submitted by the Clermont Historical Society
Have you ever wondered how Florida Crackers got their name? It really is an interesting story. A very long time ago when Florida was a Spanish colony, some cattlemen from the Carolinas moved into the area around St. Augustine. The Spanish were not fond of the men—they thought they were cattle rustlers—and disliked the loud noise the “rustlers’” whips made. The Spanish said it could be heard a mile and a half away! So, they started calling them “Los Craqueadors,” The Crackers. And the rest is history.
On Saturday, November 20th from 10 am – 4 pm, you can learn all about cracking a whip from an expert at the Heritage Day Festival at Clermont’s Historic Village. In addition to learning about whip cracking, there will be demonstrations of handheld tools, rug beating, rope making, hand laundry, and butter making. You will even be able to sample some butter and some home-made ice cream. There will also be old-time children’s games, docents in period costumes, early crafts, refreshments on sale and more. The day will start at 10:00 AM and last until 4:00 PM and is a perfect opportunity to expose young and old alike to history while having a great time!
Clermont’s Historic Village is a unique partnership between the City of Clermont and the Clermont Historical Society. Together they work to provide the citizens of our community and visitors from all over the world with the opportunity to step back in time to simpler eras when life moved at a slower pace—a time when people actually made most of what was needed in their daily lives. The Heritage Day Festival strives to truly bring that to life for at least one day.
So, mark your calendars right away and bring the entire family to the Historic Village on Saturday, November 20th!
