in a cab and put 125 00:07:27,160 --> 00:07:30,960 Speaker 1: on their big oversized Nivia hat and to get me 126 00:07:31,080 --> 00:07:35,840 Speaker 1: to Times Square stat. 127 00:07:34,520 --> 00:07:37,920 Speaker 2: That's one tradition. I've never had any interest in doing 128 00:07:38,320 --> 00:07:38,880 Speaker 2: me either. 129 00:07:39,640 --> 00:07:43,240 Speaker 1: That sounds so terrible. I mean, of course, the legend 130 00:07:43,240 --> 00:07:46,080 Speaker 1: associated with it, which apparently is quite true. It's like 131 00:07:46,240 --> 00:07:48,720 Speaker 1: if you have to pe ts for you because you 132 00:07:48,840 --> 00:07:51,200 Speaker 1: have to stay in the same spot that you arrived 133 00:07:51,240 --> 00:07:53,440 Speaker 1: in and if you leave, you cannot come back in. 134 00:07:53,800 --> 00:07:56,239 Speaker 1: So if you want to stay there until midnight, buddy, 135 00:07:56,280 --> 00:07:57,880 Speaker 1: you better be able to hold your pee for like 136 00:07:58,120 --> 00:07:58,880 Speaker 1: six hours. 137 00:07:59,280 --> 00:08:04,679 Speaker 2: You know, people are being in things. 138 00:08:01,560 --> 00:08:06,640 Speaker 1: Right Yeah. You know if you look over somebody zoned 139 00:08:06,640 --> 00:08:09,320 Speaker 1: out and they have like a look of relief across 140 00:08:09,360 --> 00:08:11,280 Speaker 1: their face, they're peeing themselves right then? 141 00:08:11,480 --> 00:08:14,440 Speaker 2: Yeah, why is that God drinking yellow gatorade? 142 00:08:14,960 --> 00:08:20,880 Speaker 1: Crony? Yeah, short stuff is app Happy New Year, everybody. 143 00:08:22,560 --> 00:08:25,440 Speaker 2: Stuff you Should Know is a production of iHeartRadio. For 144 00:08:25,560 --> 00:08:29,720 Speaker 2: more podcasts my heart Radio, visit the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, 145 00:08:29,840 --> 00:08:31,679 Speaker 2: or wherever you listen to your favorite shows.