NOTE: This blog is the second in a series on the history of winter holidays. Hanukkah was covered in this series and Kwanzaa comes next. Stay tuned!

Before there was Winston-Salem, there were two distinctive towns-- Winston and Salem. Salem was established by the Moravians in 1766. The Moravians were a Protestant church that began in what is now known as the Czech Republic. During the colonial period, Salem became a central trading center in North Carolina’s backcountry. Today, visitors continue to visit “Old Salem” which retains its early charms.  

Several Moravian traditions are incorporated in how we celebrate winter holidays in North Carolina. The delicious Moravian sugar cookies that we enjoy are now more available than ever and are particularly popular during the holidays. Many Moravian churches throughout the state hosts a colonial tea. The Moravians further celebrate on Christmas Eve with a traditional Love Feast, which dates back to the 1700s. Tapered, beeswax candles wrapped in red ribbons are lit then distributed to everyone present including the children. Hymns are sung and it all ends with the eating of sweet buns served with milky coffee or tea.  

In many homes throughout North Carolina, you will find a Moravian Star decorating the home. This 28-point star became popular in Germany and eventually in America and Europe where there are Moravian congregations. In Germany, they are known as Herrnhut stars, named after the Moravian Mother Community in Saxony, Germany, where they were first commercially produced. 



To learn more about Moravian Christmas, visit the Robinson-Spangler Carolina Room on the third floor of Main Library.

Photo courtesy of Our State Magazine 

NOTE: This blog is the third and final in a series on the history of winter holidays. We've covered Hanukkah,  Moravian Christmas and now Kwanzaa.

What is your favorite memory from celebrating Kwanzaa?  

Kwanzaa is celebrated from December 26-January 1. The celebration was created by Dr. Maulana Karenga, professor and chairman of Black Studies at California State University-Long Beach, in 1966 to celebrate the African culture and the African harvest.  

After the 1965 Watts riots in Los Angeles and a series of police clashes, Karenga formed a discussion group called “The Circle” to spread awareness of issues that plagued the Black community. He felt that the black community didn’t have a holiday that they could identify with, so he created one. 

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Courtesy of SporcleBlog 

Kwanzaa is a Pan-African cultural holiday, uniting people of African descent all over the world. Kwanzaa is derived from the Swahili phrase, “matunda ya kwanza,” meaning “first fruits.” 

There are seven candles to represent each pillar of Kwanzaa:  

• Unity (Umoja) 
• Self-determination (Kujichaguila) 
• Collective work and responsibility (Ujima) 
• Cooperative economics (Ujamaa) 
• Purpose (Nia) 
• Creativity (Kuumba) 
• Faith (Imani)

Unity means doing everything together as a family, community, nation and race. Self-determination is defining, naming, creating and speaking for themselves as a nation. Collective work and responsibility mean solving family problems together. Cooperative economics is to profit from businesses together. Purpose is restoring people and their community to greatness. Creativity is to do everything possible to make their communities more beautiful than it was when it was inherited. Faith is believing in the community and the victory of their struggle. 

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Courtesy of History.com 

There are also seven symbols of Kwanzaa:  

• Woven mat (Mkeka) 
• Candleholder (Kinara) 
• Seven candles (Mishumaa saba) 
• Unity cup (Kikombe cha umoja) 
• Ear of corn (Vibunzi) 
• Bowl of fruits and vegetables (Mazao) 
• Gifts for children (Zawadi).  

African culture, history, foundation, identities and aspirations are demonstrated by the woven mat. During Kwanzaa, reflections on the past and how it benefits the future are made. The mats were made from straw, African mud cloth, and other African textiles. This is the foundational symbol upon which the other symbols are placed. 

Ancestry is honored through the candleholder, standing tall as the original stalk from which African ancestors came. Sun and light are depicted by the seven candles (3 red, 3 green, 1 black). The red candles stand for Kujichaguila (self-determination), Ujimaa (cooperative economics), and Kuumba (creativity); the green candles stand for Nia (purpose), Ujima (collective work and responsibility and Imani (faith); the black candle stands for Umoja (unity). Each night, one candle is lit, and the purposes are reflected upon.  

