Barefoot and Busy: Traditions and Trading

Canton Trade Days is a pretty well known (famous to some of us) event in our area. Oh, how I love this place! So much so, that I am dedicating a post to it! A little history first….

How the Trade Days began

“In the earliest days of Van Zandt county, the District Judge arrived in Canton on the first monday of each month to conduct court. As we have seen in the old Western movies, court was a spectacle then (much as it can be now on TV) so the people would come in from their farms for the entertainment. Once together the people began bringing their goods for trade and the trades day became a custom that survived the civil war and all the social upheaval that ensued.

The image above, "The Trade," which is featured at the East gate of the original trade grounds, is an example of the simple trades that took place 150 years ago. "Will ya trade your dog for my gun?" After an inspection of the gun, the deal was made.

Perhaps some trades are still made the same way, but now literally millions of dollars change hands at each market in Canton. From a few traders pre-Civil War, to the quarter million that is now common over a four day weekend, Canton Trade Days has prospered.”

History was quoted from http://cantontradedays.com/town/

I can’t recall the first time that I went to Canton, but over the last 5 years, my mom and I started going yearly. It has become a tradition for us and we look forward to it each year. We pack our own lunches and purchased our own carrying cart (you see tons of these in Canton), and have mapped out our favorite places. The smell of dew on the grass and coffees in hand, we arrive early in hopes of finding good treasures! These trips aren’t JUST about the shopping (though that is a fun part of it). It is about making memories with my mom and carrying on traditions of the past. There is a part of me that loves how the trade days are a link to history. So many things have been lost to the modern convenience of malls and shopping online. Don’t get me wrong…I love to shop in malls and online, but this is special and different.

My mom and I at Canton in fall of 2010.

You can see how many cars are behind me. It's kind of a big deal around here...:)

These annual trips are something that I hope to carry on with Madeline. I look forward to creating wonderful memories with my little girl at this historic place. This year was her first trip to Canton! My mom was not able to make it on this occasion; however we were so blessed to have the company of Madeline’s Mimi!