Thursday mornings have been the best part of my week for more than four years now. The blank white paper invited me to write with a variety of pens to choose from, steaming hot coffee, snacks and, most importantly, my fellow writers. Pam Turner, the heart and soul of this group called Write Like You Mean It, works at Main Library, and this is where my association with the Library began.

In the year 2016, I moved to Charlotte. I had been in the United States just over eleven months. The people, the culture, the accents, everything felt as fresh as the smell of earth after the first rain of the season. I was trying to fit in and find a community that fits me. Given my professional writing background, it was no surprise that the Library was one of the first places on my list to visit.



At the library, my eyes darted to the flyer about the weekly writing group, Write Like You Mean It.

Initially, I felt a mix of excitement and apprehension. Luckily, my first experience at the group put my fears to rest. I felt welcome, comfortable and felt no pressure to share my writing. Soon, I moved ahead from merely listening to the fabulous words of other writers and grew brave enough to share my words, which earned me positive feedback that encouraged me to write more.  

Enthused and motivated, I offered to volunteer for the group. This meant weekly meetings where Pam and I would discuss ideas about what prompts to use. My zeal to get creative and think out of the box doubled when Pam was supportive of my ideas and was willing to experiment with field trips and inviting guest speakers to the group. We take field trips to First Ward Park, art exhibits at Spirit Square, ride the streetcar to attend the Sensoria Festival at Central Piedmont Community College (CPCC) and always return with tons of material to write about.



As my confidence grew, I became a self-appointed ambassador for Library writing programs.

I attended writing groups in other Library locations to compare notes and promote my own group. Clearly, the word spread because soon the number of participants in the group grew considerably. I participated in local writing groups outside of the Library and, when I met other writers who struck a chord with me, I invited them to be guest speakers at the Library.  I started my own fiction writing group, a monthly group where I shared tips, techniques and videos with information that continued to benefit me as a writer. I am now on the Library’s presenter showcase, which I am proud to be a part of. 

As a fresh off the boat immigrant, one of the challenges I faced was making good friends. Thanks to my writing group and my involvement in Library writing programs, I met many like-minded people. I now have a diverse and trustworthy group of friends, most of whom are writers. They have inspired me through their writing and supported me at my programs. I would love to mention all their names, but I am afraid I might forget someone. That gives you an idea of the number!

I would, however, like to mention two of my super special friends: Fandy, who also volunteered at Main library, and my writing buddy Vidya Murlidhar. These beautiful friendships have added joy to mundane days and have pulled me right back up in challenging times in my writing journey. 

My current visa status does not allow me to work in the U.S., but I can certainly volunteer. I am grateful for the opportunity to do something important and meaningful to the community. Today, I am a better writer and in a position to enable others to do so. I am able to bridge resources and talent and contribute to building a welcoming and safe writing community. Special thanks to Becca Worthington, who works at ImaginOn's Spangler Library, for her infectious enthusiasm that motivates me to explore different types of writing, the entire staff ofthe Job Help Center at Main Library, Pam Turner, De’Trice Fox, Chantez Neymoss and Christine Bretz, who have been a pillar of strength in all my writing endeavors. 

My heartfelt thanks to the Library for giving me a chance to shine by showcasing my talent and be a shining light for many others in the writing community.

Since National Library Week runs from April 19 through April 25, now is a fitting time to celebrate the many ways the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library contributes to Charlotte’s community of readers and writers. Even though library branches are closed because of the coronavirus outbreak, our public library is still providing online support to area readers and writers, and the library is still participating in National Library Week.

Whenever I talk with Charlotte writers about the public library, they have stories to tell. I will focus on three whose connections with the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library have especially deep roots. One is Jeffrey Leak, whose books include Racial Myths and Masculinity in African American Literature and Visible Man: The Life of Henry Dumas. Another is my wife, Nancy Northcott. Her fiction includes The Herald of Day, the first novel in a historical fantasy trilogy, and a novella in Welcome to Outcast Station, the first in a science fiction series. Both Jeffrey and Nancy grew up in the Charlotte area, and their library connections go back to their childhoods. The third is community historian Thomas Hanchett, whose books include Sorting Out the New South City:  Race, Class and Urban Development in Charlotte, 1875-1975 and Charlotte and the Carolina Piedmont. I asked each author to send me a paragraph about their experiences with our Charlotte Mecklenburg Library.

