Celebrate holiday traditions from around the world

Everyone is invited to share in a free holiday celebration that includes refreshments, art, music, and hot chocolate with the Barryville Area Arts Association.

The reception will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 7, at the Artists’ Market Community Center, 114 Richardson Avenue, Shohola.

There will be two art exhibits. "The Story of Christmas in Classic Art" includes ten classic prints, from the angel’s announcement to Mary that she would give birth (“The Annunciation” by Fra Angelico, c. 1440), through the trip back home and hiding the baby from the murderous King Herod (“Rest on Flight Through Egypt” by Orazio Gentileschi, 1626).

Another exhibit, "Creation Stories from Around the World," includes artistic representations of ten different creation stories associated with major, obscure, and extinct religions.

“According to some Chinese creation stories, the universe began as a big, black, cosmic egg," said event coordinator Nick Roes. "Inside this egg was Pangu, who slept for 18,000 years while the Yin and the Yang came into balance. Our classic illustrations show what he did after he awoke.”

The exhibits are on display now and through Dec. 27. Also on display is a large selection of one-of-a-kind items created by local artists and suitable for gifts.