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Come December each year, people of different faiths and cultures the winter holidays in many different ways. Let's take a look at three holidays to see how they're different...and what they have in common.
Hanukkah
Jewish people Hanukkah, sometimes called "The Festival of Lights," an eight-day holiday that marks the rededication of the temple and the "miracle of the oil."

According to tradition, the Maccabees only had enough holy oil to light the flame for one night when they entered the temple. Miraculously, that small bit of oil burned for eight days - the exact amount of time it took to press and consecrate more oil.

The menorah, a candelabrum that holds nine candles, features prominently in Hanukkah celebrations. On each of the eight nights of Hanukkah, a is lit.

The ninth , called the "Shamash" (servant ), is typically placed in the middle and higher than the other candles. The Shamash is used to light the other candles.
Kwanzaa
Based on African festivals, Kwanzaa is a seven-day celebration created as a time for African-Americans to think about their .

Kwanzaa means "first fruits" in , and the holiday focuses on seven principles: unity, self-determination, responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity, and faith. There are seven Kwanzaa symbols: a mat (called a "mkeka"), a candleholder, seven candles, a unity cup, crops, corn, and gifts.

The kinara, a candleholder that sits on top of the mkeka, holds seven candles: three red candles on the right (representing the struggles of the past and present), three green candles on the left (representing a hopeful future), and one black in the middle (representing the skin color of people of African ). The seven candles also represent the seven principles of Kwanzaa.

The black is lit on the first night. Each subsequent night of Kwanzaa, one of the other candles is lit, alternating from left to right. On the night, all seven candles are lit, and children receive gifts.
Advent
Christians Advent, which begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas. During Advent, Christians and prepare for the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ.

The Advent , a horizontal with four candles, symbolizes Advent. Beginning on the fourth Sunday before Christmas, a is lit.

Each Sunday thereafter, another is lit. Many Advent wreaths also include a fifth , called a "Christ ," to be lit on Christmas.

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How Do People Celebrate the Winter Holidays?

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Come December each year, people of different faiths and cultures the winter holidays in many different ways. Let's take a look at three holidays to see how they're different...and what they have in common. Hanukkah Jewish people Hanukkah, sometimes called "The Festival of Lights," an eight-day holiday that marks the rededication of the temple and the "miracle of the oil."

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I have a pen pal named Ayah who is Muslim. During the Islamic month of Ramadan, she fasts from sunrise to sunset every day. (That means she doesn't eat or drink a thing all day!) Muslims believe that during the month of Ramadan, their holy book (the Quran) was sent from God to guide the people.

Ayah prays five times a day. She prays on a prayer rug, which she lays on the floor facing the sacred city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia.

At the end of the Fast of Ramadan comes the joyous celebration of Eid ul-Fitr. Eid lasts for three days. On the first day, Ayah puts on new holiday clothes and goes to pray at her mosque with her family. Then she goes home and has a big breakfast with family and friends.

During Ramadan and Eid, streets and buildings are sometimes decorated with beautiful lights or lanterns. At Eid, people give to those in need, and exchange cards and gifts. They also wish each other "Eid mubarak!"

Ayah and her relatives enjoy a big feast together. They have all different kinds of foods, like lamb, fruits and nuts, vegetables and sweets. She says these cookies called "ma'amoul" are the best! They are filled with dates and nuts and sprinkled with powdered sugar. Yum!

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Holiday . Ramadan and Eid ul-Fitr | ARTHUR | Official Site | PBS KIDS

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I have a pen pal named Ayah who is Muslim. During the Islamic month of Ramadan, she fasts from sunrise to sunset every day. (That means she doesn't eat or drink a thing all day!) Muslims believe that during the month of Ramadan, their holy book (the Quran) was sent from God to guide the people.

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Learn about unique traditions, celebrations, and holidays that occur around the world.

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2022 Dongzhi Festival, the shortest day of the year, is on December 22nd. The most famous food for this festival is dumpling. There is no holiday for this traditional festival.

What is Dongzhi Festival?