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Courtesy of KwanzaaKeepers.com

The unity cup celebrates the ritual that takes place on the sixth day of Kwanzaa (tambitko). During this ritual, each person takes a sip of a libation (a drink made of juice, wine or water). The eldest person in the room blesses the cup, holds the libation to the four winds (north, south, east, and west) to bless their ancestors, pours some on the floor and says "Amen." The elder will always drink the last drops of the libation. 

One ear of corn is given to each family to represent the children. It signifies the lessons in discipline, positive thinking, expectations, compassion and self-direction the child is expected to carry forward to future generations. In families without children, an ear of corn is given to support the children of the community.  

Fruits and vegetables depict the African harvest festival, reaffirming the commitment to the unity, thanksgiving, joy and sharing of the work put into planning all economic parts of the community. Laws, values and customs recognize those that fed the community and the animals. 

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Courtesy of the Long Beach Post 

Joy, family and thanksgiving are the meaning behind the fruit basket. The baskets of fruit also demonstrate the farmers’ sacrifice and collective labor to reaffirm commitment and responsibility to the community.  

Throughout Kwanzaa, gifts are given to children in order to promote self-determination, purpose and creativity. These are normally handmade to avoid the chaos of the Christmas shoppers. Examples of gifts include dolls, mats or cards. You become part of the family when you accept a gift, and it is that person’s responsibility to continue the gift giving if they are the host.  

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“Kwanzaa.” History.com. Accessed December 2019. https://www.history.com/topics/holidays/kwanzaa-history 

Watson, Stephanie. “The History of Kwanzaa.” HowStuffWorks. Accessed December 2019. https://people.howstuffworks.com/culture-traditions/holidays-other/kwanzaa2.htm. 

This holiday season, many people will give the gift of genetic ethnicity tests. During the last few years, the popularity of consumer DNA tests like AncestryDNA and 23andMe has noticeably soared. As of early 2019, MIT Technology Review estimated that more than 26 million people had taken an at-home ancestry test. Continuing at that rate, they estimate that the number could grow to more than 100 million people within 24 months.



As additional people submit their DNA to these test providers, existing customers may find their test results evolving. In fact, the top-selling test, AncestryDNA, recently announced to customers that their test results have been updated. Ancestry calls it their “most precise breakdown yet.” This is not the first time that results have been updated, and updates will continue to happen periodically as more people take the test (at no additional charge to the customer). So, why exactly do these updates happen and how do they impact your ethnicity estimate? 

Photo courtesy of Ancestry.com 

Though they are always adding new features, AncestryDNA test results are primarily made up of an ethnicity estimate and DNA matches. When calculating ethnicity estimates, customers’ DNA is compared to a reference panel comprised of DNA samples from people with long family histories in a single region or group. Test takers’ DNA segments are assigned to the population in the reference panel that they are most similar to.

With each update, customers may find that their ethnicity estimates change—sometimes quite drastically. In some cases, your percentages from a specific region may differ from those in previous estimates, or new regions may suddenly appear. Some regions, especially those with low percentages, may disappear from your ethnicity estimate entirely. According to Ancestry, more samples allow them to do two things: divide the world into more regions and create a more precise picture of what the DNA “fingerprint” from those specific regions looks like. With the latest update, the more closely related ethnicities have been better resolved and the ethnicity estimates have been split into smaller, more defined regions. Simply put—your DNA has not changed, but as the data pool has grown, your results have evidently become more precise.  

Charlotte Mecklenburg Library offers free access to Ancestry.com Library Edition in all library branches. Here in the Robinson-Spangler Carolina Room, where we specialize in local history and genealogy, we often get questions from patrons about deciphering their genetic ethnicity test results. If you have any specific questions about AncestryDNA or genealogy in general, feel free to contact us. We can be reached by email at [email protected] or by phone at (704) 416-0150. Our staff is always happy to offer guidance! 

