Light festivals are a tradition practiced in many parts of the world. The festivals are rooted in traditions that observe the solar or lunar cycles, though not all are. The library is dedicating an evening to celebrating these different cultures and festivals by creating a unique, light-based craft that goes with each festival. 

• Lunar New Year, commonly referred to as Chinese New Year, is celebrated all over Asia, particularly in East Asia, to signify the beginning of the new lunar cycle. To celebrate Lunar New Year we will be making Chinese Lanterns at one station. 
• Nowruz signals the beginning of spring in the northern hemisphere. With its origins in Iran, this holiday is celebrated by millions of people around the world from a diverse array of communities. To celebrate Nowruz we will be making Fish Bowl Tissue Paper Lanterns at another station. 
• Diwali celebrates the triumph of good over evil and marks the beginning of the Hindu New Year. It is India’s biggest holiday of the year spanning over five full days of celebration with each day signifying something different. To celebrate Diwali we will be making Diya lamps out of homemade dough and baking them! This station will be kind of a two-part station because you will make the dough and form the bowl. Then while you wait for it to bake you can go to another station. Once it is baked and cooled you can come back and paint it! 
• Finally, we go a little closer to home with the African American tradition of Kwanza, which celebrates traditional African values. To celebrate Kwanze we will be making our own versions of the Kinara or the seven candles. 

This class is for all ages since we will not be using real fire but rather LED Candles for these activities! To sign up please stop into the library or call 616-681-9678