The Delaware Christmas story of Christmas is inextricably linked to the saga of the French Huguenots, whose journey to the New World was shaped by the tumultuous religious landscape of 17th-century France. To understand their influence on Delaware’s holiday traditions, we must first look back to the Edict of Nantes, a crucial moment in French history that would ultimately lead to the Huguenot diaspora.
Signed by King Henry IV in 1598, the Edict of Nantes granted French Protestants, known as Huguenots, significant rights and freedoms. The origin of the term ‘Huguenot’ is somewhat disputed among historians. One popular theory suggests it derives from the German word ‘Eidgenossen’, meaning ‘confederates’ or ‘oath-fellows’, possibly referring to the alliance of Swiss Protestant cantons. Another theory links it to ‘Hugues’, a French name, potentially referring to Hugues Capet or another early Protestant leader. Regardless of its etymology, by the time of the Edict of Nantes, ‘Huguenot’ had become the common designation for French Calvinists.
The landmark Edict of Nantes decree ended decades of religious wars and allowed Huguenots to practice their faith openly, hold public office, and enjoy many of the same privileges as their Catholic counterparts. For nearly a century, this proclamation fostered a period of relative peace and prosperity for the Huguenot community in France.
However, the religious tolerance enshrined in the Edict of Nantes was not destined to last. In 1685, King Louis XIV, in a dramatic reversal of his grandfather’s policy, revoked the edict with the Edict of Fontainebleau. This action, also known as the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes, stripped Huguenots of their religious and civil liberties, forcing many to choose between conversion to Catholicism, imprisonment, or exile.
In the wake of this upheaval many Huguenots made the difficult decision to leave their homeland, seeking refuge in Protestant-friendly territories across Europe and the New World. Among their destinations were the lower three counties of what was then the colony of Pennsylvania, where they hoped to find the religious freedom denied to them in France.
The Huguenots arrived in what is now Delaware in several waves during the late 17th and early 18th centuries, bringing with them not only their faith but also a rich tapestry of cultural traditions. These traditions, including their Christmas customs, would weave into the fabric of Delaware’s holiday celebrations, creating a unique cultural blend that would shape the state’s Christmas customs for generations to come.
Prominent Delaware families such as the Tunnells (arriving in 1668), Bayards (1647), Frears (1667), de Vous (1650), and D’Allees (1700) trace their roots back to these French Protestant settlers. In 1684, a group of Huguenots petitioned William Penn for land along the Delaware River. Penn, known for his policy of religious tolerance, granted them land in what is now northern New Castle County. This act allowed the Huguenots to establish several communities that would become integral parts of Delaware’s landscape. Christiana Bridge (now Christiana), Appoquinimink (now Odessa), and St. Georges Creek (now Delaware City) all owe their origins to these determined settlers.
The influx of Huguenots continued into the early 18th century, with more settlers arriving in the 1700s and 1710s. Over time, many of these French Protestants integrated into the existing English and Dutch communities in Delaware.
One of the most enduring legacies of the Huguenot influence on Delaware’s Christmas traditions is the introduction of French carols to the American canon. Perhaps the most well-known of these is “Bring a Torch, Jeanette, Isabella” (in French: “Un flambeau, Jeannette, Isabelle”). This carol, believed to have originated in the Provence region of France, dates back to at least the mid-16th century.
The earliest known printed version of “Bring a Torch, Jeanette, Isabella” appeared in 1553 in a collection of Christmas music published in Avignon, France. The melody is often attributed to Nicolas Saboly, a French composer who lived from 1614 to 1675, although some sources suggest the tune may predate him. The lyrics are believed to have been added to the melody sometime in the 17th century, coinciding with the period when many Huguenots were settling in Delaware.
The original French version of the carol was sung in Huguenot homes in Delaware, but it wasn’t until the 19th century that the tune gained wider popularity in America. Edward Cuthbert Nunn created the English translation most commonly used today, allowing the carol to reach a broader audience and cementing its place in the American Christmas canon.
