A festive book sure to get you into the holiday spirit.
Delaware at Christmas: The First State in a Merry State narrows the broad topic of one of America’s favorite holidays into a localized journey with roots stretching back to the 17th century. Whether Swedish, Irish, German, or Polish immigrants, intrepid settlers brought their own unique flavors to the New World. These families might have left their homes, but couldn’t leave behind their foods, their songs, or their religions. Beginning as a mix of pagan and Christian customs brought from Europe, widespread Christmas celebrations soon took shape across the country. Focusing on those merry changes in the state of Delaware, Dave Tabler offers a beautiful tableau that tells the colorful story of how Christmas past evolved into Christmas present. Each brief archive of the diverse peoples of Delaware is complemented by stirring images, including black-and-white sketches, vibrant photographs, vintage advertisements, and charming family scenes. The illustrations document the cultural and aesthetic shifts while bridging time through vivid storytelling. These festive visual cues will have readers checking the bulbs on their string lights and shopping for quirky Christmas cards. The latter half of the book is set aside for chapter continuations, a hodgepodge of historical context, news article add-ons, and further explanations to help round out the story of Christmas in Delaware.
A merry companion for anyone who loves the most wonderful time of the year, Dave Tabler’s well-researched guide does more than fill in the history behind decked halls and trimmed trees. It helps audiences appreciate the evolution of beloved traditions while reminding them of our shared and blended background. Seeing photographs of seasonal foods like croquembouche and Bûche de Noël adorning banquet tables helps place these celebratory foods in time, making them feel even more special than any televised baking competition ever could. Christmas traditions in Delaware reflect origins and changes seen across the country, so the book has an appeal that stretches beyond the region. Tabler asks and answers interesting questions, such as how long plum pudding takes to age, where mistletoe gets its name, why sleighs needed so many bells, and who eggnog’s intended demographic was. The explanations may surprise you and will make you appreciate how significantly the last few centuries and modern consumerism have shaped traditions today. From enslaved Africans fighting to retain their heritage to Puerto Ricans bringing their own spin to Santa’s busiest season, it isn’t difficult to see influences from these groups in holiday practices that are still popular. Like a stroll through a museum without ever leaving the comfort of your own home, Delaware at Christmas is a festive book sure to get you into the holiday spirit.
