Celebrate the fun festivities of winter at the third annual Snow Much Fun Community Day at the Everhart Museum! Join us on Sunday, December 8 as we revel in the season by celebrating the holiday traditions of cultures around the world. The event features free admission to the Museum from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and enjoy free activities, crafts, live music, and much more from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.!
Through a variety of hands-on craft stations, explore the joys of the holiday season as you participate in activities that highlight the significance of different cultural celebrations. From making paper Matryoshka dolls for the Russian New Year, to creating paper diyas for Diwali, to designing paper kinaras for Kwanzaa, each of the six stations offers a unique opportunity to learn and engage with diverse traditions.
The event will also feature holiday music by Doug Smith and the Dixieland All-Stars, as well as a free photo booth by Freez Photo booth.
Holidays Around the World
1. Diwali (India) – Paper Diyas
Diwali, the Festival of Lights, celebrates the triumph of light over darkness. Families light oil lamps called diyas to symbolize this victory. Led by master folk artist Mona Pande, participants will paint clay diyas.
2. Hanukkah (Jewish Tradition) – Paper Dreidel
Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights, celebrates the miracle of oil lasting eight days in the Jewish temple. Families light the symbolic menorah in observance. A popular pastime during this holiday is playing with the dreidel, a spinning top used in Hanukkah games. Participants will construct paper dreidels decorated with markers and stickers with guidance from Miriam Raven of Jewish Community Center.
3. Chinese New Year (China) – Paper Lanterns
Chinese New Year, which takes place at the end of January, is celebrated with parades, fireworks, and red paper lanterns for good luck and prosperity. Shu Qui of the Dalton Community Library will lead participants in making red paper lanterns using simple folding techniques and gold stickers for decoration.
4. Russian New Year (Russia) – Paper Matryoshka Dolls
New Year is the most important celebration in Russia, featuring iconic symbols like Father Frost and Matryoshka dolls. Participants will create a set of paper Matryoshka dolls, each doll representing family and tradition.
5. Los Posados (Mexico) – Paper Piñatas
Piñatas are an important part of Navidad (Christmas) celebrations in Mexico, especially during the nine-day festival of Los Posadas, which lasts December 16–24. With direction from Jenny Gonzalez of the Marywood STARS program, participants will assemble and decorate a mini paper piñata using tissue paper and colorful markers.
6. Kwanzaa (African American Tradition) – Paper Kinara
Kwanzaa is a seven-day celebration of African American culture, focusing on community, family, and the seven: self-determination, collective work, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity, faith, unity. The kinara, a seven-branched candleholder, represents these ideals, as one candle is lit each day during Kwanzaa. Participants will create colorful paper kinaras using cutouts for candles and holders, and learn about Kwanzaa’s seven principles.