So, how did Central Florida's pioneers divide up all the work they had to do to survive?
As previously noted in discussing Gender (Folkway #5), work was NOT strictly divided between "men's work" and "women's work."
Both men and women toiled on area farm land and in the groves. Both genders tended livestock. Male and female pioneers did the butchering and dressing of meat. And, everyone helped cut and gather firewood.
A strong work ethic was instilled at a very young age. Everyone in a pioneer family was expected to rise before dawn to get the day started--not just because there was so much work to do, but also because those early hours were the coolest part of the day. No one wanted to work under the merciless Florida sun any more than was absolutely necessary.
The pioneers' modern-day descendants are gathering today at Cypress Grove Park on Holden Avenue to begin setting-up for this weekend's Pine Castle Pioneer Days festival. If you'd like to follow the tradition of pitching-in, visit www.pinecastlepioneerdays.org or call 407-427-9692 for more details on how to get involved!
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