Dongzhi Festival in Xi'an, China

Dongzhi Festival, Dongzhi, or Dong Zhi in Chinese, is a time-honored tradition that the Winter Solstice is celebrated in China. It is the day with shortest daytime and longest night in the Northern Hemisphere. The daytime in Beijing is only 9 hours and 20 minutes. The day lasts for 7 hours 49 minutes in London and 9 hours and 15 minutes in New York. After that day, the daylight hours become longer and longer, which brings people hope. So Chinese Winter Solstice Festival was once as important as Chinese New Year. A lot of celebrations and activities were held and some are still held today, for instance, northern Chinese eat dumplings and southern people commonly eat wontons or glutinous rice balls. There are also traditional activities such as worshipping the Heaven and the ancestors.

Read more: Winter Solstice Facts: 11 Things You Should Know

Dongzhi Festival falls on December 21, 22 or 23.

Dongzhi is not on a fixed day. It commonly falls on December 21, 22 or 23. In China, there is no Winter Solstice holiday.

Read more: Winter Solstice Date

Chinese people found Winter Solstice 2,500 years ago.

About 2,500 years ago, a wise man named Zhougfong has found the special day of the year, using a simple-shaped instrument called earth sundial to observe the shadows. Why do Chinese celebrate Winter Solstice? Why is the Dongzhi festival celebrated? The day gets longer after Winter Solstice day and another solar term starts. Chinese believe it is an auspicious day, which means the unhappiness of the past has gone and a new life begins.

Read more:
2,500 Years' History of Winter Solstice in Chinawinter

Winter Solstice Folklore: 8 Stories in China

How is Dongzhi Festival celebrated?

The main Chinese Winter Solstice traditions are worshipping the Heaven and ancestors, and counting Nines of Winter. In addition, there are Dongzhi Festival dining customs in different regions of China. Dumplings and glutinous rice are the most popular. Besides, foods like mutton, ginger, dikon which warm body up are also popular.

1. Worship the Heaven

The custom can be traced to the Han Dynasty (202 BC - 220 AD) and was preserved till the Ming Dynasty and Qing Dynasty (1368 - 1911). The well-preserved Temple of Heaven in Beijing was constructed for that reason. What is the purpose of the Winter Solstice Festival custom? It's because the Donzhi was initially considered as the Chinese New Year and worshipping the Heaven on the first day of the year can bring people a harvest year.

Some parts of the southern coast in China continue the Winter Solstice Festival custom of ancestor worship. Every household places ancestral images and tablets on the table to set up incense burners and supplies. In Shanghai, people have the custom of sweeping the tombs of ancestors and pay respect to ancestors in Winter Solstice, and they also put the meat on the table to pay homage to the ancestors.

3. Interesting Saying of the Nines of Winter (Shu Jiu)

Counting the Nines of Winter is the most interesting Chinese Winter Solstice Festival tradition in the folklore. The Nines of Winter refers to the nine periods of nine days starting the Winter Solstice. There is a folk song about this: People cannot even put their hands in cold air in the first and second nine days; walking on ice can be achieved in the third and fourth nine days; willows on the banks start to sprout in the fifth and sixth nine days; ices dissolve and water flows freely in the river in the seventh nine days; in the eighth nine days, wild geese fly back to northern areas, and for the following days, farm cattle start to work in the field. It not only records the weather changes, but also guides farming.

Read more:
How do Chinese people celebrate Winter Solstice?

16 Special Winter Solstice Rituals in Different Places of China

6 Most Popular Dongzhi Festival Foods in China

Glutinous Rice Balls

Mutton Soup

In Winter Solstice Chinese, dumpling is the typical food in north part of China and glutinous rice balls are more popular in south China. Besides, people in Suzhou eat wonton, while mutton are must festival food in Shandong and Ningxia. People in Guangdong like roasted most. Jiangmu Duck, a Dongzhi festival food made of duck and ginger is popular in Xiamen.

Read more: 6 Chinese Winter Solstice Foods to Warm You Up

You May Like:
10 Interesting Winter Solstice Traditions around the World
5 Most Beautiful Chinese Winter Solstice Poems

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Dongzhi Festival, Winter Solstice in China, One of the 24 Solar Terms

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2022 Dongzhi Festival, the shortest day of the year, is on December 22nd. The most famous food for this festival is dumpling. There is no holiday for this traditional festival. What is Dongzhi Festival? Dongzhi Festival in Xi'an, China Dongzhi Festival, Dongzhi, or Dong Zhi in Chinese, is a time-honored tradition that the Winter Solstice is celebrated in China.

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Diwali: India's biggest holiday of the year

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Diwali: India's biggest holiday of the year

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Learn about India’s biggest holiday of the year.

