LM: Almanacs

Lacheal Martin

Almanacs

Almanacs have been a popular resource over the years. They provide a variety of information to the public, from weather forecasts to information about a state’s district. While they can be entertaining to read, each almanac offers insight into the attributes of the site where an almanac was published. In Wilmington, Delaware, Jacobus Van Cuelen printed an almanac in 1790 for the upcoming year, and included a calendar that reveals the state’s tolerance of cultural diversity — a trait shared within the New Netherlands.

Founded in 1624, New Netherland was a nation that greatly valued a trading society that made money through private businesses (Woodard 65). Since it primarily focused on building wealth, settlers did not push religious conformity to others because they weren’t concerned with “social cohesion” (Woodard 65). Therefore, unlike other almanacs, Cuelen’s one did not include advice for personal improvement or cooking recipes because they most likely weren’t highly regarded. Instead, one of the roles the almanac served was to be a daily guide to understanding the holidays celebrated within the state.

After buying the land from the Native Americans, the Dutch turned the states within New Netherland — northern Delaware, New York, Connecticut, New Jersey, and parts of Pennsylvania — into a spot of global commerce (“New Netherlands”). While the Dutch were interested in establishing trade, they brought their values into society, encouraging free inquiry and the freedom of religion (Woodard 67-68). Eventually, the nation attracted populations from places such as France, Poland, Sweden, and New England (Woodard 66). Also, it attracted the Jewish, Muslim, and Indian communities (Woodard 66). Eventually, the nation became a diverse community with a shared interest in commerce.

The almanac reflects the cultural diversity by including various holidays and observances celebrated— on the calendar (Cuelen 4-27). As with other almanacs, the calendar includes astronomical information for each day, which reveals how individuals relied on astrology and astronomy to understand the world. For each month, Cuelen appeals to the communities within Delaware by incorporating events of other cultures into the calendar. Some examples are: St. Andrew’s Day, celebrated by the Scots (“Saint Andrew’s Day”); All Saints’ Day, celebrated by Roman Catholics and Christians (“All Saints’ Day”); St. Lawrence Day, celebrated by Italians (“Saint Lawrence”); The Feast of St. James the Apostle, celebrated in Spain (“St. James’ Day in Spain in 2021”); and St. Patrick’s Day, celebrated by the Irish (“Saint Patrick’s Day”). The various holidays in the calendar can help readers understand that while not everyone celebrated all the religious observances in Delaware, everyone was tolerant and allowed religious freedom because religion was not a concern (Woodard 70).

It may be said that the list of holidays and observances may be a minor detail of the almanac, but that detail reflects a distinct quality within the New Netherlands.

Works Cited

“All Saints’ Day.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 18 Sept. 2020, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ All_Saints%27_Day. Accessed 17 Oct. 2020.

Cuelen, Jacobus V. The Delaware almanac, or Eastern-shore calendar, for the year of our Lord 1791: ... By Jacobus Van Cuelen. Wilmington [Del.], [1790]. Eighteenth Century Collections Online. Gale. University of Maryland College Park. Accessed 17 Oct. 2020. <http://find.gale.com.proxy- um.researchport.umd.edu/ecco/infomark.do? &source=gale&prodId=ECCO&userGroupName=umd_um&tabID=T001&docId=CB132180167&type=multipage&contentSet=ECCOArticles&version=1.0& docLevel=FASCIMILE>

“New Netherlands.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 18 Sept. 2020, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Netherland. Accessed 17 Oct. 2020.

“New Netherlands Founded.” History Central, Historycentral, www.historycentral.com/TheColonies/Netherlands.html. Accessed 17 Oct. 2020.

“Saint Andrew's Day.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 18 Sept. 2020, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Andrew's_Day. Accessed 17 Oct. 2020.

“Saint Lawrence.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 18 Sept. 2020, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Saint_Lawrence. Accessed 17 Oct. 2020.

“Saint Patrick’s Day.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 18 Sept. 2020, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Saint_Patrick%27s_Day. Accessed 17 Oct. 2020.

“St. James' Day in Spain in 2021.” Office Holidays, Office Holidays Ltd., 1 Jan. 2020, www.officeholidays.com/holidays/spain/st-james-day. Accessed 17 Oct. 2020.

Woodard, Colin. “Founding New Netherland.” American Nations. Penguin Books, 2011, pp. 65-72.