The Delmarva Peninsula has some unique traditions when it comes to Christmas. As a Photojournalist and a part of my Delmarva Scenes photographic project I have had the chance to see and photograph many of these.
For those who work on the waters of the Chesapeake Bay and even farmers of the past baskets was a key tool of the harvest. Bushel baskets were a prime container use in the transportation to market for crabs, oysters and farm produce. Cambridge was one of those towns that were involved in shipping. A few years ago they began a tradition of putting up a Crab Basket tree. I haven’t had a chance to see it at night, but considering how it looked in the daytime I’m sure it’s a fantastic sight.
Rock Hall was another of those towns where the residents lived by the fruits of the Chesapeake Bay. Three years ago the town took the idea of a Crab Basket Tree one step further by decorating the baskets in tribute to family members who have lived a life on the waters of the Chesapeake Bay.
In many towns on the peninsula and I’m sure elsewhere in the nation Santa Claus makes a grand arrival by Fire Truck. In Rock Hall he arrives by boat.
That’s not the only tradition near the town of Rock Hall. When driving RT 20, the major road into the town, a few miles North of town there is a area called Double Woods. It’s call that since there are woods on both side of the road. Over the years the residents of the area have decorated that stretch of road for Christmas. A few years ago this was the biggest and best display.
A traditional way to catch crabs is a crab pot. In the town of Chesapeake City they put up a Crab Pot tree. I hear that so does the town of Crisfield, but I haven’t been there to see theirs
Sometimes I will play around with a theme. Last year I took a few pictures of my tree. So this is my wish during this holiday season for all to have Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas and a Fantastic New Year!!
Note:
It’s probably too late to put these scenes and a few others together as a set of Christmas Cards, my plans are to have a Delmarva Scenes Christmas Card set for those who want to send someone a Delmarva Christmas Card.
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Early in 2018 since I do not have a Gallery nor am I associated with one, I thought it would be nice to create what realistically would be a Gallery Show only it would be posted online on my Web site.
There was one in March – Icy Kent and another in April – Sunsets.
As it turned out that those were the only two even though the idea was to have a new one once a month to debut on the first Friday of each month.
So what happened? Spring, Summer and Fall. Those are my busy times of the year.
Now that winter is almost here, I have decided that these Gallery Shows should return.
Look for a new one the 1st Friday of the month until Spring. January’s Galley will have some of the photographs that I consider my Best of 2018.
Thank You
SG (Steve) Atkinson