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All over the world, Christmas celebrations reflect local culture and traditions. The festivities can be startlingly different from country to country, focusing on different aspects of the nativity story.

But whether you're celebrating Sheng Dan Jieh in China or awaiting Pere Noel in France, you're sharing in the wonder and magic of the Christmas season. In the following pages, we'll take a look at Christmas traditions in countries around the world, from Sweden to Australia, from England to China.

Christmas Traditions in Australia: In Australia, December 25 falls during summer vacation, so many of the country's Christmas festivities take place outdoors. The most popular event of the Christmas season is called Carols by Candlelight. People come together at night to light candles and sing Christmas carols outside. The stars shining above add to the sights and sounds of this wonderful outdoor concert.

Christmas Traditions in China: The small number of Christians in China call Christmas Sheng Dan Jieh, which means Holy Birth Festival. They decorate their homes with evergreens, posters, and bright paper chains. Families put up a Christmas tree called a "tree of light" and decorate it with beautiful lanterns, flowers and red paper chains that symbolize happiness. They cut out red pagodas to paste on the windows, and they light their houses with paper lanterns, too.

Christmas Traditions in England: It is cold, wet and foggy in England at Christmastime. The day before Christmas is very busy for families in England. They wrap presents, bake cookies, and hang stockings over the fireplace. Then everyone gathers around the tree as someone tells a classic holiday story, such as "A Christmas Carol." Children write a letter to Father Christmas with their wishes and toss their letter into the fire so their wishes can go up the chimney. After the children fall asleep on Christmas Eve, Father Christmas comes to visit.

Christmas Traditions in Ethiopia: Ethiopia follows the ancient Julian calendar, so Ethiopians celebrate Christmas on January 7. The Ethiopian Orthodox Church's celebration of Christ's birth is called Ganna. It is a day when families attend church. Everyone dresses in white. Most Ethiopians don a traditional shamma - a thin, white cotton wrap with brightly colored stripes across the ends. Twelve days after Ganna, on January 19, Ethiopians begin the three-day celebration called Timkat, which commemorates the baptism of Christ.

Christmas Traditions in France: Christmas celebrations France begin on December 5, which is St. Nicholas Eve, but Christmas Eve is the most special time in the French celebration of Christmas. Church bells ring and voices sing French carols called noels. On Christmas Day, families go to church and then enjoy an abundant feast of wonderful dishes, ending with the traditional buche de Noel, a rich buttercream-filled cake shaped and frosted to look like a yule log.

Christmas Traditions in Germany: German families prepare for Christmas throughout the cold December. Four Sundays before Christmas, they make an Advent wreath of fir or pine branches that has four colored candles. They light a candle on the wreath each Sunday, sing Christmas songs and eat Christmas cookies. In the weeks leading up to Christmas, homes are filled with the delightful smells of baking loaves of sweet bread, cakes filled with candied fruits, and spicy cookies called lebkuchen.

Christmas Traditions in Holland: Dutch children in Holland, or the Netherlands, eagerly await the arrival of Sinterklaas on St. Nicholas Day on December 6. Sinterklaas is a kindly bishop. He wears red robes and a tall, pointed mitre on his head. Sinterklaas travels by ship from Spain to Amsterdam's harbor every winter. He brings his white horse and a huge sack full of gifts for the children. Families celebrate St. Nicholas Eve at home with lots of good food, hot chocolate and a letterbanket, a "letter cake" made in the shape of the first letter of the family's last name.

Christmas Traditions in Italy: The Christmas season in Italy begins on the first Sunday of Advent, which is four Sundays before Christmas. Christmas fairs feature fireworks and bonfires along with holiday music. Families go to the Christmas markets to shop for gifts and new figures for the manger scene. Some families set up a Christmas tree and decorate it. Families set up their presepio, or manger scene, on the first day of the novena. They gather before the presepio each morning or evening of novena to light candles and pray.

Christmas Traditions in Mexico: The weather is warm and mild in Mexico during the Christmas season. Families shop for gifts, ornaments, and good things to eat in the market stalls, called puestos. They decorate their homes with lilies and evergreens. Family members cut intricate designs in brown paper bags to make lanterns, or farolitos. They place a candle inside and then set the farolitos along sidewalks, on windowsills, and on rooftops and outdoor walls to illuminate the community with the spirit of Christmas.