From Jeffrey Leak:
“I have a long-standing appreciation for the public library. I grew up near what is now Northwest School of the Arts, riding my bike in the summer to the library, then on LaSalle Street, now on Beatties Ford Road. My journeys there were the result of an ultimatum from my mama: ‘if you come in my house one more time, you’ll be in till this evening.’ Tired of me running in and out, Hattie Leak told me to make up my mind. Inside or outside. Heat or AC. More times than not, I chose the former. The librarians understood my dilemma, sometimes even including me on their lunch-run to Hoyles or Mr. C’s, less than a block away. But the main thing they gave me was access to books and the encouragement to read them. African American history and culture came alive in that welcoming space. From reading there, I always wanted to travel to the northeast where figures like Benjamin E. Mays and Zora Neale Hurston had gone. These black librarians took my curiosity and interests and, like the story of Jesus and the feeding of the fish to the multitudes, multiplied them. I don’t have any data to support this claim, but I think my reading skills actually improved in those pre-teen summers. What I do know is that my education has taken me to points in the northeast, including Maine and New York City (the respective places associated with Mays and Hurston), Africa, Europe and the Caribbean. Oh the places I have been! But I’ll always know that much of what I have been blessed to experience started at the library on LaSalle.

From Nancy Northcott:
As a geek child, I didn’t fit in with my more athletic, outdoorsy neighbors. I found a haven in the Davidson Public Library. I loved to ride my bike down to Main Street, check out as many books as the bike’s basket would hold, and pedal home to start reading. Mrs. Wally, the librarian, often had recommendations ready when I walked in the door. She knew I loved science fiction, history, historical fiction, mysteries, and YA romance, and her suggestions ran the gamut. I reveled in the imaginary journeys those books provided. The library was also special to me because my father and I often went there together. Those trips were the one activity only the two of us shared. Every couple of weeks, after supper, he would ask if I wanted to go. I always jumped at the chance. You can bring home so many more books when you have a car! During those visits, I regularly read the comic strips in the back of Boys’ Life magazine. I wanted a subscription, but my mom nixed that on grounds of my not being a boy. When my dad and I went to the library, I always took the latest Boys’ Life off the shelf and read the comics in the back. He knew but never commented, so that also was just between us. I check out much less fiction than I once did, but I love having the library available for research materials.  It’s probably fair to say I wouldn’t have become a writer if the library hadn’t stimulated my imagination all those years ago.

From Tom Hanchett:
When I’m researching the history of a community, the local public library is always my first stop. I’ve used history collections in dozens of cities nationwide and I can tell you for sure that the Robinson-Spangler Carolina Room is among the best in the U.S. Arriving in Charlotte back in 1981 to research older neighborhoods for the Historic Landmarks Commission, I went directly to the original Carolina Room. It was then a single room staffed by a single person, Mary Louise Phillips. I wasn’t sure what she would make of this 26-year-old non-native, barely able to find Charlotte on a map, asking so many questions about Myers Park, Biddleville, cotton mills, land development. But she welcomed me in. The Carolina Room has been a home-base ever since.  Today I’m delighted to be finishing my term as the Carolina Room’s first Historian-in-Residence, thanks to the vision of Library CEO Lee Keesler. In partnership with fellow community historian J. Michael Moore, we’ve just debuted a how-to website of tools, tips and weblinks for researching your house or neighborhood in Charlotte  CharlotteHistoryToolkit.com.  More work I’ve done over the years, drawing on the Carolina Room, can be found at my website www.HistorySouth.org. And while you’re on the internet, check out the Carolina Room’s own rich website, www.CMstory.org.

As Jeffrey, Nancy, and Tom reveal, the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library has played a significant role in these writers’ lives.  In a sense, the public library can be seen as a recurring character that plays a variety of roles in the individual stories of Charlotte’s readers and writers and a central character in the overarching narrative of Storied Charlotte.

