Did you ever wonder about the different holidays and traditions people celebrate during the winter months? Take a look at the resources and books we have to learn about holidays. You can also explore different cultures’ holidays in Culturegrams on the NLPL website. Then scroll all the way to the end of this post to find the big guy…Santa!

You can search by country, then holiday to find out about different cultures and traditions. Learn about your heritage- the climate, holidays, population, language, and even find some food favorites!

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To help you find specific holidays in the nonfiction section of the library, the following chart can be helpful to locate books:

There are also picture books in our holiday section back by the tree for some of the different winter celebrations. Stop in and check our selection. We can help you locate whatever sparks your curiosity.

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After you learn about the different traditions and cultures, you might want to see what’s going on up at the North Pole. Here is one Santa Tracker with lots of fun activities:

The Norad Santa Tracker follows Santa around the world and also has many jolly activities to keep you busy:

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We hope you find some information about your family traditions by using our online resources or with a visit. Wishes for peace and happiness this holiday season from Youth Services!

It’s time to hunker down and face winter since it will be here for awhile. The outlook is what we’ve come to expect here in the Midwest, so stay cozy with those gloves, hats, and mittens for the next few months. The Farmer’s Almanac has predicted a cold and wet winter for our area. This article highlights a few of the twists and turns coming with this year’s “Polar Coaster“.

More details can also be found on the Channel 5 website to help you to prepare -not that you’ve forgotten what it’s like!

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I recently saw a woolly bear caterpillar on the sidewalk and remembered that folklore says you can predict winter by observing the color and thickness of their fuzzy coat. The National Weather Service has interesting information about how valid this may or may not be. Either way, it’s fun to learn about these tales.

Since there’s nothing we can do about the freezing temperatures, a bit of snow would be pretty and offer outdoor activity options. Snowflake Bentley by Jacqueline Briggs Martin tells about a humble country boy who studied snowflakes throughout his life. You can read more about him and his quest to photograph and share his love of snowflakes:

Many people started taking a closer look at snow after learning about the work and inspiring photos of Wilson Bentley. We have these books available with more information and stunning photographs and illustrations:

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Another book, The Story of Snow, is available in the library and also on the website in Tumblebooks. You can watch the video presentation or read along with the Tumblepad online. Find the Kids tab, click on the Tumblebooks icon, then search for the title or subject. After you locate the book, you will be able to choose either option.

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I hope we have some snow soon so you can enjoy a hands-on experience with studying how snowflakes are formed. In the meantime, read up on the subject so you’re ready to go! Check back soon for more outside activities to try…snow foolin’!