Christmas Traditions in Spain: The Christmas season begins in Spain on December 8, with a weeklong observance of the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. Evergreens decorate the churches and outdoor markets throughout the Christmas season. Tambourines, gourd rattles, castanets, and miniature guitars are offered for sale to enliven the singing and dancing in the streets. Children go from house to house reciting verses or singing carols for sweets, toys, or small instruments.

Christmas Traditions in Sweden: In Sweden, the Christmas festivities begin on December 13 with St. Lucia's Day, which celebrates the patron saint of light. The eldest daughter gets up before dawn and dresses as the "Queen of Light" in a long, white dress. She wears a crown of leaves. Singing "Santa Lucia," the Lucia Queen goes to every bedroom to serve coffee and treats to each member of the family. The younger children in the family help, too. The whole family helps to select the Christmas tree just a day or two before Christmas.

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Each country has its own unique way of celebrating the Christmas season. Learn about Christmas traditions around the world, from England to Ethiopia.

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WhyChristmas.com: The Most Christmas Information on the Web

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Christmas Traditions, Christmas Customs, Christmas History. Christmas Around the World in different countries. The Christmas Story. Christmas Fun!

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REMEMBERING LIGHT

During the time of the 2nd Temple, the Holy Land was ruled by cruel Greeks. They robbed the Jews of their property, and set up idols in the Beit HaMikdash. No one could stand up against them, till Mattityahu and his sons rose up and drove them from the land. The Chanukah lights remind us of the great miracle that a small band of Jews defeated the mighty Greek armies.

FIGHTING FOR LIGHT

The Greeks were philosophers. They accepted the Torah as a book of wisdom, but not as something holy that connects us to Hashem. In the end, they made Torah learning illegal, and outlawed Mitzvot like Shabbat, Rosh Chodesh, Brit Milah, and the holiness of Jewish marriage. The Maccabees risked their lives to keep Torah alive! That's why they won!

THE MIRACLE OF LIGHT

An even greater miracle than defeating the Greek armies was the miracle of the oil. The Greeks had made all the oil in the Beit HaMikdash impure. Miraculously, the Maccabees found one jar that had been overlooked. But it only had enough oil for one day. So great was their love of G‑d, that they lit it anyway! Hashem made another miracle, and the oil burned for eight days! Everyone could see that the Shechinah dwelt with the Jews.

JOYOUS LIGHT!

With tremendous joy, the Jews cleansed the Beit HaMikdash and began to serve Hashem once again! Nowadays, we have to draw on that joy, because the darkness has grown very great! That's why we make Chanukah parties, with dreidels, latkes, and Chanukah gelt. Joy has the power to overcome any negative thing, and break any evil decree!

ADDING LIGHT!

Every day of Chanukah we add another candle till all eight candles of the Menorah are ablaze. By adding a candle every night for 8 days, we charge ourselves up with light, so that we will constantly be adding in Torah and Mitzvot (which are compared to light), throughout all the days of the year to come.

HOLY LIGHT!

The light of the Chanukah candles is holy, like the light of the Menorah in the Beit HaMikdash. We are careful not to use it for any purpose - our Mitzvah is just to look at the candles and listen to the story that they tell.

FILLING THE WORLD WITH LIGHT!

The miracle of Chanukah occurred in a dark time when there were wicked decrees against the Jews. But the Maccabees had courage and never lost hope. Their mesirut nefesh (self sacrifice) turned the darkness into light! Today too, our mesirut nefesh for Torah and Mitzvot will light up the world and bring Moshiach Now!

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During the time of the 2nd Temple, the Holy Land was ruled by cruel Greeks. They robbed the Jews of their property, and set up idols in the Beit HaMikdash. No one could stand up against them, till Mattityahu and his sons rose up and drove them from the land.

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Kwanzaa History

The name Kwanzaa is derived from the phrase "matunda ya kwanza" which means "first fruits" in Swahili. Each family celebrates Kwanzaa in its own way, but celebrations often include songs and dances, African drums, storytelling, poetry reading, and a large traditional meal. On each of the seven nights, the family gathers and a child lights one of the candles on the Kinara (candleholder), then one of the seven principles is discussed. The principles, called the Nguzo Saba (seven principles in Swahili) are values of African culture which contribute to building and reinforcing community among African-Americans. Kwanzaa also has seven basic symbols which represent values and concepts reflective of African culture. An African feast, called a Karamu, is held on December 31.

