Delaware at Christmas: The First State in a Merry State by Dave Tabler
“From colonial holly wreaths to Christmas in July at the beach, Delaware at Christmas unwraps the state’s most delightful and surprising holiday traditions—each one a reflection of history, heritage, and heart.”
🎄 Welcome
Welcome to my stop on the iRead Book Tour for Delaware at Christmas: The First State in a Merry State by Dave Tabler!
I’m a huge fan of books that blend local history with the magic of the holidays, and this one does it beautifully. Delaware at Christmas unwraps the state’s festive heritage from colonial days to the present, exploring the origins of beloved traditions like Wilmington’s mummer’s parade, the southern holly wreath industry, and even the coastal “Christmas in July” celebrations. Whether you’re a Delaware native or just love discovering how communities celebrate the season, this charming book is packed with nostalgic cheer, cultural depth, and a hearty dose of Christmas spirit.
👇 Keep scrolling for the giveaway.
📝 All About the Book
Delaware at Christmas: The First State in a Merry State
By Dave Tabler
Series: The Delaware Series
Published by Independently Published on July 2025
Genres: Christmas, History, Non-fiction
Formats: eBook
Pages: 134
Source: iRead Book ToursDelaware at Christmas uncovers the rich and surprising ways Delawareans have celebrated the holiday season across four centuries. From colonial-era customs brought by Swedish, Dutch, and English settlers to modern multicultural observances, this book blends history, folklore, and festive tradition into a vivid portrait of Christmas in the First State.
Readers will discover the origins of outdoor Christmas decorations, the rise of the state’s holly wreath industry, and the stories behind local favorites like eggnog, wassail, and plum pudding. The book shines a light on forgotten practices — from mumming parades and house tours to the music of handbell choirs and the enduring power of church lovefeasts.
Delaware at Christmas also gives voice to the holiday experiences of Black Delawareans during the antebellum period, alongside the customs brought by Irish, Italian, Polish, and Hispanic communities who shaped the state’s evolving identity.
Whether exploring 19th-century sleigh bells, Victorian Christmas cards, or the curious history of IBM punch card wreaths, Dave Tabler captures Delaware’s holiday spirit with meticulous research and a storyteller’s eye.
Perfect for history lovers, regional readers, and anyone drawn to the enduring magic of Christmas traditions.
Content Rating: G. Family friendly throughout. No sex, violence or foul language.
📚 Where to Find Delaware at Christmas
Available on Amazon
[amazon fields ="B0F4NJ2KTZ" value="thumb"]
📱 KINDLE
If the above links don’t direct you to your country’s Amazon page, please feel free to contact me—I’m happy to provide the correct link.
Using my Amazon affiliate links doesn’t change the price you pay. Amazon shares a small commission with me, which helps keep this blog running—thank you!
Also available at:
📘 Barnes & Noble
✨ My Thoughts on Delaware at Christmas✨
There’s something timeless about how this book captures both the simplicity and richness of holiday traditions. Dave Tabler brings Delaware’s history to life through vivid descriptions, old photographs, and well-researched details that make you feel like you’re walking through centuries of Christmases past.
What I especially love is the balance between scholarship and warmth. It’s clear Tabler approaches history with both a historian’s curiosity and a storyteller’s heart. The stories of immigrant customs, wartime celebrations, and evolving holiday décor connect generations in a way that feels deeply human and joyful.
This isn’t just a book of facts—it’s a keepsake. I could easily see it sitting on a coffee table next to a mug of cocoa and a plate of sugar cookies. It celebrates the small details that make local history shine: handmade wreaths, church bells echoing through snowy towns, and the way each generation reimagines what “merry” means.
If you love books like Christmas in America or enjoy watching holiday documentaries that explore regional traditions, Delaware at Christmas will absolutely delight you. It’s a book that invites you to slow down, savor, and remember how celebrations connect us through time.
