The year 2012 is The Year of the Dragon in China and the Chinese New Year begins on January 23rd. Dragons symbolize such character traits as dominance and ambition. Dragons prefer to live by their own rules, and if left on their own, are usually successful. They’re driven, unafraid of challenges, and willing to take risks. So, if you were born in any years designated as "Year of the Dragon," you may exhibit these characteristics. To check and see which sign dominates the year you were born, see the China Today website. For more on Chinese horoscopes that you can check out in our library, see:

The handbook of Chinese horoscopes by Theodora Lau

We are celebrating Black History Month with the return visit of the Praise Choir from the Canton Christian Fellowship Church under the direction of music director Darren Patterson. Come join the celebration on Thursday, February 2 at 7:00 PM.

The language of flowers: a novel by Vanessa Diffenbaugh

Winterdance: the fine madness of running the Iditarod by Gary Paulsen

My name is Mary Sutter by Robin Oliveira

1984: a novel by George Orwell ; with an afterword by Erich Fromm

1861: the Civil War awakening by Adam Goodheart

Blood, bones, & butter: the inadvertent education of a reluctant chef by Gabrielle Hamilton

Blue nights by Joan Didion

Ms. Nicole, from As the Page Turns bookstore, will have a Kwaanza Celebration on December 29 from 1:00-2:00 PM. There will be stories and activities and she will discuss the Nguzo Saba, known as the 7 principles of Kwanzaa. Come join the fun in the Purple Room!

Christopher Eric Hitchens, author and journalist, columnist and literary critic for The Atlantic, Vanity Fair, World Affairs, The Nation and others died at 62 years of age on December 15th from complications from esophageal cancer. He was voted the world's 5th top public intellectual in a Prospect/Foreign Affairs opinion poll. Here are some of the books Canton Library owns by this controversial author:

God is not great: how religion poisons everything by Christopher Hitchens

Hitch-22: a memoir by Christopher Hitchens

Come enjoy the pageantry, music and more as we celebrate the Lunar New Year. In China it is the year of the dragon; in Vietnam it is called Tet; the Koreans call the holiday Seollal and the Tibetans celebrate Losar. All of these holidays and more are in honor of the New Year and are based on the lunar calendar. Celebrate with us on Monday, January 30th, at 7:00 PM.

On November 9, CPL hosted a Diwali Celebration program that featured traditional and contemporary Indian music, dance, food, and more — all centered around the festival of lights. If you couldn't make it that night, check out the video above and pictures below to get up to speed:

Come celebrate the Hindu Festival of Lights at Canton Public Library. The Diwali program is scheduled for Wednesday, November 9th at 7:00 PM in our Community Room. Diwali is one of the oldest and most important festivals in India. The name comes from the Indian word "Deepavali" and the literal translation means "an array of lamps". Diwali falls on the new moon night, so celebrants light lamps to ward off the darkness and to symbolize the removal of spiritual darkness and the onset of happiness and prosperity. Every Indian state celebrates the festival in its own way, but most celebrations include making special foods, buying new clothes, bursting fireworks, and lighting lamps and candles.

This free family friendly event will feature Indian music, dancing, rangoli, sampling of Indian food and the art of drawing henna patterns.

Local community leaders will share both memories and proposals for building inter-faith bridges at an observance of the tenth anniversary of 9/11, hosted by the Muslim Community of Western Suburbs (MCWS). The event will be held at the group's headquarters, located at 40440 Palmer Road, on Sunday, September 11 at 2:30 PM. The event is free and open to the public, but donations of non-perishable items for local food pantries are encouraged.

For more information, contact Aamina Ahmed (248-894-7081) or Anne Marie Graham Hudak (734-502-2508).

Eid Al-Fitr is a holiday marking the end of Ramadan, the month of fasting which is one of the greatest religious observances in Islam. This festival is expected to be around August 30, 2011. Eid ul-Fitr is celebrated for one, two or three days. Common greeting during this holiday is ‘Eid Mubārak which means "blessed Eid" in Arabic.

If you are looking for a new Christian book to read, whether fiction or non, and would like to read a review first, check out these websites:

• Christian Review of Books
• Christian Broadcasting Network New Books
• Discerning Reader

Also, check out our Inspirational Books Suggestions on our "Books and More" Page and our Inspirational Bundles.

For more than a billion Muslims around the world, including some 8 million in North America, Ramadan is a month of fasting, marked by prayer, fasting and charity. Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. Because the lunar calendar is about 11 days shorter than the solar calendar used elsewhere, Islamic holidays move each year. This year Ramadan began at sundown on August 1st.
On this occasion we send our greetings to all Muslims worldwide and special Ramadan Kareem to Muslims in North America.

August 17 marks the 225th birthday of American legend Davy Crockett. Although much lore surrounds the life of the coonskin-capped frontiersman, the truth is actually a different story–and just as interesting. History buffs will find Michael Wallis' new biography, David Crockett: The Lion of the West, a compelling portrait of the man.

Campy: The Two Lives of Roy Campanella by Neil Lanctot

Bootleggers, Lobstermen & Lumberjacks: Fifty of the Grittiest Moments in the History of Hardscrabble New England by Matthew P.

Are you looking for something different? Interested in Mythology or Religion? The J200-299's are the collection for you. Come and explore Mythology from all over the world including, Greek Myths, Roman Myths, and Norse Myths. Learn more about your own Religion or delve into someone else's. Enjoy!

The 100 thing challenge : how I got rid of almost everything, remade my life, and regained my soul by Dave Bruno — Do you ever feel like you have too much clutter in your life? Like maybe the stuff that surrounds you is threatening to take over? Dave Bruno had that feeling, and he decided to winnow his belongings down to only 100 items. This book talks about how he did it and the impact it had on his life, which was far greater than just having fewer possessions. His blog's motto is "Reduce - Refuse - Rejigger" and offers continued insights like those contained in this book.

The Year of 2011 is the Year of the Golden Rabbit, which begins on February 3, 2011 and ends on January 22, 2012. The Rabbit is the 4th sign in the Chinese zodiac which consists of 12 animals signs. To find your sign, click on China Today web. The Rabbit is a lucky sign. People born in the Year of the Rabbit are reasonably friendly individuals who enjoy the company of a group of good friends. For more information on Chinese horoscopes, see these sources in our library. For information on how Chinese New Year is celebrated, including legends, food, and taboos, see this China Facts page.

Join us for a Tai Chi session on February 5 at 2:00PM in the Purple Room. We're celebrating the township's 100 Days of Health by providing a class here at the library. Tai Chi can be enjoyed by everyone 16 and up. Please wear loose clothing and comfy shoes. Please register online as space is limited.

The month of December is filled with many different holiday celebrations — Hanukkah, Christmas and Kwanzaa are just some of the special days observed this month. Learn more about all these holidays through the many resources at the Canton Public Library. This Special Collection can help get you started!

General

The American book of days by Christianson, Stephen G — A day-by-day record of American history from January 1 through December 31. For each of the 366 days of the year (including February 29), several substantial essays explore significant events of military, scientific, ethnic, or cultural significance.

The book of the year : a brief history of our seasonal holidays by Anthony F. Aveni — Discusses the origins and modern development of our holidays and provides an entertainng glimpse into their evolution.

Who made the first Nativity Scene? What is the symbolic meaning of the candy cane, the holly leaf or the Christmas tree? How did the legend of Santa Claus begin and why is kissing associated with mistletoe? Answers to these and other legends may be found at this website link.

To check out information on Christmas customs, crafts, recipes, movies, music, stories, legends, (or more), check out these sources in our library to enhance your enjoyment of this beautiful season!