Tagged holidays
June is Immigrant Heritage Month
Philadelphia is a city full of the history, culture, and contributions of numerous immigrant communities. This June, join the Free Library of Philadelphia as we celebrate Immigrant Heritage Month, in partnership with the City of…
Celebrating Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage for Families
May is Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month , and it’s a wonderful time to celebrate this rich and varied cultural heritage with the whole family! The acronym stands in for a great number of different…
Celebrate the Earth This April With Kids
On April 22, 1970, on the heels of a massive oil spill in California, the first Earth Day brought 20 million Americans to stand up for the protection of a planet polluted and imperiled by industrialization. This action and the resulting…
Picture Book Highlights | Happy Lunar New Year!
It’s a brand-new year and a new celebration is getting near: Chinese New Year. It is also called Lunar New Year because the festivities fall from the first new moon to the next full moon. This year the fun starts on Sunday,…
Wintertime Fun at the Free Library
The winter season is upon us, and we're excited to spend it with you! Read on for some great ideas for family-friendly fun when the temperature starts to drop. Winter Reading Challenge There’s nothing like curling up with a…
Storytime at Christmas Village Returns!
It’s the most wonderful time of the year again, and that means Santa will soon be returning to LOVE Park for Christmas Village for festive seasonal storytimes for the whole family to enjoy! From November 24–December 24, 2022…
A Multicultural Thanksgiving Celebration
In many cultures including those indigenous to the land we live on, the harvest season is a traditional time of gratitude. Here in the United States, the Thanksgiving holiday has a more troubled history. In recognition of Native…
National First Responders Day
It’s National First Responders Day! Every day is a great opportunity to honor the people in our community who have dedicated their lives to helping others in times of distress. These people are invaluable to society, and they…
Celebrate Indigenous Peoples' Day in Philadelphia!
Philadelphia proudly joins the many cities and states around the nation who have chosen to officially recognize and celebrate Indigenous Peoples’ Day in lieu of Columbus Day . This cultural shift seeks to recognize the harm done…
Celebrating Juneteenth!
The Free Library is celebrating Juneteenth! Juneteenth is the oldest known celebration of the end of enslavement in the United States and a time when we come together to celebrate this monumental occasion across the country, within our…
New Children's Books for Celebrating Juneteenth!
In 2020, the city of Philadelphia declared June 19th a city holiday in recognition of Juneteenth, an important day in the history of African Americans and our country. New children's books have been released in the last couple of…
What's New in Women's History
March is Women’s History Month, and it’s a wonderful time to delve into some of the previously untold history of the women of our world. Did you know that recent archaeological discoveries in the Americas have turned the…
Picture Book Highlights | Purim
Are you getting ready to celebrate Purim? We have books for you! Purim is a Jewish holiday that celebrates the bravery of Esther and the salvation of the Jewish people in the ancient Persian empire against Haman. A traditional Purim…
National Employee Appreciation Day
March 4th is National Employee Appreciation Day. I wanted to publicly commend our extraordinary staff who continue to keep one of our newest resources alive and well…our Call Center! The Free Library’s Call Center went live…
Who Was the Saint of Valentine's Day?
Was there a saint of love? Despite myths surrounding the "real" Saint Valentine , this holiday likely owes its origins to Medieval English poet Chaucer . At a time of growing romance around ideas of forbidden courtly love, he…
In Honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
On January 17, our nation commemorates the 27th Annual National Day of Service in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s work and legacy. Dr. King’s part in the Civil Rights Movement is well-documented. Alongside his wife…
Giving Back for the Holidays
It can be difficult to get into the holiday spirit in the midst of so much confusion, fear, and grief. Children and adults alike may find ourselves feeling sad at the loss of a loved one, of normalcy and routines, or of beloved…
Celebrate the Holidays with the Free Library!
No matter what holiday(s) you celebrate, the month of December is jam-packed with holiday offerings at the Free Library–both in-person and virtually! So whether it's Christmas, Kwanzaa, the Winter Solstice, or a love for…
Picture Book Highlights | The Nutcracker
It’s a well-established tradition at the end of the year that ballet companies everywhere offer performances of The Nutcracker . The Philadelphia Ballet presentation of this seasonal performance is for all ages and a perfect…
Jólabókaflóðið: Iceland’s Holiday Book Tradition
Jólabókaflóðið , or the Christmas Book Flood in English, is an Icelandic holiday tradition started in 1944 and enjoyed every year since then. Around 2015, this book-lovers event gained worldwide attention…