✨ Review at a Glance
⭐ Rating: 5 out of 5
🎁 Best for: History lovers, holiday enthusiasts, and anyone who treasures stories of community and culture
📚 Quick Take: A festive, fascinating journey through Delaware’s Christmas traditions—equal parts heartwarming history and seasonal joy.
I received a copy of the book for the tour. This review represents my honest and unbiased opinion.
More Delaware Series posts
Delaware From Railways to Freeways
Delaware From Freeways to E-ways
🖋️ Guest Post from Dave Tabler
Today’s post also includes a special guest feature from author Dave Tabler, sharing insight into how his research for Delaware Behaving Badly led him down an unexpected philosophical path—from the moral sketches of ancient Greece to patterns of human behavior that still echo today.
It’s a fascinating piece about what timeless character flaws can teach us, not just about crime, but about human nature itself. I’ll let Dave take it from here…
Shortly before I began sketching out Delaware Behaving Badly, I stumbled on an article about philosopher David Hume. It argued he had helped kill off a centuries-old way of thinking about morality. For generations, writers had used character sketches—short portraits of human types—as a legitimate form of moral instruction. Think of it like describing “that guy who always interrupts” or “the person who shows up late to everything.” But in 1748, Hume dismissed the whole tradition as too shallow, insisting that real philosophy had to dig deeper than describing people’s annoying habits.
The article mentioned Theophrastus, an ancient Greek who wrote character sketches around 300 BC. His book, The Characters, cataloged 30 difficult types—the show-off, the miser, the man with terrible timing. For over 2,000 years they counted as moral philosophy—until Hume said they didn’t.
That's when I had the idea: maybe Hume was wrong, and maybe these ancient sketches could be a key to understanding modern-day criminal behavior.
I decided to test it using Delaware crime stories. Could these ancient personality flaws explain modern criminal behavior? At first, I worried it wouldn’t hold.
Theophrastus’s 30 characters didn’t map perfectly onto Delaware crimes—not every ancient type had a clear local match. But as I kept digging through newspaper archives and court records, something surprising happened. I found way more material than I expected. Different eras, different crimes—the same character flaws driving disaster.
The patterns I found were striking. Take the “Officious Man”—Theophrastus’s portrait of someone who offers help that harms. In 1878, ex-railroad worker Harley Brown wanted his job back. He placed a railroad tie on the tracks, planning to 'discover' it and heroically flag down the next train. We’re so grateful! Here’s your job back! The plan backfired spectacularly. An unscheduled express hit the obstruction and four men died. Brown’s need to be the helpful hero, combined with terrible judgment, escalated from workplace politics to manslaughter.
Or consider the “Shameless Man,” who treats his reputation as expendable for profit. In 1901, oyster captains James Munsey and Isaac Burris got caught illegally harvesting 1,500 bushels from protected Delaware Bay beds. Instead of showing remorse, they hired a fancy lawyer, paid a measly $95 fine, and went right back to work. No stigma, no shame—just the cost of doing business.
Delaware Behaving Badly explores 27 stories like these. What struck me wasn’t just that old flaws cause modern trouble, but that they cause the same kinds of trouble. Arrogance still leads to downfall. Greed still corrupts judgment. Bad timing still ruins lives.
It turns out Hume missed something important. Sometimes the obvious truths about human nature are the ones we most need—and a 2,300-year-old book about annoying people can explain why we keep making the same mistakes.
Doesn't this sound fascinating? Order Delaware Behaving Badlynow for its Janualry 2026 release!
👤 Meet the Author: Dave Tabler
Ten-year-old Dave Tabler once set out to read the R volume of his family’s World Book Encyclopedia and got sidetracked by Norman Rockwell, rare-earth elements, and the Kentucky Derby. His curiosity led him into art history and photojournalism, where he learned the power of storytelling through images and culture.
After photographing artifacts for The Illustrated History of American Civil War Relics, Dave developed a deep appreciation for preserving the past. That passion grew into AppalachianHistory.net, a blog now reaching hundreds of thousands of readers annually.
