The Legend of Old Buck

Every year, on January 6th—known as Old Christmas—the village of Rodanthe on the Outer Banks is visited by a special guest: Old Buck, a legendary bull whose presence is eagerly awaited by locals. The legend of Old Buck dates back more than 400 years, and it is believed that he lives in the woods of Trent Woods. Each year, Old Buck appears to see which children have been good and which have been naughty.

The origins of Old Buck’s legend can be traced back to ancient English folklore, which tells the tale of a dragon that once terrorized England. According to the story, the dragon was defeated by Saint George, who freed the country from its tyranny. Some versions of the story claim that the dragon begged for mercy, promising never to return to England again. His wish was granted, and his spirit wandered, passing from creature to creature.

Centuries later, a Spaniard traveling to the New World brought with him a bull named Bucca, intending to introduce bullfighting to his new homeland. Initially, Bucca was calm and gentle, but a week into the journey, the dragon’s spirit entered the bull. Bucca’s once peaceful nature turned violent, and he began thrashing around, destroying the ship and causing chaos. Two sailors tried to calm him, eventually succeeding.

As the ship neared the coast, a violent storm struck, tearing the ship apart. The sailors and Bucca were thrown into the sea. They clung to the bull’s horns and swam for hours until they reached Hatteras Island. Local Native Americans rescued the men and Bucca, but the bull wandered off into the woods, where he lived for many years, silently watching over the children of Hatteras Island.

Since then, Old Buck has appeared each Old Christmas to check on the village’s children, continuing his watchful journey through the woods. The legend of Old Buck remains a cherished part of Rodanthe’s holiday traditions, and his visit is a reminder of the island’s deep roots in folklore and the mystical spirit of the bull.