Mark I. West is a professor of English at UNC Charlotte, where he has taught since 1984. He regularly teaches courses on children’s and young adult literature. He has written or edited 16 books, the most recent of which is Shapers of American Childhood, which he co-edited with Kathy Merlock Jackson. His articles have appeared in various national publications including The New York Times Book Review, Publishers Weekly, Americana, and British Heritage, as well as many academic journals. Before entering academia, he worked as an early childhood educator and professional puppeteer. This post originally appeared on Mark’s blog, Storied Charlotte, and is reprinted here lightly edited and with his permission.

Library Branch Channel Leader and Interim Director of Libraries, Dana Eure, made a guest appearance on WCNC's Charlotte Today on Thursday, March 12, 2020 and shared six  titles that moved from print to the big screen with “Books to Movies."  Click here to search titles

Adult Fiction

Dune, by Frank Herbert; Coming to screen December 2020.
Follows the adventures of Paul Atreides, the son of a betrayed duke given up for dead on a treacherous desert planet and adopted by its fierce, nomadic people, who help him unravel his most unexpected destiny.

David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens; coming to screen May 2020
A classic tale of an orphan growing up in the 1800's of England. Intimately rooted in the author's own biography and written as a first-person narrative, "David Copperfield" charts a young man's progress through a difficult childhood in Victorian England to ultimate success as a novelist, finding true love along the way. Jeremy Tambling's provocative Introduction reveals subtle themes relevant today.

The Woman in the Window, by A.J. Flynn; coming to screen May 2020
"It isn't paranoia if it's really happening ... Anna Fox lives alone -- a recluse in her New York City home, drinking too much wine, watching old movies ... and spying on her neighbors. Then the Russells move next door: a father, a mother, their teenaged son. The perfect family. But when Anna sees something she shouldn't, her world begins to crumble -- and its shocking secrets are laid bare. What is real? What is imagined? Who is in danger? Who is in control? In this gripping Hitchcockian thriller, no one and nothing are what they seem."—

Young Adult Fiction

P.S. I Still Love You, by Jenny Han; coming to screen February 2020
Lara Jean didn't expect to really fall for Peter. She and Peter were just pretending. Except suddenly they weren't. Now Lara Jean is more confused than ever. When another boy from her past returns to her life, Lara Jean's feelings for him return too. Can a girl be in love with two boys at once?

Juvenile Fiction

The Witches, by Roald Dahl; coming to screen October 2020
A young boy and his Norwegian grandmother, who is an expert on witches, together foil a witches' plot to destroy the world's children by turning them into mice.

The Tale of Peter Rabbit, by Beatrix Potter; coming to screen April 2020
The Tale of Peter Rabbit is the original classic by Beatrix Potter. The Tale of Peter Rabbit was first published by Frederick Warne in 1902 and endures as Beatrix Potter's most popular and well-loved tale. It tells the story of a very mischievous rabbit and the trouble he encounters in Mr McGregor's vegetable garden.

Charlotte Mecklenburg Library is committed to providing our customers assistance and guidance even when we are not physically open. Our Job Help Center is available digitally to assist with your career and job seeking needs.

We will continue to update our Job Help Center Virtual Job Board daily with new employment opportunities. New jobs can be accessed here

Job Help Center staff can also provide feedback and guidance via our resume review process, where you can submit your resume to [email protected]  and we will review it, provide notes and feedback within 3-4 business days.

If you need additional employment information or resources, please access the North Carolina Employment Security Commission for all of your employment needs.

Additional resources:
Access NC job postings and information here

Throughout Charlotte, 3D printers are whirring around the clock. Eight of them belong to your Charlotte Mecklenburg Library.

In the midst of the COVID-19 crisis, the phrase “we’re all in this together” has never been more apparent. A shortage of personal protective equipment for health care workers has brought together a local and national community of “makers” to fill the gap between supply and demand with creativity and collaboration.

On Monday, a surgeon from Atrium Health sent an email to Seth Ervin, the Library’s Innovation Leader, asking about the Library’s 3D printer capacity. Using a design from a local doctor, she was seeking community help in printing materials to assemble face shields urgently needed in area hospitals.

With libraries closed and the city sheltering in place, 3D printers were quickly moved from Library makerspaces to staff members’ homes, and round-the-clock production began immediately.