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The feature photo of the Ancestry DNA test kits accompanying this article is from SmarterHobby.com.

Countries around the world celebrated the new year at different times based on the calendar they chose to follow. The first of the year would align based on an astrological or agricultural event, which explains the difference in calendars. For Egyptians, it was after the Nile River flooded. In China, it was after the second new moon.



The earliest recorded new year’s celebration occurred in March (on the Gregorian calendar) about 4,000 years ago in Babylon, in an ancient Mesopotamian city located in what is present-day Iraq. Babylonians observed Akitu (derived from the Sumerian word for barley) to celebrate the new year with an 11-day religious festival. This festival allowed them to practice rituals, elect a new ruler or approve the continuation of the current ruler and celebrate the victory of the sky god, Marduk, over the sea goddess, Tiamat. (Right photo: Chinese New Year Mongkol Chuewong/Getty)                                              



What we know as a 365-day year used to be much shorter. Romulus, the founder of Rome and ruler in the 8^th century BC, created and enforced a 10-month calendar with 304 days. A later Roman ruler, Numa Pompilius, added the two months of Januarius and Februarius, but the calendar eventually fell out of sync with the sun.

Julius Caesar ultimately created the Julian calendar, which is closely related to the Gregorian calendar the world uses today. Caesar is credited with choosing January 1 as the first day of the year to honor the month’s namesake, Janus, the god of beginnings. Janus was believed to be a two-faced god who could look behind into the past and forward into the future.

Today, the world continues to celebrate the new year in a variety of festive (and delicious) ways. In Spain, a dozen grapes are hung right before midnight to symbolize hope in the months ahead. Financial success is symbolized by eating legumes and lentils in Italy and black-eyed peas in the southern United States. In Cuba, Austria and Hungary, pork is eaten to represent progress and prosperity. Ring-shaped cakes and pastries are eaten in the Netherlands, Mexico and Greece to show how the year has come full circle. Good luck and fortune are represented in Sweden and Norway by a hidden nut in rice pudding. (Left photo: NYE Copenhagen, dailyscandinavian.com)

It is encouraging to know that for at least 4,000 years, the new year has always been perceived as a fresh start with hope, joy and pending success.

What are some of your New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day traditions?

Times Square Seth Wenig/AP

This blog was updated December 31, 2020.

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Citations:

“New Year’s.” History.com. Accessed December 2019. https://www.history.com/topics/holidays/new-years

Did you know that the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library is present on multiple social media platforms? It’s true and we’d love to connect with you! Whether you’re on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn or all four, following or “liking” us on social media can help you stay better informed about Library events, programs, news and updates.

Are you a Mecklenburg County teen? Connect with us on Instagram at @CMLibraryTeens. CMLibraryTeens is a safe place, exclusively for teens, to connect with their favorite Teen Services staff and peers. It's also a place for book hauls, talks, games, live programs and more. Don't miss out!

But It doesn’t stop there. Nope!

The Charlotte Mecklenburg Library is committed to improving lives and building a stronger community by also ensuring customers and community members see themselves reflected in the inclusive, rich and diverse content we post. Customers and members of the community are also welcome to follow us on Flickr where they can find photos from Library events and programs happening at branch locations and other partner organizations in their own neighborhoods.

Don’t miss your opportunity to “friend” the Library and engage with us. Whether you decide to add, like or follow the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library, we look forward to socializing with you. Connect with us today!

The Charlotte Mecklenburg library system in a large library system with many teen volunteers across twenty branches. Our focus for the grant this year was to choose a branch that does not have a high recruitment and retention rate for teen volunteers. Our Sugar Creek branch is in a low-income and widely served area in our county, and in the past, we have had teens not complete the summer volunteering program at this branch.