Other French carols also found their way into American Christmas traditions, likely through the influence of Huguenot settlers. “Angels We Have Heard on High” (“Les Anges dans nos campagnes”), with its English lyrics written in 1862, is based on a French carol dating back to the 18th century or possibly earlier. “Pat-a-pan” (or “Willie, Take Your Little Drum”), originally known as “Guillaume, prends ton tambourin,” is believed to have originated in Burgundy in the 17th century and has found recognition in some American Christmas repertoires.
A particularly interesting example of French carol adoption in Delaware is “Here, Mid Ass and Oxen Mild,” originally titled “Entre le bœuf et l’âne gris.” This early 16th-century carol has been embraced by various Delaware musical groups. The University of Delaware Concert Choir featured it in a 1959 performance, the Du Pont Chorus included it in a 1961 offering, and the Madrigal Singers of Wilmington performed it in a 1977 Christmas concert. These local performances demonstrate the enduring influence of French Christmas music in Delaware, centuries after the initial Huguenot settlement.
The Huguenots brought with them a unique approach to Christmas celebrations that differed from their English and Dutch neighbors. Helen Evertson Smith, writing in The Morning News on December 26, 1892, provides a vivid description of Huguenot Christmas customs:
“To the French Huguenots Christmas was a day of rejoicing, thanksgiving, family festivity and neighborly greeting. They drank almost no strong liquors, and their mild, pure wines served but to aid digestion and impart gayety to the spirits. Rarely indeed was drunkenness known among them.”[1]
This emphasis on joyous, family-oriented celebrations stands in contrast to some of the more boisterous traditions of other settler groups. The Huguenots’ focus on temperance and familial bonds during the holiday season may have contributed to shaping Delaware’s Christmas traditions in a more restrained and intimate direction.
The Huguenot influence was especially notable in the tradition of gift-giving. Smith’s account highlights the Huguenot approach:
“The giving of gifts was a more prominent feature of Christmas time with them than with the others. Among the English and Dutch the gifts, irrespective of toys to children, were nearly always of something to eat or drink. A haunch of venison or a cask of home brewed ale was a favorite gift in the parent isle, but here was succeeded by a turkey or a barrel of cider, while among the Holland colonists some special forms of cheese and “cookies” or a few bottles of choice imported wine were most usual. The Huguenots, whether from thrift or native taste, were prone to offer gifts of more permanent value.”[1]
This preference for lasting gifts over consumables represents a clear departure from the prevailing customs of the time. Smith goes on to describe some of the Huguenot gifts that have survived:
“They were poor of course, most of them having had to leave their possessions behind them when flying from the persecutions of “Louis the Magnificent,” so their gifts were seldom costly, but some have survived even till today in the possession of their descendants—cobweb laces made by delicate fingers, painted fans and screens, and embroidered footstools and cushions.”[1]
These enduring gifts speak to the Huguenots’ emphasis on craftsmanship and sentimentality, traits that may have influenced Delaware’s gift-giving traditions over time.
As the Huguenots integrated into the First State’s society, some of their unique Christmas customs may have been adopted or adapted by their neighbors. William E. McKenney, writing in The Morning News on December 6, 1945, describes a French Christmas tradition that could have found its way into Delaware celebrations:
“At French Christmas gatherings, the man who finds the hidden bean in a cake becomes king for the night and chooses his Queen from the women present. The pair rules the party the rest of the evening.”[2]
While it’s unclear how widespread this specific custom became in Delaware, it illustrates the potential for French traditions to add elements of whimsy and social interaction to local Christmas celebrations.
