By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
Hillsboro Library's Holidays Around the World program Dec. 17
samuel agnarsson
Samuel Agnarsson, exchange student from Karlstad, Sweden - photo by Contributed/Bob Potter

Mark your calendars for the annual “Holidays Around the World” program at the Hillsboro Public Library, 819 High Ave., Dec. 17 at 6:30 p.m. The public is invited to meet young people from various countries and learn how they celebrate the holidays.

The Gloria Home-School Choir will perform seasonal favorites, and you may partake of American and international treats. The entire program of holiday customs, music, and refreshments is free and open to the public, courtesy of the Friends of the Hillsboro Public Library.

Featured will be a presentation by 18-year-old Samuel Agnarsson, of Karlstad, Sweden. Agnarsson describes his hometown of 87,000 inhabitants as “Sweden’s smallest big town.” Capital of Värmland Province, Karlstad has a cathedral and a university. An outgoing, articulate young man, Agnarsson will describe his family’s Christmas traditions, discuss the differences in Sweden and the United States, and take questions from the audience.

“The Gloria Home-School Choir is an organization of home-schooled singers ranging in age from 12 years and up,” according to its website, which continues, “Our purpose is to glorify God through skillful and artistic music presentations while teaching our students the art of proper singing and musicianship. The director is Dennis Baldridge; accompanist, Jane Baldridge.” The Gloria Home-School Choir has performed throughout the area, including on-air broadcasts on radio stations WRCO (Richland Center) and WCNP (Baraboo). Their music expresses the spirit of peace, love, and understanding that underlies the “Holidays Around the World” program.

The special holiday program, coming on the eve of the release of the new Star Wars movie, “The Force Awakens,” will attempt to harness “The Force” of the Internet to bring young people from various countries around the world to the Hillsboro library via Skype. With the library’s new computer projector, participants will interact with life-size images of former Hillsboro exchange students.

This annual tradition is appropriate for all ages.

For more information, call Library Director Debra Lambert at 608 489-2192.