Our teen interns were integral to making some of our summer programs a success. Summer Interns assisted with our Summer Reading Kickoff at the beginning of summer. Each intern operated a STEAM station and helped the Children’s Department with various projects such as, prepping Summer Reading materials, Summer Reading registration, book displays, and programs. They maintained weekly shelf-reading assignments which included pulling duplicate copies from our fiction and nonfiction collection as well as processed Book Sale items, and they have assisted the Circulation Department by pulling morning holds and processing daily delivery. 

The teen interns were asked which experience this summer was the most meaningful, and each of them gave a different view of why libraries are so important for teens. One of our interns, Treyson, also volunteered to be Clifford the Big Red Dog as part of the Summer Reading Kickoff. As Treyson was dressed as Clifford the Big, Red Dog in the summer sun, he said that even though it was a very hot costume, he “didn’t have to wear it” and that he “wanted to”, especially seeing how happy it made the children to see him.

Aleah shared about a moment when she was shelving in the children’s department, there was a child who told her she did not have anyone to play with. So, Aleah started coloring on the chalkboard with her, and she commented that she enjoyed spending time with the child, instead of leaving her alone. Aleah also stated that volunteering “gave her an excuse to read”. She never put books on hold before this summer, and now has a large stack. She also discovered ebooks and audiobooks and sometimes requests them at the same time!

Kaliyah has goals to become a graphic designer, and during this internship, she spent time with a staff person who is also an artist. The staff member gave her tips for her art and showed her how she can market her art as well. This internship gave her a connection she may have not made before.

Giving the teens several opportunities to work and collaborate with each other and library staff really benefited Sugar Creek. They were able to shine through their different personalities and have a fun experience, while learning how a library operates. This experience showed growth in each of the teens as well. By giving them a variety of tasks, they were able to find their niche, and they had a very positive impression of the library. By making the tasks fun and diverse, the teens committed 229 hours this summer, and there was no concern about retention.

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This post was reprinted with permission from the Young Adult Library Services Association blog. It was writen by Hayley Burson, teen librarian, at Charlotte Mecklenburg Library.

See yourself changing jobs or finding the career of your dreams in 2020? We can help.

First Mondays Employer Spotlight is a monthly hiring event in the Job Help Center at Main Library, typically showcasing 2-3 employers at a time. However, the inaugural First Monday 2020 event on January 6, 2020, will be held at Main Library from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. and feature more than 15 employers to kick off the new decade with big opportunities.

The companies currently scheduled to host a table at the event (subject to change) are:

• Carowinds
• Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools
• ConferenceDirect
• Elite Resources Premier Staffing
• Grace-Mar Services
• LSG Sky Chefs
• Occupancy Heroes Inc.
• Parks and Recreation Mecklenburg County
• PromoWorks
• QuikTrip
• Snyder's lance-/Campbell Soup
• The Princeton Review
• The Reserves Network
• United States Postal Service
• Vocational Rehabilitation
• YMCA of Greater Charlotte

Come out and discover what could be your next career! Learn more about the event here.

What is Library Codelab?

Library Codelab is a technology series based on the concepts of accessibility, collaboration and fun.  Charlotte Mecklenburg Library and community partners will offer monthly meetups for adults to explore different coding languages through projects and hands-on practice. We offer resources, motivation and access to a community of coders in a non-intimidating environment. At each meeting, we focus on a different coding language or concept and work together on a project.

The meetings are intended as an introduction to a concept, so you understand it enough to supplement the class time with self-paced learning (such as Codecademy, Udacity, Lynda.com). For example, in our JavaScript 101 class, we'll introduce you to JavaScript, use W3Schools to practice together, build a JavaScript function that produces a pop-up on a webpage, then respond to user input. We will meet monthly at different locations throughout Charlotte.

Who is Library Codelab for?

This group is meant for adults with an interest in coding or those who have tried to learn on their own but want or need more support as they learn. If you don't feel ready to attend some of the major Charlotte tech Meetups (Charlotte Devs, Code for Charlotte, Queen City Bytes, etc.) but still want to learn, this is the group for you. Our group allows you to learn from other beginners and ask all the questions. It can also be a great environment for getting a taste of different coding languages to help you decide what you might like to deep dive into. It's really meant as a first step into the world of learning to code.