Since moving to Delaware in 2010, Dave has turned his lens toward the state’s rich heritage, capturing its early architecture, industries, and everyday stories with the same care and wonder that first drew him to history. Delaware at Christmas is his latest celebration of the First State’s culture, community, and holiday joy.
Connect with Dave Tabler:
Website | X (Twitter) | Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram | Goodreads | Amazon
✍️Closing Notes
I hope you’ve enjoyed this festive journey through Delaware’s holiday history as much as I did! Delaware at Christmas is a perfect read for anyone who loves a mix of storytelling, tradition, and a warm holiday glow.
If you’re looking to add something meaningful to your seasonal bookshelf this year, this book truly captures the spirit of celebration and community that makes Christmas so special.
Thank you to Dave Tabler and iRead Book Tours, for the review copy and opportunity to feature this delightful book.
Wishing everyone a season full of cheer, wonder, and maybe a few new Delaware traditions to make your own!
🎁 Giveaway!
Enter below for your chance to win an author-signed copy of DELAWARE AT CHRISTMAS/ THE FIRST STATE IN A MERRY STATE (one winner) (USA only) (ends Nov 14)!
Be sure to follow the tour for more chances at every stop.
Full Tour Schedule:
Oct 20 – Gina Rae Mitchell
Oct 20 - Liese's Blog
Oct 21 – @Leannebookstagram
Oct 22 – @sheilasenchantedbookshelf
Oct 22 - @michellegodardricher *
Oct 23 – Cover Lover Book Review
Oct 28 – Sarcastically Yours, Jen
Oct 29 - @mama_coffee_books_cardigans
Oct 29 – @onemorechap * -
Oct 30 – @nessasbookreviews *
Oct 30 - @this.human.reads *
Nov 1 - @readsandmusic *
Nov 3 – Locks, Hooks and Books
Nov 4 – FUONLYKNEW
Nov 5 – fundinmental
Nov 5 - @jilljemmett *
Nov 5 - @nissa_the.bookworm *
Nov 6 – @countrymamaswithkids *
Nov 7 – @lizzies.reading.recs *
Nov 7 - @speedreadstagram *
Nov 7 - @ablueboxfullofbooks
DELAWARE AT CHRISTMAS Book Review Tour Giveaway
If the entry form above is being contrary, enter the giveaway directly!
📌 Quick Book Tour Recap:
Book Title: Delaware at Christmas / The First State in a Merry State by Dave Tabler
Category: Adult Non-Fiction, 134 pages
Genre: Christmas
Publisher: Dave Tabler
Publication Date: July 1, 2025
Tour dates: Oct 20 to Nov 7, 2025
Content Rating: G. Family friendly throughout. No sex, violence or foul language.
Look for me here ⬇️
#BookSky 💙📚
Civil, respectful conversation is always welcome—let’s chat about books, food, or whatever brings you joy.
📚 Why Join iRead as a Tour Host?
Free books in your mailbox? Yes, please!
As an iRead tour host, you’ll not only get advance copies of great reads, but your blog will also get extra exposure through tour-wide promotion and backlinks. Authors and publishers often share the tour on their own platforms, too, so it’s a win-win for visibility.
You’ll get the chance to connect with authors through interviews and guest posts, and maybe even discover a new favorite genre along the way.
🎁 iRead Incentive Program
iRead loves to reward its tour hosts! You’ll earn credits for each post you publish—reviews, spotlights, interviews, and more. Every 20 credits earns you a $10 PayPal gift card.
Here’s how it adds up:
-
✅ 1 credit for posting on Goodreads
-
✅ 2 credits each for posting on Amazon or Audible
-
✅ 1 credit for each blog post
Just submit your review links to track your credits. Simple as that—and yes, they really do send the gift cards (hundreds so far!)
Discover more from Gina Rae Mitchell
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Over the years I've learned a lot about Christmas Around the World, but not individual states. This sounds interesting, Gina.
Dave writes the best Delaware books! His love for his state shines through each one.