Aubrey Hedrick, the Library’s Makerspace Coordinator, oversees the Library’s involvement. Each mask requires a faceplate mechanism, printed on the 3D printers. The parts are collected in batches and brought to a centralized area where they are sanitized and assembled with a face shield cut of clear plastic. Library printers can produce parts for about 20 masks each day. “We are contributing to a much larger community effort, with participants ranging from local makers to professional designers, led by a team from UNC Charlotte, Charlotte Latin, and Discovery Place Education. They’ve formed a group called Charlotte MEDI (Medical Emergency Device Innovation) and have reached out into the maker community to build a solid process and infrastructure to make it all happen. The Library is glad to help.”

The Library team began using Library supplies, but those are quickly running out. Charlotte MEDI has set up a gofundme campaign, and donations will be used for purchasing 3D filament, PETG sheeting (for the face shield) and elastic, which is already becoming hard to find. The group is also working on scaling up production by involving area manufacturing companies with injection molding capabilities. Today, the group’s goal is to produce 1,000 masks per week. With injection molding, that can increase tenfold.

Printers are whirring. We’re in this together.

Library makerspaces began in 2015 with an investment in innovation from the Knight Foundation. The latest is at the newly renovated North County Regional location, outfitted with a generous gift from Lowe’s Corporation.

Since 1996, April has been designated National Poetry Month by the Academy of American Poets.  The purpose of this monthlong celebration is to increase awareness and appreciation of poetry in the United States. Charlotte Mecklenburg Library is offering a variety of online poetry programs during April to celebrate.

National Poetry Month each April is the largest literary celebration in the world, with tens of millions of readers, students, K-12 teachers, librarians, booksellers, literary events curators, publishers, bloggers, and, of course, poets marking poetry's important place in our culture and our lives. 

On April 21, Charlotte Readers Podcast, named best podcast in Charlotte 2019 by Queen City Nerve, will host five Queen City poets, who share their love of poetry and their poetry journeys and perform two of their poems.

Charlotte Mecklenburg Library and Charlotte Readers Podcast partnered to bring these local poets to the podcast stage in celebration of National Poetry Month. You will hear poetry by Bluz, Jay Ward, Kathie Collins, Kia Flow and Shane Manier. 

About the poets --

Bluz:

slam champion, spoken word artist, Emmy award winner and coach of SlamCharlotte, a competitive poetry team that won multiple National Poetry Slam  championships

Jay Ward:

poet and teaching artist, youth slam poetry coach and winner of National Poetry Slam and Individual World Poetry Slam championships.

Kathie Collins:

a published poet, student of Jungian psychology, graduate instructor and co-founder of Charlotte Center for Literary Arts.

Kia Flow:

poet, author, stage performer, National Poetry Slam championship team member and recipient of Poet of Influence award by The Jax Poetry Fest

Shane Manier:

creative coach, artist, live event painter, poetry mentor, National Spoken Word Poet and youngest poet to  be inducted into the Poetry Council of North Carolina

Be sure to check our social media channels for special sneak previews leading up to the poetry panel discussion podcast.

The panel discussion with the local poets will be available on the Charlotte Readers podcast on April 21. 

National Poetry Month Booklist

Please watch the Library website for updates on events and available resources.

Did you know that you can continue to stay connected to the Library while staying home? How would you like to participate in a virtual storytime with your family or receive resume help all from the comfort of your couch? Join Charlotte Mecklenburg Library every week for a wide range of virtual programming for children, teens and adults. See a complete listing of this upcoming programming for the week of 4/6/2020 below. Click the corresponding links for more information and register for programs where applicable.