Do I have to know how to code to join?

Absolutely not. You do need to have relatively good computer skills and a love for technology—but you don't have to know anything about coding before you come. At each meeting we tackle a topic as if we’ve never seen it before, but if you have, it can be great review and help you grasp a topic completely. Most members have tried to learn code on their own, or are at least familiar with HTML, but have struggled with learning it alone or aren’t sure where to go next in their coding journey. Join us at our next meetup to explore all that Library Codelab has to offer!

Upcoming events

Library Codelab: Intro to Web Concepts & Tech Careers​ –  Beatties Ford Regional Library, Randolph Room – 2412 Beatties Ford Rd.

This introductory workshop covers the fundamentals of web development in layman terms. This is a no-code workshop. It covers basic concepts like the difference between a client and a server, the difference between backend and front end code, and the typical web development team. The course also includes a brief overview of modern web concepts including cloud/DevOps.

Other Info

The final 30 minutes of the workshop will be dedicated to a round table discussion and open Q&A about tech careers/working in the field. If you have questions around getting started, resources, languages and tools to use, this will be a great time to get them answered. The presenters of this portion of the session currently work in the field and have non-traditional (bootcamp and/or self taught) backgrounds. Their experience includes front end, full stack development, and distributed database knowledge. This class is for people with little technical experience, or those just starting to explore opportunities in the technical field.

Register here  January 25, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Library Codelab: Intro to Web Concepts & Tech Careers – Beatties Ford Regional Library, Community Room B

Join us at this program if you are familiar with web concepts, but would like the opportunity to have an intimate, round-table discussion specifically on careers in technology.

Other Info

ABOUT THE PRESENTERS: Cristina Veale is a Developer Advocate at DataStax, QCB Organizer, and Engagement Director of Fleurix Conference. The first meetup she ever attended was an Intro to Web Concepts course(!) which spurred her interest towards frontend development. Cristina has been developing web applications, teaching, and advocating for underrepresented groups in technology for the past five years and counting. Louise Clark is a front end developer at Duke Energy. She decided to switch careers and become a developer after more than a decade of teaching Latin American history at local universities. Louise also has three kids who think it's entirely possible she might code the next Minecraft game someday.

Register here  January 28, 6:00 to 7:30 p.m.

Library Codelab: Intro to Programming with QC Bytes​ – Independence Regional, IB Community Room – 6000 Conference Dr.

Queen City Bytes is partnering with Charlotte Mecklenburg Library to bring you a Winter Coding series! Snacks will be provided. You are encouraged to bring your own laptop and charger. Variables? Loops? Syntax? It sounds complicated, but programming is simply providing instructions to a computer. Similar to a person following a recipe, a computer needs to be told step by step what to do in a way it can understand. In this workshop you will learn more about the basics of programming and logic. Attendees will gain exposure to creating flow charts, writing code snippets, and a general approach for building a program.

Other Info

This workshop is designed for those completely new to programming. A laptop is recommended, however the library will be able to provide one if needed. All resources will be shared via the library's mailing list and on www.meetup.com/qc-bytes.

Register here  February 1, 1:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Library Codelab: Intro to Programming/Open Lab – Plaza Midwood Library, Community Room, – 1623 Central Avenue

Curious about learning to code, but don't know where to start? Join us for this introductory class focused on how the web works, programming logic and and intro to common programming languages. No computer is needed for this class. Beginners are welcome.

Register here  February 5, 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Want to learn more?
Join our email list here or find us on Meetup here.

New name? Yes. It’s also a new building with a new look.

