Magician Debbie O’Carroll came to Hall Memorial Library in Ellington on Friday , Dec . 28 , to perform her show , “ Celebrate the December Holidays . ” The program , designed for children between the ages of 4 and 12 , was presented to more than 90 kids .

In addition to providing an entertaining program through the use of magic , O’Carroll also presented educational elements in her program by including both well-known and lesser-known holidays during the month of December . Children were selected during the program to assist O’Carroll through “ mystifying stage magic , lively dance and enchanting tales . ”

Hall Memorial Library children’s librarian Patricia Grundman said afterwards that the program was well received by her patrons . “ The kids were out of school [ for winter break ] , and so it seemed like a good thing to do , ” she said . Grundman , a resident of Ellington who is in her 22 nd yearas children’s librarian , said that she organizes children’s programs at the library at least once a month but that it has been several yearssince a magic show was held .

“ They are always well attended , ” Grundman said . She added that the programs are always offered for free , to allow all children who are interested to participate . They only need to sign up ahead of time .

The show that O’Carroll produced included references to many holidays from around the world , including the Mexican holiday Las Posadas , a nineday reenactment of the Holy Family’s search for an inn in Bethlehem , the Irish holiday St . Stephen’s Day , honoring the first Christian martyr , the Indian holiday Diwali , also known as the Festival of Lights , as well as Christmas , Chanukah and Kwanzaa . In her program , O’Carroll said that all of the holidays had five common themes . “ They involve the eating of food , the giving of gifts , the singing of songs , the exchanging of greetings and the illumination of lights , ” she said .

O’Carroll said that the program , “ Celebrate the December Holidays , ” which she has been performing for 10 years, is popular in public school systems that often struggle to find an appropriate way to introduce the holidays in a time of political correctness . “ In a lot of schools , they don’t celebrate anything at all , so what this show does is allow kids – who know that there is something going on – to celebrate everything , instead of nothing . It has been well received in the schools because , I believe , kids are learning something during the program , and it is educational , ” O’Carroll said .

“ We like the kids to be entertained and intrigued , and they are by the magic , ” Grundman said . She also said that she hopes that parents encourage their children to take the next step once they are at the library attending a program . “ They can check out books on magic , for starters , ” she said .