Above: Traditional Finnish Christmas table setting. collection Luostarinmäki Handicrafts Museum in Turku, Finland / Finnish Heritage Agency The story of Finnish Christmas customs in 17th century Delaware begins with the arrival of Finnish settlers in the New World. As subjects of the Swedish Crown, Finns were integral to Sweden’s ambitious plan to establish a foothold…
Above: Jamie Grill via Getty Images Irish Christmas carols have become an integral part of American holiday traditions, leaving a lasting impression on the festive season in Delaware and beyond. Beloved Irish carols such as “The Wexford Carol,” “Christmas in Killarney,” and “The Holly and the Ivy” have transcended their Celtic origins to become staples…
Above: Swedish family prepares for the sled ride to early morning church on Julotta—Christmas Day. Dated 1908; Archive of the Swedish Cultural Commons In Castle & Colony by Emma Rayner is an 1899 historical novel that follows the journey of a young Swedish woman, Jessica, as she navigates the contrasting worlds of European aristocracy and…
Above: Edward W. Kemble’s illustration from Washington Irving’s “Knickerbocker’s History of New York” starts to ‘Americanize’ Sinterklaas towards the figure we now call ‘Santa Claus.’ The evolution from St. Nicholas, the 4th-century Bishop of Myra, to the jolly, red-suited Santa Claus we know today is a fascinating tale of cultural evolution, migration, and the power…