Scaleybark Library is officially closed and the new South Boulevard Library opens in its new location on Monday, January 13, 2020 at 4429 South Boulevard. We invite all customers and community members to come experience the incredible new space which is more than three times the size of the previous Scaleybark Library. Here’s a run-down of all that is new:

In its brand-new location, South Boulevard Library boasts 18,850 square feet – an increase of 13,350 square feet (nearly 300%) from its former location. South Boulevard includes new, reimagined spaces for both children and teens, public computers, children’s computers, three self-checkouts, an expanded community room, a dedicated children’s program room, a quiet reading room, a calming room, five group study rooms, a laptop bar for customers who want to bring their own devices, many collaborative spaces and a vending café that is stocked/equipped with snack and drink machines for customers to enjoy at their leisure.

Looking for a space to get connected? South Boulevard is the place for you. The new Library branch features free Wi-Fi, audio-visual capabilities and a public computer lab. Additionally, avid readers and book lovers alike will also enjoy a 20% increase in the branch’s materials collection, with the largest growth happening in picture books (50% increase), the Young Adult and Teen Collections (45% increase) and World Languages (38% increase).

The new South Boulevard was designed with accessibility in mind. There are two entrances to the branch, one in the front (facing South Boulevard) and one in the back of the building, along with ample parking on both sides. It’s also just a 0.6-mile walk (about 12 minutes) from the Lynx Blue Line’s Scaleybark Station.

South Boulevard Library was relocated to a larger building – approximately 0.4 miles south of its former Scaleybark Library location – to fit the needs of a growing community. The Library is open Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. - 8 p.m. and Fridays and Saturdays from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. The branch is closed on Sundays.

New customers are encouraged to sign-up for a Library card on-line or at the branch. Come by and check it out!

Note: South Boulevard Library will celebrate a community ribbon cutting on Saturday, February 15, 2020 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Click here for more details

Money Magnets Club (MMC) was piloted as a start-up social entrepreneurial effort during the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library’s observance of Money Smart Week in 2019 as the brainchild of librarian Teresa Cain, and the program elements were designed and facilitated by community member Alexandra Arrington. It serves as a medium to teach elementary schoolers about and prepare them, pragmatically, for life. Financial literacy, community-mindedness and character education within the framework of business ownership are the key pillars of MMC. Other developmental considerations for the age group served include the one-hour format of the club, reinforcement of literacy and vocabulary, and encouraging calculated risk.

The program draws upon the Money Smart curriculum to teach and demonstrate the concepts of currency, capital, budgeting, lending/borrowing, and investing, among others, as foundational to entrepreneurship. The Charlotte Mecklenburg Library has been a great partner as the launch site to gather free books/materials for families and kids to take home and further their learning.

There is no better time to start the process of introducing financial literacy and entrepreneurship than with the elementary aged population we serve (ages 5-11). There is a lack of attention geared toward this age group with the intent of MMC, as the focus of programming and resources have increasingly turned to adults and teens. The benefit of our focus on kids’ experience with these concepts is that their responsible adults are also involved and work with the student to support their learning, as well as reinforce their own understanding. Unlike other popular programs in the area, MMC runs over the summer, in the evenings and on the weekends, and build kids’ capacity and understanding such they can try out a business idea and receive funding support.

The Landscape of Opportunity

Individuals growing up in Charlotte, NC in poverty are not likely to rise out of poverty in adulthood according to the widely read Chetty Study. MMC is one effort to disrupt poverty by providing resources for economic empowerment to kids and their responsible adults in areas most likely to be negatively affected by this trend. We currently run the MMC at the West Boulevard branch of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library and started a second site at The Nest at Camp North End in July 2019.

The goal is for MMC to have funded, regular rotations of the program at five (5) sites in Charlotte by summer 2021 in collaboration with corporate and community partners. $500 of the raised funds for each site are earmarked for our R.I.C.H. (Responsible Investments in Community Hope) seed capital fund, which will invest up to $25 for those students matriculating successfully through MMC—which includes regular attendance, doing a budget, crafting a business plan, and giving a business pitch in our special R.I.C.H circle format conducive to encouragement rather than competition as they grow their confidence—to launch their business ideas.

View the dates for each class by clicking the buttton below. Sessions are free and no registration is needed to attend.

Money Magnets Sessions