Originally Posted By smeeeko A very Happy Kwanzaa to our LP friends celebrating the African American holiday of Kwanzaa.. I really love this holiday and wish I could celebrate it too, but I'll wish it a very merry just the same.. and may it be fruitful too! (sorry didn't mean to rhyme) anyone wanting to learn a tiny bit about Kwanzaa, you can still do the holidays around the world storytelling at WDW (which is where I learned more about it) or check out this: <a href="http://www.tike.com/celeb-kw.htm" target="_blank">http://www.tike.com/celeb-kw.h tm</a> I personally think that Kwanzaa celebrates the truer meaning of Christmas which is family, community and unity.. which is where someplace some families have made it about the shopping rather than the family so much.. but I digress. It's the first day of Kwanzaa so you may see some Kinaras lit in some families homes.. the gift of fruit is the celebration of the first day of Kwanzaa.
Originally Posted By fkurucz >>I personally think that Kwanzaa celebrates the truer meaning of Christmas which is family, community and unit<< Silly me. I always thought that the true meaning of Christmas was that the Word was made flesh.
Originally Posted By FaMulan Don't call me racist, call me tenruist. This so-called Holiday was created a mere forty, yep 40 years ago by a professor at my Alma Mater, Cal State University, Long Beach, CA. I can see the "noble" purpose behind it, but sincerely doubt its veracity as a holiday as it singles out a specific racial culture. Chanukkah, Christmas, Ramadan and other *religious* holidays have their roots in hundreds if not thousands of years of religious tradition colored by various ethnic and cultural differences. So, forgive me if I don't embrace this Johnny-come-lately cultural event masquarading as a "holiday". /rant
Originally Posted By melekalikimaka <<Silly me. I always thought that the true meaning of Christmas was that the Word was made flesh.>> She said "TRUER" and compared it to the commercialized aspect of Xmas, the shopping and the gifts.
Originally Posted By alexbook Why can't we all just get along? or If somebody wants to celebrate Kwanzaa, I don't see that there's any cause for anybody else to get bent out of shape about it. So Kwanzaa is only 40 years old. So what? Earth Day's only about 45, and lots of us celebrate it every year. I recently celebrated the birthday of a 23-year-old friend. Should I wait until she's hundreds of years old before I celebrate?
Originally Posted By Lisann22 Coming from a multi-ethnic family while I don't practice Kwanzaa in my home I have attended several nights of celebration in other family members houses during the seven days. I think it's beautiful. Kwanzaa came during turbulent times for most African-American people in this country as we all know. I can understand why they felt the need to do something for themselves. I view it no different than as a Native person us celebrating Big Time and Bear dance four times a year or the solstice. Everyone is invited to join us but they are traditions we follow as a certain group of people. I guess I just look at it as a way to affirm certain values and principles they want their people to hold on to and believe in. I see nothing wrong with that. If I'm missing something I'm sure someone will come along on here an enlighten me. ;>
Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan >>I guess I just look at it as a way to affirm certain values and principles they want their people to hold on to and believe in. I see nothing wrong with that.<< Neither do I. And remember that it was started at a time when African Americans needed to be reminded of these sorts of principles, to help lift people in that community up and create a greater sense of unity. Some African Americans I know celebrate it, some don't, but I sure can't find fault in any of the seven principles. And as for when holidays begin, they all have a first time. There have been other attempts to launch new holidays that are more centered around selling greeting cards and other things than a rather non-commercial holiday like Kwaanzaa. Happy Kwanzaa!
Originally Posted By xrayvision Happy Kwanzaa!! >> I can see the "noble" purpose behind it, but sincerely doubt its veracity as a holiday as it singles out a specific racial culture.<< There have been many U.S. holidays/celebrations that been created within the past 40 years that have veracity, including and not exclusive to the following: 1) Presidents' Day (created in the 1980's). 2) MLK Observation Holiday (created in the 1970's) 3) Cesar Chavez Day (in California) 4) Cinco de Mayo, a Pueblo, Mexico based celebration that really picked up momentum in the U.S. during the 1980's and 90's. Being a multi-racial American, with additional cultures married into my family, I celebrate practically EVERYTHING. And, I don't feel relegated to only recognizing celebrations within my family's cultures. In the S.F. Bay Area, you'll find people of all ethnicities and genders enjoying cultural activites celebrating St. Patrick's Day, Cinco de Mayo, Chinese New Year, Juneteenth, Cesar Chavez Day, MLK, International Women's Day and a multitude other events. The events may be centric to a particular culture, value or belief...but they're open for everyone to enjoy. And, there's usually good food to be had at these events....which is my real hidden agenda for going to these events..THE FOOD!!
Originally Posted By smeeeko ^thanks Mele & folks for your coments.. I was just giving my opinon only.. (and coming back from the mall this evening to get a half off calendar at B&N my opinion was reaffirmed.. all that shopping and grunting and pushing just to get some discounted stuff you can't use til next year anyway. Kwanzaa isn't a religious holiday and folks celebrating I don't think are saying that Christmas isn't about the Christ child. I don't celebrate Kwanzaa myself but know folks who do. Maybe they celebrate both, since one is about Christ's brithday and the other is about the family more than the gifts.. sorry I offended anyone. I just didn't want to forget any of my Florida friends who do celebrate it as well anyone here who may. My intent certainly wasn't to offend. Nor was it to ostracize anyone's holiday which was already celebrated and continues to be celebrated to the 12 days of Christmas (which is when my husband takes our tree down). ps: I like to celebrate Chinese New Year and Mardi Gras too, but I'll leave that to someone else to wish I guess when the time comes.. didn't mean to make this an admin-able flaming topic. Just have a nice holiday... and Happy New Year too I guess. *skulks off* in embarrassment (this is the community section right??). *wink*
Originally Posted By jdub xrayvision said: <<...I celebrate practically EVERYTHING. And, I don't feel relegated to only recognizing celebrations within my family's cultures... The events may be centric to a particular culture, value or belief...but they're open for everyone to enjoy. And, there's usually good food to be had at these events....which is my real hidden agenda for going to these events..THE FOOD!!>> Y E S ! I fall into the same boat. Kwanzaa, as other posters have said, celebrates certain values that can be appreciated cross-culturally--and this is why despite my lack of actual pigment, I talk about the observance with my friends, & share aspects of it with my own child. It's a nice touch of shared humanity to go along with all of the latkes & tamales we've been eating over the last week.
Originally Posted By smeeeko =) thanks everyone... (been spring cleaning the apartment.. yes, we're still living out of boxes but not for long)