Another French Christmas custom that influenced Delaware traditions is the Le Réveillon supper. Gardy Epp, writing in The News Journal on December 21, 1975, provides a detailed description of this elaborate meal:
“All day on Dec. 24, the women prepare and cook for the Le Réveillon supper, which is held just after midnight Mass. This supper always includes seafood hors d’oeuvre, jambon (ham) and pate de foie gras, goose with chestnut stuffing, vegetables, salad, many cheeses, and, of course, the bûche de Noël and mendiants (nuts). Bûche de Noël is the traditional French Christmas cake of genoise cake and cream rolled and decorated to look like a log.”[3]
While the full Le Réveillon supper may not have been adopted wholesale in Delaware, elements of this feast, such as the inclusion of seafood, ham, and the Bûche de Noël, probably found their way into local Christmas menus.
The French tradition of the galette des rois (king cake) was also incorporated into Delaware’s Christmas celebrations. This custom, traditionally associated with Epiphany on January 6th, which marks the end of the Christmas season, became part of the broader holiday festivities in Delaware. William E. McKenney, writing in The Morning News on December 6, 1945, describes this tradition: “At French Christmas gatherings, the man who finds the hidden bean in a cake becomes king for the night and chooses his Queen from the women present. The pair rules the party the rest of the evening.”[2] This custom of the galette des rois, with its hidden bean and selection of a king and queen, added an element of whimsy and social interaction to local Christmas celebrations.
The Midnight Mass, or “La Messe de Minuit,” carries great weight in French Christmas celebrations. This custom, deeply rooted in Catholic tradition, may have been adapted by Huguenot settlers in Delaware to fit their Protestant beliefs. The importance of a Christmas Eve service, however, likely remained a central part of their holiday observance.
Epp’s account provides insight into how the religious and festive aspects of Christmas Eve intertwined in French tradition:
“White wine is served first, then rose and finally red wine. The night that follows the late feast is very short. The children know that while they are asleep, Papa Noel will fill their shoes with toys and gifts. They wake their parents very early to share the happiness and joy of Christmas. Then the candles on the Christmas tree are lighted.”[3]
This blending of religious observance, family celebration, and gift-giving influenced the way Delaware families structured their Christmas Eve and Christmas morning activities.
The adoption of the Christmas tree, while not originally a Huguenot tradition, became part of French Christmas celebrations over time. Epp notes:
“The tree has become a tradition in most French homes. It is usually set up one week before Christmas and decorated with toys and garlands. Under the tree, you will always find the “crèche.””[3]
The inclusion of the crèche, or nativity scene, under the tree represents a melding of different Christmas traditions. This practice, combining the German-origin Christmas tree with the traditionally Catholic nativity scene, illustrates how various cultural influences came together in Christmas celebrations. In Delaware, the Huguenots may have played a role in popularizing the use of the crèche, even as they adopted the Christmas tree tradition from their neighbors.
From the carols that still echo in Delaware’s churches and concert halls to the enduring emphasis on family-centered celebrations, the legacy of these French Protestant settlers continues to shape the holiday season in the First State.
As Helen Evertson Smith wisely noted in 1892:
“The United States, being the most cosmopolitan of all nations, has a right to adopt the best customs from all the world and has freely availed itself of the privilege. To the roast beef and plum pudding of old England it has added the jolly Santa Claus of Holland, the gay present giving of the French and the solemn Christmas music of the Germans. If there be other good things elsewhere, let us appropriate them all. Are not we the “universal Yankee nation?””[1]
The Huguenot influence, with its emphasis on joyous yet restrained celebration, thoughtful gift-giving, and the importance of family and community, has woven itself into the fabric of Delaware’s holiday season. As we celebrate Christmas in the First State, we are, in some small portion, honoring the legacy of those French Protestant settlers who sought religious freedom on these shores and, in the process, enriched our Yuletide tapestry.
Sources: [1] Smith, Helen Evertson. The Morning News, December 26, 1892, page 5. [2] McKenney, William E. The Morning News, December 6, 1945, page 16. [3] Epp, Gardy. The News Journal, December 21, 1975, page 18.
