Above: On St. Nicholas Day, German children find their shoes filled with candy and small gifts. Photo AdobeStock Germany, known as “the Christmas country,” enjoys renown for spirited yuletide celebrations. The Evening Journal on December 20, 1915, noted that the country earned this title “because the celebration of the Nativity is carried out with more feasting…
Above: Cover of Pictorial Review magazine December 1929. Artist: McClelland Barclay / Internet Archive In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the humble American holly tree became the cornerstone of a thriving holiday industry that would keep the Christmas spirit alive in Delaware for decades. This evergreen, with its glossy leaves and bright red berries,…
Above: This drawing from a 1915 ‘Middletown Transcript’ newspaper article reminds us that sleighs were once garaged the same way we garage our modern cars. Delawareans had been using sleigh bells for well over a century by the time the Victorians introduced us to “Jingle Bells” (1857) and Currier & Ives prints of rosy-cheeked couples…
Delaware’s modern-day Christmas house tours offer a delightful glimpse into the festive traditions of numerous charming towns and cities across the state. From Claymont in the north to Seaford in the south, and from Wilmington to the coastal communities, these tours have become a cherished holiday tradition. They showcase beautifully decorated historic homes both public…
