Celebrating Christmas around the world
Event, book reading via Zoom tonight
LANCASTER » Do you know that it is common to roller skate to church in Venezuela, that Swedes celebrate St. Lucia Day, or that Santa arrives on a camel in Kenya as part of those countries’ celebrations of Christmas?
To learn more, enjoy a whirlwind tour of Christmas and winter holiday history, traditions, and songs from around the world, as well as the reading of a rare Christmas story — live via Zoom with Anne Barrett at 6:30 tonight.
This program is free to the public and
hosted by Thayer Memorial Library.
Barrett is a performer, historian and soprano who is delighted to be sharing online cheer through story and song for the 2020 holiday season.
The audience will enjoy holiday tidbits from around the world, along with the history of popular traditions and songs, in this warm-hearted sharing of the holiday spirit.
“We’ll first explore some ancient solstice celebrations; this time of year has been significant to humans for thousands of years,” Barrett said. “We’ll then journey to many countries to learn about Christmas traditions and other celebrations such as Hanukkah and Pancha Ganapati. Along the way I’ll sing songs, such as ‘Stille Nacht (Silent Night).’ When we return, I’ll read a lesserknown heart-warming Christmas story written over 60 years ago that reflects the season’s themes of charity and goodwill.”
Barrett said this littlebit-of-everything format, coupled with changing Zoom backgrounds to match the topics, will keep the audience engaged and entertained.
As a child, Barrett had a flair for the dramatic, turning that passion into public speaking, acting and writing.
“For over 10 years, I have researched, written and produced my own lectures and performances with a focus on educating and entertaining audiences,” she said.
And as a newspaper history columnist and publisher of Topsfield Historical Society’s news magazine titled “Local Lore,” she has dedicated herself to making history interesting for audiences.
“I think the most interesting part of history isn’t the facts or dates, but the human story,” she said. “When I portray characters, I bring history to life and make the people real. Through my lectures I share little-known stories of people in a particular time, how they felt, what outside forces were at work, and how all of that translated into a particular historical event.”
Barrett has proudly portrayed Martha Washington, Belva Lockwood, Mary Chipman Lawrence, Victoria Yule (fictional Christmas character) and Eliza Hamilton.
“I have two others, Nellie Bly and Amelia Stewart Knight, both of which I had planned to introduce in 2020,” she said, “However, COVID-19 has pushed them into 2021 when we can return to in-person performances.”
For years, Barrett has portrayed Victoria Yule in Victorian Christmas Traditions.
“Victoria, a character I created, entertains her guests by describing her Christmas plans in 1895, shares the history of Christmas cards, trees, and other traditions, and sings familiar carols,” Barrett said. “She appears in a velvet Victorian costume against a theatrical backdrop with antique furniture, pictures and antique toys.”
Unfortunately, this year Victoria is unable to travel around bringing cheer to audiences in-person due to pandemic restrictions; however, with the help of the Thayer Memorial Library, this new Christmas program will entertain the Thayer community.
“We at Thayer Memorial Library, like some many other libraries, miss seeing our library members regularly, as we had been able to pre- COVID,” said Karen Silverthorn, adult services librarian at the Thayer Memorial Library, which is located at 717 Main St. “We definitely took those times for granted.”
Silverthorn said she is thankful that the library’s members are still getting their books, DVDs and CDs through the library’s curbside pickup service, “but the one-on-one interaction is something that we cannot solve at this time,” she said. “Therefore, connecting via social media, especially hosting presentations on Zoom, has become increasingly important.”
Being forced to celebrate the holidays this year without those we love has brought feelings of isolation and loneliness to many, Silverthorn said.
“Therefore, libraries are becoming more inventive at finding ways to help people stay connected,” she added.
Instead of hosting inperson cookie swaps, Thayer Memorial Library is holding a virtual Great Holiday Cookie Recipe Swap.
“We’re also asking our community to send us photos of their ugly holiday sweaters so that we can Deck Our TML Facebook Wall with their pictures for everyone to enjoy,” she said with a smile.
For the children, the Thayer Memorial Library will hold a noon New Year’s Eve celebration on Dec. 31.
“These are all ways our library is trying to let our public know that they are not alone, even though it may feel like that most of the time,” she said. “We all need to stay connected in any way we can.”
It’s just like that old song, “Those were the days, my friend, we thought they’d never end,” Silverthorn recollected. “As well, our patrons have let us know that they miss the fellowship they once found at the library.”
As part of the holiday spirit, Barrett is donating part of her performance proceeds, which are paid for by the Friends of the Thayer Memorial Library, to food banks for this season of giving.
“Food insecurity, always an issue, has soared over the past few months,” she said. “I am grateful to my clients who signed up for this special Christmas program, and I want to share my fortune with those less fortunate.”
Since Victoria can’t travel as she usually does, Barrett decided to create this Made-for-Zoom Christmas program to bring a little happiness to people sorely in need of some holiday cheer.
“So many of our cherished traditions, from tree lightings to parades to family gatherings, will not be possible this year, so this is my small contribution to the holiday spirit,” she said.
For information, or to register for this program, which is required, email Karen Silverthorn at ksilverthorn@lancasterma.net.