Vintage Delaware Holidays

Roy A. Kinckiner attends the candlelight Christmas Eve service at Hanover Presbyterian Church in Wilmington. He said the annual service in which the congregation lit candles, sang "Silent Night" and had a moment of prayer was "part of Christmas." 1983.

Market Street in Wilmington is aglow in Christmas lights.

A tree gets kicked to the curb shortly after Christmas. 1981.

Carol Ann Reed, then a senior at Mt. Pleasant High School, cleans her car when school was let out at noon due to snow. 1987.

Diane Elizabeth Johnson (Brocklesby), 5, in her Annie Oakley outfit from Santa , 1956.

During a Kwanzaa celebration, members of the Life Experience Creative Arts Ensemble dance for Umoja, or unity, at the Walnut Street YMCA in Wilmington. 1980.

Lynne Russell Connor stops by to see Santa Claus at his house behind Strawbridge and Clothier at the Merchandise Mart (now Merchants Square) in 1953. Lynne says she waited in line to visit with Santa every year, because it was the best place to see him back then.

Michael R. Young, of Arden, works at Farmer Dan's on Concord Pike rearranging the Christmas tree lot. 1982.

The Johannes Brass Ensemble played for passers by in Rodney Square in Wilmington. The outdoor event was part of the dedication for the manger scene in the background. 1978.

Santa came to Caroling on the Square in Wilmington courtesy of the Wilmington Jaycees. He asked the crowd if the mayor and governor had been good that year, 1987.

Ironworker Steve Pennington checks out the Wilmington Christmas Parade from his perch on MBNA construction in downtown Wilmington. 1994.

Santa takes a snooze on the Rehoboth Beach boardwalk.

Raymond Di Camillo Jr., and sister Deborah Rossi visit Santa , 1949.

Carolers from SS Peter and Paul Ukranian Church in Holly Oak and St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Church in Wilmington gathered around a Christmas tree on Market Street Mall as they remembered that such a service in their homeland could resuld in imprisonment. The congregation celebrated Christmas in keeping with the old Julian calendar. 1979.

Diane Elizabeth Johnson, 5, and her brother, David Andrew Johnson, 2 1/2, riding the horses that Santa brought them for Christmas 1956. “We loved those horses, riding them everywhere our imaginations could take us, making up pretend stories about adventures like on ‘My Friend Flicka’ or ‘Fury’ or ‘The Lone Ranger’ or ‘Annie Oakley,’” Diane says. “We saw those amazing TV shows on that modern invention called television, which we first bought when I was about 3. The screen was tiny, and in black and white only.”

Chauncey, an Old English Sheepdog, pulled Kyara on a sled while mom Kathryn Panula stayed on her feet in Bellemoor Heights. 1987.

Santa Claus leads the Rodney Square crowd in a Christmas song, 1983.

Richard Faucher, who has long been known for his elaborate light displays, shown outside his home off Red Lion Road in New Castle in 1988. At that time, he used more than 400,000 lights, whcih took a month to set up (photo was double exposed).

David Morris with mom, Barbara, on Christmas Day on Wawaset Street in 1978, the year he opened a skateboard, TCR race car track, and PONG video game system, father of the Xbox.

Dave Richardson carries in the first shipment of Christmas trees to his tree stand on Concord Pike. 1978.

Sisters Elizabeth and Kathleen Merrill built snowmen outside their home on Banning Street in Wilmington on Nov. 7, 1953, which was Kathleen’s birthday. Kathleen says her mother, Helen, religiously labeled all of the photos she took with her Brownie camera.

Mayor William McLaughlin and County Executive Mary Jornlin flipped on the lights of the first Christmas tree in the Louis L. Redding City/County Building in Wilmington. 1978.

A Christmas gift wrapping bar around WWII.

Laurie Wheeler got out her skis for a trek across Rockford Park in 1987.

Richard Faucher, who has long been known for his elaborate light displays, shown outside his home off Red Lion Road in New Castle in 1988. At that time, he used more than 400,000 lights, whcih took a month to set up (photo was double exposed).

Eugene and Berma Scott at Caroling on the Square in Wilmington. 1987.

A group piles on to a sheet of paneling to speed down a hill at the reservoir at West Ninth and North Clayton streets in Wilmington, 1976.

The Blake sisters, Peggy and Mary Ann, with Santa Claus at the Strawbridge & Clothier in the old Merchandise Mart. 1958.

Christmas lights shine bright at City Hall in Wilmington.

John Schwalm gives his daughter, Pauline, a lift to tie a bow on a Christmas tree on their Marydel farm, 1988.

Paul and Dorothy Levering got sick of lugging their Christmas tree from Gaylord's store to 30th and Tatnall streets in Wilmington, so Paul made this cart to make the job easier. 1977.

Santa helps adjust the antlers on one of his helpers as he gets ready to visit Brookmont Farms with officers Robert Downward (left) and Bill Clark. 1989.

John J O'Connor visits Santa Claus in 1949 in Springfield, Mass. O'Connor, a retired teacher and basketball coach, moved to Delaware in 1968.

Kids at Clifton Park Day Care Nursery School enjoyed a turkey lunch to celebrate Thanksgiving in 1980. Elizabeth Davies ran the event.

Philadelphia area kids' TV star Captain Noah rides through the Wilmington Christmas Parade in an antique Ford as grand marshal. 1987.

Jacob Levine and Harry Klein celebrate the first night of Hanukkah by reading from the prayer book and lighting the first candles in a ceremony at the B'nai B'rith house in Claymont. 1988.

Party goers at O'Friels Irish Pub welcome the New Year. 1984.

A school group crosses Adams Street at Third Street as classes let out early for the weather. 1987.

Buying toys for Christmas.

David Morris sits with Santa Claus at the Sears in Wilmington. 1968.

Ayesha Wise volunteers during Thanksgiving dinner at the Kingswood Community Center in Wilmington, serving dessert to Thomas Brown. 1988.

Santa Claus sends Christmas greetings from Dover during World War II.

Jennifer Mahoney, 2, daughter of Jack Mahoney, of Elsmere, shared her wish list with Santa Claus. 1972.

Twins Jane and Beth Sackovich went for a sled ride in Brandywine Park with parents Randal and Martha. 1988.

Sarah Butler shows off a large turkey for Thanksgiving. She was one of the women who prepared a Thanksgiving dinner for the elderly. 1977.

Don't wait until the last minute to buy a fresh tree, or all the good ones will be taken. That's what happened to this lonely shopper on Dec. 22 at Dela-Trust Bank on Lancaster Pike in Hockessin. 1982.

Santa Claus and then-Gov. Mike Castle greeted a crowd at Caroling on the Square in Wilmington. 1988.

In the early 1980s, Cabbage Patch Kids became a hot toy for the holidays. Only 10 shoppers at a time were to shop for the dolls at Gaylords during the holiday season. 1984.

Michael Potter enjoys the snow in early 1978.

Attendants light the candles for Kirsten Olson, who plays Lucia during the celebration at Old Swedes Church in Wilmington. 1987.

Christmas light display just off Silverside Road in 2005.

Dan Frawley warms his hands before shoveling snow at Homestead House at West 10th and Monroe. 1979.