People in Clay County, North Carolina, had been dropping a live opossum instead of a normal ball since 1990. But now, the fall of the Possum has officially ended.
Clay Logan, a native of Clay County, began this strange celebration in hopes of giving his hometown of Brasstown something fun to do to greet the new year without having to leave home, said Emily Malin , an administrator of the city of Andrews, on CNN. .
In 2018, Logan decided he was no longer able to run the Possum Drop, so he asked the city of Andrews to take over.
“He played gospel music and just brought people together,” Malin said. “His thoughts were that because a lot of people couldn’t afford to travel to a big place for New Year’s Eve, he wanted to do something free and fun.”
But after just one year running the Possum Drop, the city of Andrews has decided to completely withdraw the practice. CNN contacted Logan for comment.
Protection of possums
During the fall, a live opossum was placed in a glass box and slowly lowered at midnight amid fireworks, cheers, and countdown chants.
The tradition was widely protested by animal activists, including people for the ethical treatment of animals, who said veterinarians agreed the tradition was “harmful and even deadly.”
“Years of lawsuits have been filed by PETA and appeals to state officials by concerned citizens, but the organizers of‘ Possum Drop ’can definitely leave opossums alone and sound in the new decade compassionately,” he say PETA lawyer Martina Bernstein in a statement. on CNN.
Malin insists the Possum Drop has been the subject of several rumors, including one claiming that live opossums were being thrown from the roof. “PETA and people like that got in touch with us upset by the fall, but the problem is that there have been so many fakes,” Malin said.
“A lot of lies were spread about our cruelty to animals. It’s not true. We love our animals and we never had any intention of hurting the opossum.”
Out of the old
Now Andrews has decided to leave the practice behind.
Instead of a Possum fall, the city will celebrate New Year’s Eve with a wrestling match and a beauty contest with no women, no animals involved.
“Whenever we have some kind of event, people are happy,” Malin said.