LIBRARY NOTES: ANNIVERSARIES
PAUL BIRKHEAD – DECEMBER 25, 2011
Something I always enjoy at the dawn of a new year is learning who or what will be marking an anniversary during the next twelve months. Did you know that 2011 marked the 100th year Rowan Public Library has been in existence? The library has celebrated all year with special programs and guest speakers at each location.
The year 2012 will see continued interest in all subjects concerning the American Civil War. Battles marking their 150th anniversary this year include those at Fort Donelson, Shiloh, Fredericksburg, and Antietam. Rowan Public Library has an extensive collection of books and DVDs that discuss these events as well as others. Do you have an ancestor (or two) who fought in the Civil War? If so, you’ll want to stop by the Edith M. Clark History Room on the third floor of the Headquarters library in Salisbury. There you’ll find thousands of books, microforms, manuscripts, and other materials that can help you discover your own genealogical gems.
In the literary world, there are several anniversaries that ought to be remembered this year. It’s amazing to me that, even after all this time, the following works continue to be read (or watched in movie form) and loved by subsequent generations.
200 years ago (1812) – Swiss Family Robinson by Johann David Wyss
100 years ago (1912) – Riders of the Purple Sage by Zane Grey
75 years ago (1937) – Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck and The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
50 years ago (1962) – Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury
25 years ago (1987) – Patriot Games by Tom Clancy and Beloved by Toni Morrison
As you can see, there are several literary milestones that you’ll have a chance to celebrate with the library this year. Are there two or three titles on that list that you’ve never read - or has it been a long time ago? Stop by Rowan Public Library and check out our collection. We’ll be here to help you and looking forward to our next one hundred years serving Rowan County.
Sunday, December 25, 2011
Sunday, December 11, 2011
Gretchen Beilfuss Witt
December 11, 2011
Holy Days, Holidays
This time of year can be hectic for everyone but special as well. We each have our own unique traditions to observe either community-wide or family specific, religious or cultural. I am always curious as to how these observances got started. Some customs began eons ago – our custom of giving gifts dates back to early Roman winter solstice celebrations - and some are much more contemporary.
Valerie Menards' "The Latino Holiday Book" describes two Hispanic-American contributions to main stream Christmas celebrations. Cuetlaxochitl, is the Aztec name for the beautiful la flor de nochebuena or the flower of Christmas Eve. One story claims that a poor girl in Mexico wishing to take flowers to church was instructed by an angel to gather weeds and take them as an offering. These weeds were miraculously transformed into poinsettias. The U.S. name comes from the first U.S. minister to Mexico who brought the plant to the United States in 1829, Joel R. Poinsett. Luminaries are an even more complex amalgam of traditions. Native Americans in New Mexico, adapting their bonfire custom, made little fires outside churches and houses. In the 19th century when Chinese paper lanterns came into the picture; luminaries were placed in paper bags. These little fires symbolically light the way for the journey to Bethlehem.
Kwanzaa began in the 1966 by Maulana Karenga as an effort to establish a cultural observance, specifically for African-American and others of African descent; a way to celebrate heritage. Using Swahili, a common language among much of East Africa, and synthesizing elements from African harvest festivals, Kwanzaa is celebrated from December 26-New Year's Day. In "Kwanzaa: An African-American Celebration of Culture and Cooking" Eric Copage shares recipes as well as cultural and historical samples to illustrate Kwanzaa principles and experiences.
There are many older practices commemorating the Christmas season. The practice of sending Christmas cards began in England with Sir Henry Cole, a founder of the Victoria and Albert Museum. By the mid-1840s the custom was adopted by the royal family and as postage became less expensive more people participated. Cards in the United States were too expensive until a lithographer Louis Prang around 1875 mass produced them. Other customs signify the ending of the holiday season. Historically, Christmas Day was the beginning of the twelve days of Christmas ending on Twelfth Night or Epiphany when the Magi came to visit the Christ Child. Special cakes were made and gifts exchanged. In Shakespeare's time, Twelfth Night was one of masquerades and revelry. An almond in a sliver of cake brought good luck to the finder. Another tradition has the Christmas season ending on the day of ritual purification of Mary, forty days after the birth of Christ. The custom of blessing candles on this day gave it the name Candlemas. Decorations would be taken down, the last piece of the Yule log put away for next year and the Christmas plants burned and spread over the gardens. Candlemas day was a good day for weather casting. If a sunny day, folks could expect forty more days of cold and snow; in America, February 2 is more commonly known as Groundhog Day.
These and other interesting facts can be found at your library. However its observed, enjoy your holiday season.
December 11, 2011
Holy Days, Holidays
This time of year can be hectic for everyone but special as well. We each have our own unique traditions to observe either community-wide or family specific, religious or cultural. I am always curious as to how these observances got started. Some customs began eons ago – our custom of giving gifts dates back to early Roman winter solstice celebrations - and some are much more contemporary.
Valerie Menards' "The Latino Holiday Book" describes two Hispanic-American contributions to main stream Christmas celebrations. Cuetlaxochitl, is the Aztec name for the beautiful la flor de nochebuena or the flower of Christmas Eve. One story claims that a poor girl in Mexico wishing to take flowers to church was instructed by an angel to gather weeds and take them as an offering. These weeds were miraculously transformed into poinsettias. The U.S. name comes from the first U.S. minister to Mexico who brought the plant to the United States in 1829, Joel R. Poinsett. Luminaries are an even more complex amalgam of traditions. Native Americans in New Mexico, adapting their bonfire custom, made little fires outside churches and houses. In the 19th century when Chinese paper lanterns came into the picture; luminaries were placed in paper bags. These little fires symbolically light the way for the journey to Bethlehem.
Kwanzaa began in the 1966 by Maulana Karenga as an effort to establish a cultural observance, specifically for African-American and others of African descent; a way to celebrate heritage. Using Swahili, a common language among much of East Africa, and synthesizing elements from African harvest festivals, Kwanzaa is celebrated from December 26-New Year's Day. In "Kwanzaa: An African-American Celebration of Culture and Cooking" Eric Copage shares recipes as well as cultural and historical samples to illustrate Kwanzaa principles and experiences.
There are many older practices commemorating the Christmas season. The practice of sending Christmas cards began in England with Sir Henry Cole, a founder of the Victoria and Albert Museum. By the mid-1840s the custom was adopted by the royal family and as postage became less expensive more people participated. Cards in the United States were too expensive until a lithographer Louis Prang around 1875 mass produced them. Other customs signify the ending of the holiday season. Historically, Christmas Day was the beginning of the twelve days of Christmas ending on Twelfth Night or Epiphany when the Magi came to visit the Christ Child. Special cakes were made and gifts exchanged. In Shakespeare's time, Twelfth Night was one of masquerades and revelry. An almond in a sliver of cake brought good luck to the finder. Another tradition has the Christmas season ending on the day of ritual purification of Mary, forty days after the birth of Christ. The custom of blessing candles on this day gave it the name Candlemas. Decorations would be taken down, the last piece of the Yule log put away for next year and the Christmas plants burned and spread over the gardens. Candlemas day was a good day for weather casting. If a sunny day, folks could expect forty more days of cold and snow; in America, February 2 is more commonly known as Groundhog Day.
These and other interesting facts can be found at your library. However its observed, enjoy your holiday season.
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