Did you know? The seven principles, or Nguzo Saba, are a set of ideals created by Dr. Maulana Karenga. Each day of Kwanzaa emphasizes a different principle.

The candle-lighting ceremony each evening provides the opportunity to gather and discuss the meaning of Kwanzaa. The first night, the black candle in the center is lit (and the principle of umoja/unity is discussed). One candle is lit each evening and the appropriate principle is discussed.

Seven Principles

The seven principles, or Nguzo Saba are a set of ideals created by Dr. Maulana Karenga. Each day of Kwanzaa emphasizes a different principle.

Unity:Umoja (oo-MO-jah)
To strive for and maintain unity in the family, community, nation, and race.

Self-determination: Kujichagulia (koo-gee-cha-goo-LEE-yah)
To define ourselves, name ourselves, create for ourselves, and speak for ourselves.

Collective Work and Responsibility: Ujima (oo-GEE-mah)
To build and maintain our community together and make our brother's and sister's problems our problems and to solve them together.

Cooperative Economics: Ujamaa (oo-JAH-mah)
To build and maintain our own stores, shops, and other businesses and to profit from them together.

Purpose: Nia (nee-YAH)
To make our collective vocation the building and developing of our community in order to restore our people to their traditional greatness.

Creativity: Kuumba (koo-OOM-bah)
To do always as much as we can, in the way we can, in order to leave our community more beautiful and beneficial than we inherited it.

Faith: Imani (ee-MAH-nee)
To believe with all our heart in our people, our parents, our teachers, our leaders, and the righteousness and victory of our struggle.

Seven Symbols

Mazao, the crops (fruits, nuts, and vegetables)
Symbolizes work and the basis of the holiday. It represents the historical foundation for Kwanzaa, the gathering of the people that is patterned after African harvest festivals in which joy, sharing, unity, and thanksgiving are the fruits of collective planning and work. Since the family is the basic social and economic center of every civilization, the celebration bonded family members, reaffirming their commitment and responsibility to each other. In Africa, the family may have included several generations of two or more nuclear families, as well as distant relatives. Ancient Africans didn't care how large the family was, but there was only one leader - the oldest male of the strongest group. For this reason, an entire village may have been composed of one family. The family was a limb of a tribe that shared common customs, cultural traditions, and political unity and were supposedly descended from common ancestors. The tribe lived by traditions that provided continuity and identity. Tribal laws often determined the value system, laws, and customs encompassing birth, adolescence, marriage, parenthood, maturity, and death. Through personal sacrifice and hard work, the farmers sowed seeds that brought forth new plant life to feed the people and other animals of the earth. To demonstrate their mazao, celebrants of Kwanzaa place nuts, fruit, and vegetables, representing work, on the mkeka.

Mkeka: Place Mat
The mkeka, made from straw or cloth, comes directly from Africa and expresses history, culture, and tradition. It symbolizes the historical and traditional foundation for us to stand on and build our lives because today stands on our yesterdays, just as the other symbols stand on the mkeka. In 1965, James Baldwin wrote: "For history is not merely something to be read. And it does not refer merely, or even principally, to the past. On the contrary, the great force of history comes from the facts that we carry it within us, are consciously controlled by it in many ways, and history is literally present in all that we do. It could scarcely be otherwise, since it is to history that we owe our frames of reference, our identities, and our aspirations." During Kwanzaa, we study, recall, and reflect on our history and the role we are to play as a legacy to the future. Ancient societies made mats from straw, the dried seams of grains, sowed and reaped collectively. The weavers took the stalks and created household baskets and mats. Today, we buy mkeka that are made from Kente cloth, African mud cloth, and other textiles from various areas of the African continent. The mishumaa saba, the vibunzi, the mazao, the zawadi, the kikombe cha umoja, and the kinara are placed directly on the mkeka.

Vibunzi: Ear of Corn
The stalk of corn represents fertility and symbolizes that through the reproduction of children, the future hopes of the family are brought to life. One ear is called vibunzi, and two or more ears are called mihindi. Each ear symbolizes a child in the family, and thus one ear is placed on the mkeka for each child in the family. If there are no children in the home, two ears are still set on the mkeka because each person is responsible for the children of the community. During Kwanzaa, we take the love and nurturance that was heaped on us as children and selflessly return it to all children, especially the helpless, homeless, loveless ones in our community. Thus, the Nigerian proverb "It takes a whole village to raise a child" is realized in this symbol (vibunzi), since raising a child in Africa was a community affair, involving the tribal village, as well as the family. Good habits of respect for self and others, discipline, positive thinking, expectations, compassion, empathy, charity, and self-direction are learned in childhood from parents, from peers, and from experiences. Children are essential to Kwanzaa, for they are the future, the seed bearers that will carry cultural values and practices into the next generation. For this reason, children were cared for communally and individually within a tribal village. The biological family was ultimately responsible for raising its own children, but every person in the village was responsible for the safety and welfare of all the children.

