Events
Women of the New Sweden Mission - Lecture by Dr. Lorraine Williams
Sunday, March 24, 2013; 3:00pm
Dr. Williams' presentation will highlight the Church of Sweden ministers who came to North American beginning in 1697 to pastor at the Swedish Lutheran churches in what would become Delaware, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Most ministers came as bachelors and many married Swedish-American women. The ministers' marriages show us how the colonists' changing economic and social fortunes affected the success of the mission. Many of the Swedish-American wives moved to Sweden when their husbands' time of service ended, becoming an interesting group of reverse migrants during the course of the 18th century.
Tickets: $8.00 in advance; $12.00 at the door
Co-Sponsored by the Daughters of the American Colonists, Delaware Society Colonist's Day
Saturday, April 13, 2013; 11:00am - 3:00pm
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Colonist's Day
Saturday, April 13, 2012; 11:00am - 3:00pm
Celebrate the 375th founding of the New Sweden colony with a day of festivities: featuring colonial period artisan demonstrations; Fiddlers; Performance by the Imagination Players; "Sven Skute: The Scapegoat of New Sweden"; 30 plus exhibitors, Swedish Food, Crafts and Games, activities for all ages at four different sites along the 7th Street Peninsula.
- 11:00am - 11:45am
- Grand Procession & Annual Wreath Laying Ceremony at the Milles Monument commemorating the landing of the Swedes at Fort Christina Park
- 12:00pm - 3:00pm
- Swedish Colonial Foodways Program: Susan Plaisted will make Knäckebröd a Swedish rye bread at the Hendrickson House, Old Swedes Historic Site
- 1:00pm
- Imagination Players, Amphitheater, Old Swedes Historic Site
- 12:00pm - 3:00pm
- Colonial Crafts and Colonial Game of Nine Pins, Old Swedes Historic Site
- 12:00pm - 3:00pm
- "Tracing Your Roots" -- How to begin your own family tree
- 12:30pm - 2:30pm
- Book Signing by Abdullah Muhammad of the new book Africans in New Sweden, The Untold Story
Admission: Free
Caffe Gelato will be serving gelato and sandwiches from Noon - 3:00pm
4 Venues
Fort Christina Park, 1122 East Seventh Street, Wilmington, DE 19801
Old Swedes Historic Site, 606 N. Church Street, Wilmington, DE 19801
New Sweden Centre, 1124 East Seventh Street, Wilmington, DE 19801
Highway of Ministries Church, 901 East 7th Street, Wilmington, DE 19801
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Jubilee Day - 375th Celebration of the Landing of the Swedes and Finns
Saturday, May 11th
The Old Swedes Historic Site will be closed this day for tours and research. Please view or click on the link under resources for the New Sweden Alliance Website for information on the events being held throughout the City of Wilmington. www.375th.org
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Ghosts in the Graveyard
Saturday, October 19 and October 26, 2013; 6:30pm - 9:00pm
During the 19th Century, stories about graveyard hauntings were whispered in the parlors, taverns and shops of Wilmington with hushed excitement. Some of these tales have never been successfully refuted. Join us for Ghosts in the Graveyard and see if you can solve the mystery of the late night bell ringing at Old Swedes Church.
Reservations required
Adults $10.00, Students 12 to 17 $6.00. Non Members: Adults $15.00, Students 14 to 17 $12.00
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Sankta Lucia Celebration
Sunday, December 8, 2013; 2:00pm - 5:00pm
Join us for a traditional celebration of the Feast Day of Sankta Lucia, a holiday that is still marked by light and music in Sweden today. The Delaware Swedish Colonial Society sponsors the annual December celebration of Sankta Lucia at Old SwedesChurch. Following the ceremony, join us for Swedish refreshments and tours of the Hendrickson House Museum, decorated for a Swedish Christmas.
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A Swedish Christmas
December 4-28, 2013; 10:00am - 4:00pm
Visit the Hendrickson House Wednesday through Saturday to experience Christmas Swedish style with traditional decorations and tours that focus on how the settlers of New Sweden would have celebrated the holidays.
