Thursday, December 25, 2025

Merry Christmas! On this day in 1861, North Carolinians clung to tradition during the Civil War's first holiday, despite the absence of soldiers. At the Wilmington mansion of John D. Bellamy, wreaths adorned mirrors, while children's toys and candy hung on Christmas trees. Bellamy's neighbor, John Taylor, hosted a feast with duck, oysters, turkey, ham, brandy peaches, and five kinds of pies.

How grand is your Christmas feast? Let us know by answering today's Poll.

Also, thanks to everyone who responded to our request for Christmas memories. We immensely enjoyed reading them and share some below in Top Stories.

Today's edition will be a bit shorter than usual to allow us time with our families. In honor of the Christmas holiday, the entire Flyover North Carolina team wishes you a day filled with peace, joy, love, and good food.

As this is the one day of the year our whole team takes off, there'll be no Flyover North Carolina tomorrow. Our weekend editions will be a bit shorter as well, so our staff can spend time with their families. The full Flyover North Carolina will return on Monday.

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Take The Flyover with you. Busy day? Listen to our daily 15-minute podcast while commuting, cooking, or walking the dog—your Flyover fix, anywhere.

Readers Share Favorite Christmas Memories

As you celebrate Christmas with loved ones today, we hope you enjoy these Christmas memories from some of our readers.

Patrick from Lake Lure recalls feeling so overwhelmed when he met Santa that he forgot to ask him for the steel Tonka crane he wanted. "My father told me not to worry, he'd know what I wanted," and sure enough, that Tonka crane was under the tree on Christmas morning.

Lou from Greensboro says her son's Dec. 25 birth made it "the best Christmas ever," while Nina from Kill Devil Hills says motherhood prompted her to cherish "the quietness of Christmas evening," after all of the presents were opened and everyone's bellies were full.

Debbie from Charlotte loved waking up each year to a tree Santa decorated while she was sleeping. And "KC in NC" won't ever forget unwrapping "every single present before mom and dad woke up! From that year on, our stockings were hung on our bedroom doorknob. That is how far we were allowed to go until our parents were awake!"

NC Students Design Ornaments for Natl. Tree

The National Christmas Tree in Washington, D.C.'s President's Park was lit on Dec. 4 and is adorned with unique ornaments made by students from every U.S. state, territory, and the District of Columbia.

Fourth-grade students at Raleigh's Hunter GT/AIG Magnet Elementary School were asked to design ornaments for the tree reflecting the theme, "What makes our state beautiful." A student named Olivia designed an ornament with baby sea turtles in front of a sunset. Others feature a lighthouse, bald eagle, wild horse, and sailboat.

North Carolina growers have frequently been selected to provide the White House Blue Room Christmas Tree through the National Christmas Tree Association's contest. Since 1966, farms from the state have been chosen 16 times.

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➤ Statewide: North Carolina celebrates winter traditions through America 250 initiatives that include historic candlelight tours, 18th-century holiday reenactments in New Bern, World War II-era battleship festivities, Moravian culinary heritage, winter concerts, and community programs. (See Details)

➤ Statewide: Chain restaurants open today with dine-in, takeout, and delivery options include Denny's, IHOP, Waffle House, Red Lobster, and more. (See Triangle and Charlotte locations)

➤ Asheville: Restaurants open today include Bargello, Hemingway's Cuba, Mehfil, and options at Omni Grove Park Inn. Reservations are recommended. (More)

➤ Wilmington and Asheville: A Redfin analysis shows median home prices in two North Carolina towns featured in holiday movies. Wilmington, which has appeared in Hallmark films such as Christmas in Conway, has a median home price of $470,000. Asheville, home to Biltmore Estate and featured in Hallmark's A Biltmore Christmas, has a median price of $450,000. (More)

➤ Manteo: Atlantic Autism Services hosted Sensory Santa on Dec. 13, a sensory-friendly Christmas event for Outer Banks families with autistic children, featuring a calm setting and a patient, low-pressure Santa. (See Photos)

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