Mishumaa Saba: The Seven Candles
Candles are ceremonial objects with two primary purposes: to re-create symbolically the sun's power and to provide light. The celebration of fire through candle burning is not limited to one particular group or country; it occurs everywhere. Mishumaa saba are the seven candles: three red, three green and one black. The back candle symbolizes Umoja (unity), the basis of success, and is lit on December 26. The three green candles, representing Nia, Ujima, and Imani, are placed to the right of the Umoja candle, while the three red candles, representing Kujichagulia, Ujamaa, and Kuumba, are placed to the left of it. During Kwanzaa, on candle, representing one principle, is lit each day. Then the other candles are relit to give off more light and vision. The number of candles burning also indicate the principle that is being celebrated. The illuminating fire of the candles is a basic element of the universe, and every celebration and festival includes fire in some form. Fire's mystique, like the sun, is irresistible and can destroy or create with its mesmerizing, frightening, mystifying power.

Mishumaa saba's symbolic colors are from the red, black and green flag (bendara) created by Marcus Garvey. The colors also represent African gods. Red is the color of Shango, the Yoruba god of fire, thunder, and lightning, who lives in the clouds and sends down his thunderbolt whenever he is angry or offended. It also represents the struggle for self-determination and freedom by people of color. Black is the people, the earth, the source of life, representing hope, creativity, and faith and denoting messages and the opening and closing of doors. Green represents the earth that sustains our lives and provides hope, divination, employment, and the fruits of the harvest.

Kinara: The Candleholder
The kinara is the center of the Kwanzaa setting and represents the original stalk from which we came: our ancestry. The kinara can be shape - straight lines, semicircles, or spirals - as long as the seven candles are separate and distinct, like a candelabra. Kinaras are made from all kinds of materials, and many celebrants create their own from fallen branches, wood, or other natural materials. The kinara symbolizes the ancestors, who were once earthbound; understand the problems of human life; and are willing to protect their progeny from danger, evil, and mistakes. In African festivals, the ancestors are remembered and honored. The mishumaa saba are placed in the kinara.

Kikombe Cha Umoja: The Unity Cup
The kikombe cha umoja is a special cup that is used to perform the libation (tambiko) ritual during the Karamu feast on the sixth day of Kwanzaa. In many African societies libation are poured for the living dead whose souls stay with the earth they tilled. The Ibo of Nigeria believe that to drink the last portion of a libation is to invite the wrath of the spirits and the ancestors; consequently, the last part of the libation belongs to the ancestors. During the Karamu feast, the kikombe cha umoja is passed to family member and guests, who drink from it to promote unity. Then, the eldest person present pours the libation (tambiko), usually water, juice, or wine, in the direction of the four winds - north, south, east, and west - to honor the ancestors. The eldest asks the gods and ancestors to share in the festivities and, in return, to bless all the people who are not at the gathering. After asking for this blessing, the elder pours the libation on the ground and the group says "Amen." Large Kwanzaa gatherings may operate just as communion services in most churches, for which it is common for celebrants to have individual cups and to drink the libation together as a sign of unity. Several families may have a cup that is specifically for the ancestors, and everyone else has his or her own. The last few ounces of the libation are poured into the cup of the host or hostess, who sips it and then hands it to the oldest person in the group, who asks for the blessing.

Zawadi: Gifts
When we celebrate Imani on the seventh day of Kwanzaa, we give meaningful zawadi (gifts) to encourage growth, self-determination, achievement, and success. We exchange gifts with members of our immediate family, especially the children, to promote or reward accomplishments and commitments kept, as well as with our guests. Handmade gifts are encouraged to promote self-determination, purpose, and creativity and to avoid the chaos of shopping and conspicuous consumption during the December holiday season. A family may spend the year making kinaras or may create cards, dolls, or mkekas to give to their guests. Accepting a gift implies a moral obligation to fulfill the promise of the gift; it obliges the recipient to follow the training of the host. The gift cements social relationships, allowing the receiver to share the duties and the rights of a family member. Accepting a gift makes the receiver part of the family and promotes Umoja.

