This year has been different to say the least. Most people have not traveled anywhere or at least have stayed close to home.
So, we decided to give everyone a little taste of adventure this holiday season by transforming the top of the bookshelves in the Children’s Department into a trip around the world.
Christmas is celebrated by a lot of people in the United States and a lot of European countries, but you can’t forget about Hanukkah and Kwanzaa too.
I have learned so many cool facts about different countries, like how Ukraine uses a spider web on their trees due to an old folk tale. In Thailand most people are Buddhist, but those that celebrate Christmas like to use the fish, which is a Christian symbol, to make special ornaments for the tree.
Kwanzaa came into existence in 1966 to celebrate African American heritage.
Hanukkah is celebrated for 8 nights because the Maccabees were able to survive with a day’s worth of oil that lasted 8 days.
Of course, the Christmas season in the United States is a religious holiday for many representing the birth of Christ, and homes and churches decorate with manger sets, trees and hold family gatherings.
It is also welcomed by many celebrating the arrival of Santa, gift giving and the reading of the ever popular The Night Before Christmas by Clement Clarke Moore. Did you know that it was first published as an anonymous poem in 1823, and in 1837 was found to be authored by Moore.
Stop in and find out more about this joyous holiday season!
This display starts November 16 and will continue until the end of December. It is for kids of all ages.
-Jen Gardner, Children’s Department Manager