Delaware

Delaware is a state of the United States. It is known as the "First State" because it was the first of the 13 colonies to ratify the United States Constitution, thus making it the first state in the union. Ratification occurred on December 7, 1787.

Culture

Religion

Delaware is home to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Wilmington.

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Sports

Delaware's professional sports teams are the Wilmington Blue Rocks minor league baseball team, a Class A affiliate of the Boston Red Sox who play at Daniel S. Frawley Stadium, and the Delaware Griffins, part of the Women's Professional Football League. Delaware is also home to the Delaware Smash who play World Team Tennis. The Smash were led in 2005 by Wimbledon Champion Venus Williams.

Related Topics:
Wilmington Blue Rocks - Minor league baseball - Boston Red Sox - Daniel S. Frawley Stadium - Delaware Griffins - Women's Professional Football League - World Team Tennis - Wimbledon - Venus Williams

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In place of in-state professional sports teams, many Delawareans follow either Philadelphia, New Jersey, or Baltimore teams, depending on their location within the state, with Philly getting the largest fan following.

Related Topics:
Philadelphia - New Jersey - Baltimore

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Delware is home to Dover International Speedway and Dover Downs. DIS, also known as the Monster Mile, is a NASCAR one mile long race-track, and Dover Downs is a horse racing track. They are co-located.

Related Topics:
Dover International Speedway - Dover Downs - NASCAR

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Botanical gardens

• Delaware Center for Horticulture
• Mt. Cuba Center
• University of Delaware Botanic Gardens
• Winterthur Museum and Grounds

Music in Delaware

See the main article on Music in Delaware.

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Festivals

The Big August Quarterly is an annual religious festival held in Wilmington, Delaware, and is sometimes called "Big Quarterly" or "August Quarterly". The festival began in 1814 by Peter Spencer in connection with the "quarterly" meeting (or "conference") of the African Union Church. Out of the four meetings during the year, the one in August became the "annual conference" of the Church when ministers' assignments for the next year were announced, among other business -- it was a time for free blacks and slaves alike to come together (from the multi-state area) and celebrate their faith with singing, dancing, testifying, and feasting. It is the oldest such celebration in the country.

Related Topics:
Big August Quarterly - 1814 - Peter Spencer - African Union Church

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Delaware's Senator Joe Biden's remarks on the significance of the "Big Quarterly" were published in the Congressional Record for 30 July 1981 (Vol. 127, No. 117) and for 9 August 1984 (Vol 130, No. 106).

Related Topics:
Joe Biden - 30 July - 1981 - 9 August - 1984

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Every year, the Delaware Sängerbund (German for Singers Alliance) holds it's own three-day long version of Oktoberfest, a festival celebrated in Munich, Bavaria. It is quite popular in the area, and even people from outside of Delaware come to it.

Related Topics:
Delaware Sängerbund - German - Oktoberfest - Munich - Bavaria

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