“Christmas Capers” recreates Christmas Eve tradition of throwing chickens off roof of downtown building
Hosted by the City of Madison and the Madison Sesquicentennial Committee to celebrate Madison’s 150th and Alabama’s 200th anniversary, the event has its roots to a time when many residents in Madison didn’t have much, especially for Christmas.
During years of the Great Depression in the early 1930s, ‘Doc” Hughes started a holiday tradition dubbed the “Christmas Chicken Capers,” according to “Madison Station, Historic Downtown Madison, 1856-2015” by Madison Station Historical Preservation Society.
On Christmas Eve, ‘Doc’ Hughes would toss live chickens from the roof. The chickens had tags attached to their legs; people could redeem the tags for prizes in Hughes’ store. Anyone who caught the chickens (sometimes turkeys, some people say) received the prizes and kept the chicken for Christmas dinner.
“It was a great service to the community and we wanted to honor and remember that during our 150th celebration,” said Sesquicentennial Committee co-chair Debbie Overcash. “It went great. Everyone had a lot of fun recreating it.”
Larry Anderson and Walt Anderson, grandsons of ‘Doc’ Hughes, reenacted the Christmas Capers. From the roof of the old drug store, they threw moon pies, bead necklaces and rubber chickens with gift vouchers from supporting businesses tied to their legs.
During the celebration, the Sesquicentennial Committee served 150th birthday cake and cupcakes to spectators, and the Rotary Club of Madison offered hot chocolate, while Christmas melodies from ensembles with the Madison City Community Orchestra filled the air.
The “Christmas Capers” were followed by the Madison Christmas Parade, which made its entrance into downtown Madison with the theme, The Madison Station Polar Express.
