How to Survive in the Roanoke Colony

The problem... had been resolved.

The conflict with the Iroquois was settled, and the victims were reassured that such incidents would not happen again.

We also established principles that must be followed during future missionary work.

Feeling that this was enough, I left immediately after their festival. It was appropriate to give them space, as having an outsider constantly present would make them anxious and uncomfortable.

Of course, there was another reason.

Very close to their festival day...

"Will we end up spending Christmas on the ship this year?"

"You guys, where's my gift?"

"None for you. Hanging up stockings won't do you any good, so go back and prepare gifts for your daughter."

Because we had our own festival.

Now it's... Christmas Eve, December 24, 1608.

This is my twentieth Christmas in this world.

As soon as I stepped out of my cabin, rubbing my eyes at the sound of conversations outside the door... the entire place was in chaos.

"...this much?"

Bright red stockings hung from every cabin door and hammock, and a red carpet was laid out along the corridor. Neatly rolled Christmas wreaths decorated the walls throughout.

...oh, wow.

For people who used to just accept Christmas as a holiday and say things like, "Well, it's Jesus's birthday, so we should celebrate," they're being quite enthusiastic.

Have they all adapted now?

"Hey! I told you to set up the tree properly! How many times has it fallen over now... geez..."

"Don't be so harsh! It's Christmas, isn't it?"

"Then you should do better on Christmas day!"

Thinking this, I went up to the deck... where people were still busily preparing for tomorrow.

Red and white dyed cotton fluff and fabric decorations were scattered throughout the ship, and the sailors each wore antler decorations on their heads.

They were headbands made with real deer antlers. And on their noses, are those red beads?

Anyway, as I walked onto the deck, Vicente, who had been giving various orders to the sailors, turned around, saw me, and shouted:

"Merry Christmas!"

"Isn't it still Christmas Eve?"

"In just 15 minutes, it will be midnight. The Lord would forgive such a small error. Anyway, spending a proper Christmas on a ship! Thanks to that missionary, we're having quite an unusual experience!"

...Right. It is a "proper" Christmas.

From head to toe.

Looking at Vicente González in his red clothes from socks to hat, I couldn't help but think so.

"Did you perhaps... order the sailors' Rudolph costumes?"

"Yes! I did! Fortunately, everyone seems to like them!"

"Presents! Presents! Presents! Presents!"

"...They do seem to be enjoying themselves."

No, perhaps overly enthusiastic might be the right way to put it. Their festive spirit seemed to overflow beyond any reasonable measure, as if the confined space of our vessel demanded an inversely proportional expansion of holiday cheer to compensate.

It felt like they were pouring all their efforts into enjoying Christmas 200 times more on this small ship, cramming every tradition and decoration into our limited quarters with an almost desperate determination. The crew members moved about with permanent grins, singing carols at all hours and distributing handmade gifts with zealous insistence.

I'm not sure what drove this extraordinary display. Perhaps it was homesickness, or the need to create warmth in the midst of the vast, cold ocean. Anyway, the atmosphere was incredible—almost surreal in its intensity.

On the tree, a real cut pine tree placed in the middle of the deck and secured against the rolling waves, oil lamps hung all around, casting dancing golden light across the wooden planks. Various ornaments sparkled between them—some clearly handcrafted from materials found aboard, others treasured keepsakes brought from distant homes. Glass baubles reflected the lamplight, multiplying its glow into countless tiny stars.

The star placed at the very top, representing the Star of Bethlehem that rose with the birth of Jesus, was the only decoration that emitted its own light, brought from my home.

There were also variations, such as belts woven from Wampum, a sacred item valued by the natives, wrapped around the tree, or someone had drawn Santa riding a canoe instead of a sleigh on the ship's railing.

More noticeable than anything else was...

"Be careful moving those beads! Don't break them!"

"Have all the beads been strung?"

"Wait...! I haven't finished stringing them all!"

Not native culture.

Nor European culture, but those truly random decorations.

Thin strips of leather with small glass beads strung at intervals and hung in long strands.

The sailors were happily wrapping these strands around the tree and throughout the ship. The beads on the strands sparkled blue or bright red in the moonlight and firelight.

...The origin of these unfamiliar decorations was surprisingly clear.

When I first introduced 21st-century Christmas customs to people, the first thing I showed them was the Christmas tree. It was the least likely to cause resistance and visually impressive.

Taking out a dusty tree from home, assembling it, adding decorations, and then...

Click, turning on the lights.

Those sparkling LED lights from that time.

"Everyone! Be careful not to break the LED beads and hurt yourselves!"

"Yes, sir!"

...were imitated to create LED beads (non-illuminating, not diodes).

...

...

...

Well, traditions are often born this way.

I shrugged my shoulders and picked up a nearby Rudolph headband to try on.

"Mr. Nemo! Merry Christmas!"

Wow, it was terribly heavy.

==

Christmas was being celebrated grandly on Croatoan Island as well.

"Ignition!"

Click!

"His entire mansion is lit up...!"

"He told the apostles to prepare everything before he left, I heard."

No, it was much grander.

Kin Issei's farm sparkled with genuine Christmas lights everywhere, and as the villagers prepared the feast while looking at the mesmerizing sight that resembled countless stars descending to earth.

But this feast wasn't just for the people of Croatoan Island. It was none other than the Lord's birthday.

Moreover, it was a monumental Christmas marking exactly 20 years since He came down to this land to save them.

In a way, it was also like the 20th anniversary of the community, so people ran around busy and laughing joyfully in an irrepressible excitement.

Almost every tree near the village was decorated with ornaments, candles, and lamps.