Fountaindale Public Library District: Holidays For All

Bolingbrook IL

10 December, 2021

12:55 PM

Description

Press release from Fountaindale Public Library District: Melissa December 9, 2021 The holiday season is here! While most take this to mean Christmas, December is actually filled with several different holidays and celebrations across many cultures. During this time of year, there's much talk of trees, lights, Santa and gifts, and while it's important to celebrate the customs and traditions that make the holidays special to us individually, it's equally important to provide space to honor and recognize the traditions that are different from our own. Here are a few of the other more celebrations that are held within our community that also take place in the month of December. Hanukkah Monday, November 29–December 6 Also known as the Festival of Lights, this Jewish holiday celebrates the rededication of the Second Temple of Jerusalem during the Maccabean Revolt. Bodhi Day Wednesday, December 8 Observed by many Buddhists, this day commemorates Buddha's enlightenment. Winter Solstice/Yule Tuesday, December 21–Saturday, January 1 This holiday celebrates the longest day of the year and marks the beginning of winter. Kwanzaa Sunday, December 26–Saturday, January 1 Traditionally celebrated by African Americans and people of African descent, this holiday is centered around seven principles: unity, self-determination, collective responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity and faith. It's also important to note, the date for Eid-al-Fitr (which marks the end of Ramadan) shifts each year and is sometimes celebrated in December. In 2033, it is predicted that Eid and Christmas will be on the same day. Christmas in Other Cultures There are many different ways people celebrate Christmas. Here are a couple of Christmas-related celebrations observed by two of Bolingbrook's largest ethnic groups. Las Posadas Thursday, December 16–Friday December 24 While traditions will vary by country and region, this nine-day Mexican and Latin American celebration commemorates Mary and Joseph's search for an inn. Simbang Gabi Thursday, December 16–Friday, December 24 Observed by Filipino Catholics, this celebration honors Mary and is a nine-day spiritual preparation of the birth of Jesus. Like Las Posadas, traditions also vary by country and region. Holiday Events at Fountaindale Join us this month for a variety of events for children and families that celebrate different holidays and cultures. Family Nutcracker  Wednesday, December 22, 10 a.m. A holiday tradition almost as old as a tree or stockings is Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker ballet. Join us in celebrating his classical soundtrack while creating our own dances to his musical score! Registration required. Polar Express  Thursday, December 23, 6:30 p.m. Experience Chris Van Allsburg's beloved classic book in this special all-ages storytime! Registration required. Kwanzaa Craft Kit  Sunday, December 26 Make a banner to decorate your house for Kwanzaa, while supplies last. Holiday Books Our staff has put together a great selection of holiday books across many cultures to enjoy during this time of year. Be sure to check them out today! For Children: Carlos, Light the Farolito by Jeanne Ciavonne When his parents and grandfather are late on Christmas Eve, it's up to Carlos to take over his grandfather's role in the traditional Mexican reenactment of the Nativity called Las Posadas. Find It Now Filipino Celebrations: A Treasury of Feasts and Festivals by Liana Romulo Brimming with vivid illustrations and rich cultural background, Filipino Celebrations makes major festivals such as Holy Week, Independence Day, Christmas and New Year come alive, together with family celebrations such as weddings, birthdays, baptisms, and a girl's debut into society. Each chapter gives children a glimpse of the rich cultural heritage of this island nation. Activities such as games, songs, crafts and recipes invite children to participate in the fun. Find It Now Kevin's Kwanzaa by Lisa Bullard Kevin is excited for his turn to light the candles on the last night of Kwanzaa. As he narrates through the week of Kwanzaa, readers learn about the origins, purpose and rituals of this holiday. Find It Now Li'l Rabbit's Kwanzaa by Donna L. Washington L'il Rabbit searches for a gift for his grandmother when she is sick during Kwanzaa, and surprises her with the best gift of all. Includes The Nguzo Saba—The Seven Principles of Kwanzaa. Find It Now The