Excerpted from the book: The Complete Kwanzaa Celebrating Our Cultural Harvest. Copyright 1995 by Dorothy Winbush Riley. Reprinted with permission from HarperPerennial, a division of HarperCollins Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved.

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Kwanzaa - Meaning, Candles & Principles | HISTORY

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Kwanzaa is a week-long secular holiday which culminates on New Year's Day. Founded in 1966, Kwanzaa combines aspects of several African harvest celebrations.

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Kwanzaa, is an African-American celebration of cultural reaffirmation, is one of the fastest-growing holidays in the history of the world. It took root 30 years ago, when graduate student Maulana Karenga, disturbed by the 1965 riots in Los Angeles' Watts area, decided that African-Americans needed an annual event to celebrate their differences rather than the melting pot. Not a religious holiday, Kwanzaa is, rather, a seven-day celebration that begins on December 26 and continues through January 1.

Kwanzaa is from 26th December, 2020 - 1st January, 2021

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Kwanzaa, is an African-American celebration of cultural reaffirmation, is one of the fastest-growing holidays in the history of the world. It took root 30 years ago, when graduate student Maulana Karenga, disturbed by the 1965 riots in Los Angeles' Watts area, decided that African-Americans needed an annual event to celebrate their differences rather than the melting pot.

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Kwanzaa is a time for African-Americans to think about their culture, history and community. The Brain starts getting ready for Kwanzaa a couple of weeks early by decorating the house with Kwanzaa colors and African-American art.

The Brain celebrates Kwanzaa from December 26 through January 1. A teacher named Dr. Maulana Karenga created Kwanzaa in 1966. Kwanzaa means "first fruits" in Swahili.

The Brain places a bunch of things that are symbolic of Kwanzaa on a special mat called a "mkeka." On top is a special candleholder called a "kinara." The kinara holds seven candles called "mishumaa saba."

The Brain scooped a bowl of ice cream with the colors red, black and green. These are the colors of Kwanzaa. The color red symbolizes the struggle for freedom. The color black symbolizes people of African descent. The color green symbolizes the future.

The Brain told me all about the seven important principles of Kwanzaa - one for each day of the celebration. They honor the history and community of African-Americans.

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Holiday . Kwanzaa | ARTHUR | Official Site | PBS KIDS

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Kwanzaa is a time for African-Americans to think about their culture, history and community. The Brain starts getting ready for Kwanzaa a couple of weeks early by decorating the house with Kwanzaa colors and African-American art. The Brain celebrates Kwanzaa from December 26 through January 1.

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KWANZAA SONG - Children's Song by The Lear... - SafeShare.tv

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SafeShare.tv removes unwanted distractions from YouTube and Vimeo videos and reduces ads, so you can focus on the content. Perfect for schools and businesses!

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Tallinn Christmas Market with a touch of a fairy tale will be held at the Town Hall Square of Tallinn. Everything is possible at the Christmas Market! The star of the market is the Christmas tree, which is the most important Christmas tree in Estonia and has been set up in Town Hall Square since 1441, making it the first Christmas tree ever to be put on display in Europe.

The Christmas land is decorated with trees, Christmas decorations, and Christmas lights. Local merchants will offer Estonian Christmas cuisine, from black pudding and sour cabbage to gingerbread and hot Christmas drinks, as well as various handicrafts. Our younger guests can enjoy merry-go-rounds and there is a diverse Christmas programme. The real gem of the Christmas Market is Santa Claus, who will greet children in his own home and arrive by reindeer sleigh!

Source: https://www.visitestonia.com/en/tallinn-christmas-market

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Tallinn Christmas Market 360 Panorama | 360Cities

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Tallinn Christmas Market with a touch of a fairy tale will be held at the Town Hall Square of Tallinn. Everything is possible at the Christmas Market! The star of the market is the Christmas tree, which is the most important Christmas tree in Estonia and has been set up in Town Hall Square since 1441, making it the first Christmas tree ever to be put on display in Europe.

