“Of all the months of the year there is not a month one half so welcome to the young, or so full of happy associations, as the last month of the year.” 

Charles Dickens had Christmas in mind when he wrote these words, but The Library is broadening the lens with its annual Festival of Cultures. While the signs of Christmas are everywhere, many other cultures mark their December calendars for their own celebrations, whether solemn or joyous – or both.  

For centuries and even millennia, humans have gathered as the days shorten to light candles that ward off the darkness and to warm themselves in the company of family and friends. Those winter solstice traditions linger in festivities worldwide. The Festival of Cultures raises awareness of why each tradition matters, and it offers an opportunity to welcome, educate, and enlighten Library members and visitors of all faiths and persuasions.  

The Festival of Cultures isn’t celebrated with parties and presents but with the gift of learning. At this time of year, every Library displays a poster explaining key events celebrated in December by different cultures.  

The posters describe the meaning and history behind Christmas, the Christian celebration of Jesus’ birth; Hanukkah, when Jews celebrate the rededication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem and the miracle that kept their candles burning for eight nights; Kwanzaa, an African American tradition celebrating family, community, and African ideals; Dia de Los Reyes, or Three Kings’ Day, celebrated in many Latin American cultures on Jan. 6, the Feast of the Epiphany; and Boxing Day, the day after Christmas in Great Britain and former British colonies, including Canada, noted as a time for charitable giving.   

“The posters let visitors know there are other holidays beyond Christmas, and they allow people who might not celebrate Christmas to feel welcome and included,” says Library Programming and Outreach Administrator Tynan Edwards.  

Learning about each other through traditions builds understanding, “especially this time of year when there’s so much celebrating going on,” adds Library Public Services Administrator Lori Milach. “It’s a nice idea to be able to learn how to celebrate alongside someone who may not be celebrating the same holiday that you are.” 

Each poster includes a QR code guiding interested visitors to The Library’s reading list of multinational holidays. Nonfiction titles introduce histories and facts, such as Jewish Holidays: A Brief Introduction for Christians for adults, or Celebrations Around the World for young readers. Kids can also explore the meanings behind the gatherings through story, with fiction choices such as Apples, Apples All Year Round: A Celebration of Jewish Holidays or Let’s Celebrate: Special Days Around the World. 

“A little kid or an adult who’s curious about holidays around the world can find something to read,” Edwards says. “Increasing that awareness fosters the ability to have productive communications. The poster and reading list provide an entry point to the materials that answer questions, and they allow people to learn at their own pace.”  

The Library is also a hub of information for immigrants and refugees finding their place in the community, and the Festival of Cultures can provide insight into the unfamiliar traditions whirling around them. If you came from Afghanistan and had never known Christmas, wouldn’t you wonder about the ubiquitous, white-bearded man in a red suit? 

“The materials elaborate on the knowledge that so many of us take for granted,” Edwards says.  

The Festival of Cultures invites everyone to every party, expressing The Library’s readiness to create an inclusive atmosphere that acknowledges the wealth of cultures throughout Dauphin County. 

“We’re decorating a little differently than everybody else,” says Milach. “While other places might be decorating just for the traditional Christmas holiday, we have all festivities within our libraries. There is so much going on this time of year. Even if you’re celebrating something different, you’re also celebrating with your neighbors and friends. It’s a fun time.”