Night of Las Posadas by Tomie DePaola At the annual celebration of Las Posadas in old Santa Fe, the husband and wife slated to play Mary and Joseph are delayed by car trouble, but a mysterious couple appear who seem perfect for the part. Find It Now The People Remember by Ibi Zoboi The People Remember tells the journey of African descendants in America by connecting their history to the seven principles of Kwanzaa. Find It Now The Shortest Day by Susan Cooper A celebration of the winter solstice and the Yuletide season. As the sun set on the shortest day of the year, early people would gather to prepare for the long night ahead. They built fires and lit candles. They played music, bringing their own light to the darkness, while wondering if the sun would ever rise again. Find It Now You're My Little Latke by Nicola Edwards Celebrate your little latke with this sweet and colorful rhyming board book. Find It Now For Teens and Adults: The Art of Hanukkah by Nancy M. Berman One of the most joyous weeks in the Jewish year is when families gather for eight evenings to celebrate the festival of Hanukkah. This book, through its selection of forty-eight masterpieces of holiday ceremonial and fine art, tells the story of the desecration of the holy Temple, its subsequent reclaiming and rededication, and the miracle of the single, tiny cruse of oil that continued to provide light for eight days. Find It Now Celebrations: The Complete Book of American Holidays by Robert J. Myers Learn cultural and historical background and traditions of forty-five major American holidays, both secular and religious, Christian and Jewish. Find It Now Kwanzaa: Black Power and the Making of the African-American Holiday Tradition by Keith A. Mayes Kwanzaa: Black Power and the Making of the African-American Holiday Tradition explores the political beginning and later expansion of Kwanzaa, from its start as a Black Power holiday, to its current place as one of the most mainstream of the black holiday traditions. Find It Now Kwanzaa: From Holiday to Everyday: A Complete Guide For Making Kwanzaa A Part of Your Life by Maitefa Angaza A guide to how Kwanzaa, a winter celebration of family, friends, and the African American community, can be part of life all year round provides information on the seven principles and offers ideas for planning Kwanzaa gatherings. Find It Now A Kwanzaa Celebration: Festive Recipes and Homemade Gifts From An African-American Kitchen by Angela Shelf Medearis Enjoy 100 favorite recipes with either history behind them or a unique tie to the Kwanzaa celebration. Find It Now Kwanzaa Crafts: Gifts and Decorations For Meaningful and Festive Celebration by Marcia Odle McNair This book defines each day with the principle, its candle color, symbol, a descriptive story of poem, and a bunch of make-it-now crafts…Recipes, too, are easy to imitate, from banana bread as a gift to rice and black-eyed peas eaten on New Year's Day for good luck. Illustrations, including photographs, capture the spirit." Find It Now Origami Holiday Decorations For Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa by Florence Temko Get details on the histories of Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa. Enjoy colorful step-by-step instructions for 25 holiday projects, including a snowflake card, a dreidel, a six-pointed star and a Kwanzaa bowl. Find It Now Ramadan by Betsy Richardson Ramadan, the most sacred month of the year for more than 1 billion Muslims, is a holiday traditionally devoted to prayer, fasting and charity. This book describes the various customs and traditions of Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr celebrations around the world and how social and political influences have shaped these observances. Find It Now The Winter Solstice: The Sacred Traditions of Christmas by John Matthews Many people long for an alternative to the commercial industry Christmas has become. This illustrated, full-color book, brimming with folklore, stories, recipes, games, activities, decorating ideas, and songs, will help families who are burned out on Christmas create celebrations more in keeping with the heartful spirit of the original Winter Solstice festivals. Find It Now Yule: A Celebration of Light and Warmth by Dorothy Morrison Celebrates the history, traditions, and symbols of Yule, offering advice on gifting, feasting and commemorating the Yuletide season around the world. Find It Now This press release was produced by Fountaindale Public Library District. The views expressed here are the author's own.