The library is looking to create an inclusive and educational holiday experience.
On December 17 – Winter Wonderland will celebrate holiday traditions from all over the world including Christmas, Hanukkah, Ukrainian Christmas, Kwanzaa, Chinese New Year and Diwali. The event is in coordination with the Central Alberta Refugee Effort, which will be providing volunteers to help educate on their respective traditions.
Programmer Corrie Brown is happy to bring this educational holiday offering to the Sylvan Lake Library.
“We used to always do Christmas Cheer where we would have music crafts and snacks and then last year we did a Winter Wonderland which focused on winter,” Brown said. “We want to recognize that people have many winter celebrations that aren’t Christmas.”
She added the event will still celebrate Christmas and the event is not meant to minimize the importance of any of these holidays to those who recognize them as their own tradition. The event will have literary and education materials on the traditions at each station.
“We are bringing in as many books as possible for each celebration,” Brown said. “Each area will have books people can sign out about each celebration, as well as two crafts that they can make here or take home. We are hoping each station will have a volunteer from the Central Alberta Refugee Effort who can talk a bit on each celebration and how it is celebrated here and around the world.”
The need to recognize other cultural events in Sylvan Lake came from recognizing the diverse backgrounds of library patrons who come in and out of the local organization.
“It’s important not just for the library, but for everyone in Sylvan Lake,” Brown explained. “We have a lot of families that come to our programs who don’t necessarily celebrate Christmas and this time of year can sort of be Christmas everywhere. It’s a good way to show the library offers more than just Christmas. We can offer some knowledge that you don’t necessarily see day-to-day.”
The Library is currently taking registrations to the event for those interested and is always looking for people to lend a hand and help.
“We always love to have volunteers so if there is anyone excited about one of the celebrations or personally celebrates it - it would be awesome if they wanted to get in touch with us and be part of it.” Brown added.
reporter@sylvanlakenews.com