Learn more about online programming by clicking here

Monday 4/6

Family Storytime - 9:30 a.m. (Children's programming)  Learn More

Mindful Monday -12 p.m. (Adult programming)  Register

Book a Librarian - My Next Step – 12 p.m.  (Teen programming)   Register

Book a Librarian - My Next Step – 1 p.m. (Teen programming)  Register

Book a Librarian - Technology – 2 p.m.   Register

Book a Librarian - General Reference – 2:30 p.m.   REgister

Online Listen and Move Storytime – 3 p.m. (Children's programming)  Learn More

Tuesday 4/7               

Family Storytime – 9:30 a.m. (Children's programming)    Learn More

Aprendiendo Juntos en Casa – 10 a.m. (information to be emailed to prior participants)

Learning Circle: The Science of Well-Being – 11 a.m. (Adult programming)  Register

Book a Librarian - My Next Step – 12 p.m. (Teen programming)  Register

Creating Virtual Resumes with the Job Help Center – 1 p.m. (Teen and Adult programming)   Register

Book a Librarian - My Next Step – 1 p.m.  (Teen programming)   Register

Book a Librarian - Technology – 2 p.m.   Register

Book a Librarian - General Reference – 2:30 p.m.   Register

Book a Librarian - Children's Reference – 3 p.m.  Register

Book a Librarian - Children's Reference – 3:30 p.m.   Register

WFAE Presents: Podcasting 101 – 6:30 p.m. (Adult programming)   Register

Wednesday 4/8

Family Storytime – 9:30 a.m.  (Children's programming)  Learn More

Poetry in Pajamas – 12 p.m. (Adult programming)  Register

Book a Librarian - My Next Step – 12 p.m. (Teen programming)  Register

Book a Librarian - My Next Step – 1 p.m. (Teen programming)   Register

Learning Circle: Intro to HTML and CSS – 1 p.m. (Adult programming)  Learn More

Book a Librarian - Technology – 2 p.m.   Register

Book a Librarian - General Reference – 2:30 p.m.   Register

Basics of Active Reading for Parents – 3 p.m. (Adult programming)  Register

Online Listen and Move Storytime – 3 p.m. (Children's programming)   Learn More

Thursday 4/9

Family Storytime – 9:30 a.m. (Children's programming)   Learn More

Write Like You Mean It – 10 a.m. (Adult programming)  Learn More

Aprendiendo Juntos en Casa – 10 a.m. (information to be emailed to prior participants)

e-Resource Highlight Video for Adults – 11 a.m. (Adult programming)  Learn More

Career Development Intensive Coaching – 12 p.m. (Adult programming)  Learn More

Book a Librarian - My Next Step – 12 p.m. (Teen programming)  Register

Creating Virtual Resumes with the Job Help Center – 1 p.m. (Adult and Teen programming)   Register

Book a Librarian - My Next Step – 1 p.m. (Teen programming)  Register

Active Reading Mentor Training – 2 p.m. (Adult programming)   Register

Book a Librarian - Technology – 2 p.m.   Register

Book a Librarian - General Reference – 2:30 p.m.   Register

Book a Librarian - Children's Reference – 3 p.m.   Register

Book a Librarian - Children's Reference – 3:30 p.m.   Register

Friday 4/10 - Library Holiday, no programming

Saturday 4/11

Family Storytime – 9:30 a.m.  (Children's programming)  Learn More

Read Like A Star Book Club – 10 a.m. (Adult programming)   Learn More

You’re doing a great job social distancing, but what happens when you start to run out of ideas? Or maybe you’ve read everything on your wish list for the wonderful e-books and e-audiobooks you’re downloading from Charlotte Mecklenburg Library’s digital resources.  

One of many great online resources the Library offers is Universal Class. Universal Class provides 540 self-paced courses and offers learners the opportunity to earn Continuing Education Units (CEUs) as well as certificates of completion. It’s a wonderful asset if you want to further your education or need to brush up on work skills, but you might be surprised to learn that there’s much more to Universal Class than that. 

Pet and Animal Care 

Dog lovers will find several courses to help with your “new coworker,” from Dog Training 101 and Advanced Dog Training to Dog Grooming and Dog Psychology. If you enjoy hearing the twitter of birds, consider learning about Bird Watching and then spend some time admiring your backyard visitors or learn more about marine life, snakes or wildlife rehabilitation. 

 

Cooking and Baking 

Many of us want to become better cooks or bakers, but don’t usually have the time. Universal Class can teach you basic cooking and baking skills or you can take a more tailored class on baking bread, pies or cookies; cake decorating; or even Italian and Tex Mex cooking. Feel free to share your new skills with your favorite Library staffers when we re-open! 

