Library Notes


November 16, 2012

Erika Kosin



Creating new Traditions this Holiday Season

Think back to your childhood during the holidays. What do you remember? Many of us cherish the times spent with family, for me I always remember sitting with my siblings and cousins around a block of cheese laughing as we geared up to play a rousing game of cards or Trivia Pursuit. I think fondly of that time, even if as the youngest, I was always the one that the older kids did not want on their team. As we are now ensconced in the holiday season, think about activities that you can share with your children to create memories they will cherish. It may be one event you can attend as a family or a series of things leading up to the holidays. Whether you are celebrating Christmas, Hanukah, or Kwanzaa, make the festivities memorable by creating family traditions.

Not sure where to start, the library can help. From cookbooks such as the Usborne Little Book of Christmas Cooking to holiday decorations that can be found in the book Christmas Decorations Kids Can Make by Kathy Ross, you can spend quality time with your children while preparing for the holiday. Grandparents, aunts and uncles love homemade gifts from their favorite children, so why not check out Holiday Gifts, Favors and Decorations by Helen Sattler or Holiday Crafts by Alan and Gill Bridgewater. Each book contains crafts and ideas for both Christmas and Hanukah. For those gearing up for Kwanzaa, you will find fun ideas in Crafts for Kwanzaa by Kathy Ross. How to Make Holiday Pop-Ups by Joan Irvine can be fun and engaging for the crafty child, showing them how to create homemade pop-up cards for various holidays that they can share with family and friends.

For those of you who are not crafty or may be challenged in the kitchen, you can look for cultural traditions from around the world by perusing the Festivals of the World or the Christmas in series. Both contain holiday and festival traditions from different countries and there is even one that focuses on American Christmas traditions of yesteryear called Christmas in Colonial and Early America. Another idea is to find a fun holiday picture book that can be shared with your children. Make it a tradition by reading this book as a family every year.

Family traditions may include making crafts, baking cookies, sharing a holiday story, or attending a special event. The most important element of a family tradition is the time spent together. This holiday season sit back, relax and enjoy making memories, I know your children will.

Check in with the Rowan Public Library to see what fun programs are happening this holiday season.