Mix it Up 

Looking for something a little off the wall? How about a course on Dream Interpretation or Haunted Places? Or maybe, after you’ve thrown out everything that doesn’t bring you joy, you can learn How to Decorate a Room or Feng Shui techniques and then do some interior re-designing of your own.  

Looking for something considered to be more traditional?  Get your creativity going with drawing, knitting or writing classes.  

All you need to explore all of this (and more) is your Charlotte Mecklenburg Library card. Don’t have one? You can apply online and start enjoying everything the Library has to offer from home. 

Update: While we prepare to close Scaleybark for our move to South Boulevard, the Scaleybark location will reduce services and programs. Starting 9 a.m. Monday January 6, 2020, only HOLDS,  PICKUPS & RETURNS for materials will be available at Scaleybark. If you need Wi-Fi, computers, programs or other services, please visit another nearby branch location including Myers Park, West Boulevard, Main Library or another location here. We apologize for the inconvenience, and look forward to serving you in the new location on South Boulevard.

Scaleybark Library moves to new location with a new name
It’s a new building with a new look. The Scaleybark Library re-opens as South Boulevard Library on Monday, January 13, 2020 at 9 a.m. The new branch is located at 4429 South Boulevard – approximately 0.4 miles south of its former location*.

The branch remains an essential connector in the community. The Library continues to offer services, programs, Wi-Fi and computer use, along with a wide selection of books and audio-visual materials including DVDs, CDs and audiobooks, but the new South Boulevard location offers more space and resources to the growing local community. 

Note: The materials/book drop will stay open at Scaleybark until 9 a.m. Monday, January 13, 2020, when South Boulevard Library officially opens. After that time, it will close permanently and all materials should be returned to the South Boulevard location.

What's new at South Boulevard Library? 
In its brand-new location, South Boulevard Library boasts 18,850 square feet – an increase of 13,350 square feet (nearly 300%) from the old location. South Boulevard includes new 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, five group study rooms, a laptop bar for customers who want to bring their own devices, many collaborative spaces and a vending café. Features include free Wi-Fi, audio-visual capabilities and a public computer lab with 12 computers.

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 spots in both locations.

Additionally, South Boulevard customers will be excited to know that the branch’s materials collection has increased by 20%, with the largest growth happening in picture books (50% increase), Young Adult and Teen Collections (45% increase) and World Languages (38% increase).

Library Hours
Starting January 13, 2020, South Boulevard Library begins normal operating hours. The Library is open Mondays through Thursdays 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Fridays and Saturdays 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The branch is closed on Sundays. The Scaleybark branch location will close its doors on Saturday, January 11, 2020, after regular business hours and will no longer accept holds or pickups.

Library Holds and Pick-ups
Scaleybark customers with items currently on hold can pick those items up at Scaleybark through January 11, 2020. Those items will seamlessly transition to be available for pick-up at South Boulevard beginning January 13, 2020. Any new holds placed after January 13, should be designated for pick-up at the new South Boulevard location by selecting it from the drop-down in the Library catalog.

Returning books and materials to South Boulevard Library
Customers may return books and materials at designated drop-boxes throughout the Library facility. (Please note after January 13, the old Scaleybark branch location will no longer accept returns.)

Funding for South Boulevard Library
Public funding for the South Boulevard project was approved in 2019 by Mecklenburg County and cost $1.7 million. The project was managed by Mecklenburg County’s Asset and Facility Management Team, the architect was Robert Johnson Architects and the builder/contractor was Shiel Sexton Company, Inc. The South Boulevard relocation is the fourth of several projects for the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library system; Morrison Regional Library was renovated and re-opened in 2017, North County Regional Library was renovated and re-opened in 2019, and South County Regional Library currently closed for renovations until early 2021.

When’s the celebration?
Charlotte Mecklenburg Library will host a Grand Opening at South Boulevard Library with a ribbon cutting ceremony and lots of activities inside the branch. Watch for dates and times to be announced.

See you at the new South Boulevard Library location soon!

*The Scaleybark branch location will close on Saturday, January 6, 2020, after regular business hours and will only be open for returns and holds during normal business hours through January 11. The materials/book drop will remain open until Monday, January 13 at 9 a.m. and then will close permanently. All materials should be taken to the South Boulevard branch for return after this time.

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