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Overview and HistoryHong Kong sits on the south coast of China, on the Pearl River Delta. It's got a population of more than seven million people and is one of the most densely populated places on earth. It also appears to be putting into place the template for population management, which cities around the world will be implementing as soon as they can afford it. More on that later.Archaeological evidence dates human activity beneath present-day Hong Kong back to the stone age. The area was first settled by people from the mainland during the Han dynasty, around the beginning of the common era (the P.C. term for when B.C. changed to A.D. Whoa!)For hundreds of years, Hong Kong was a small fishing community and haven for travelers, with a few pirates here and there. Then whitey showed up.Western influence reached China at the beginning of the 15th century, when all those great explorers in boats were cruising for loot in strange and mysterious places. Tea and silk were the commodities connecting eastern Europe to China, and Hong Kong was known as a safe harbor through which to pass. When you're carrying the Queen's tea, it's especially important to avoid ARRRRRRguments with pirates. Hyuk hyuk hyuk.Seriously folks -- in the eighteenth century Britain was doing a booming business with China, offering Indian opium to balance their extensive purchases of fine porcelains and everything else. The opium was ordained to be for medicinal purposes only, of course.Well, as you may imagine, the Chinese got sick of opium fiends junking up the place, so they attempted to stop the British suppliers, to no avail. The Opium Wars resulted and ended with China ceding Hong Kong to the British, in fear of their massive naval power. This took place in the year 1841.Colonization soon followed, Hong Kong shot up in value as an international port, and its population increased dramatically. In 1898 Britain acquired additional territories on a 99 year lease -- expiring in 1997. Does that year sound familiar? Read on.In the 20th century Hong Kong changed hands several times. The British surrendered it to Japan during World War Two, then took it back after Japan's defeat, then gave it to China later. Immediately following the war, Hong Kong served as a safe haven for hundreds of thousands of Chinese refugees, while the Chinese National Government was losing its civil war against communist leadership.The population of Hong Kong exploded as corporations seeking to escape Chinese isolationism arrived and set up shop. Cheap labor in the textile and manufacturing industries steadily built up the economy and ensured foreign investment. By the end of the 20th century Hong Kong had become a financial mammoth offering banking services to the world.In 1997 Hong Kong returned to Chinese rule with a few stipulations in place to guarantee its economic autonomy, as much as possible. The phrase "one country, two systems" was coined by the Chinese to describe the relationship between the mainland and Hong Kong.Getting ThereWell, where do you want to get to from the Hong Kong International Airport? There are ferries servicing six mainland ports in the Pearl River Delta Region. Airport Express Railway connects directly to downtown Hong Kong, and it has been rated the best airport in the world multiple times.The Airport Express Railway will get you into Hong Kong in about an hour, for $100. Public buses cost $10 and take a little longer. For direct service to your hotel you can take one of the hotel's private buses ($120+) or a taxi ($300+). As you can see, waiting time is optional for those who can afford it.Here's a little blurb on travel times, with further information for access to nearby cities (cross-boundary transport).TransportationGrab an Octopus card when you arrive. Octopus is the world's first electronic ticket-fare card system and the Hong Kong public transportation system is the world leader in people-moving. 90% of Hong Kongers get around on public transportation.Octopus covers the Airport Rail line, buses, ferries, the rapid-transit MTR network, supermarkets, fast food outlets, phone booths... It's how to get around the cashless economy.Nevermind the microchip built into it, you'll get used to having one of those on you at all times -- and soon they'll be internal! What do I mean? Many schools in Hong Kong even use the Octopus card to check attendance, because you read the card's data with an external scanner from a distance. This will the global norm soon. What if that chip is installed in your body? It's in the works baby!The hilly Hong Kong terrain also demands some special modes of transportation. If you've been to Pittsburgh, you may have some idea of how cool it is to ride a cable car up the side of a mountain, overlooking a majestic harbor and city. Multiply that by about ten thousand and you've got Hong Kong: vertical-travel trams, moving sidewalks, and the world's longest outdoor escalator system.People and CultureThe local currency is the Hong Kong dollar (HKD) which is pegged to the U.S. dollar. Official languages are Chinese and English. You're on your own, baby! Dive into the swarming, throbbing, pulsing, crawling and teeming mix!Things to do & RecommendationsThe Peak Tower and its shopping Galleria are the biggest tourist attraction in Hong Kong so don't miss it.Cool off in the Kowloon Park public indoor swimming pool!After that, go see what's happening at the Hong Kong Fringe Club, a non-profit organisation which puts together exhibitions for international artists and performers.Organize sports fans flock to the Hong Kong Stadium, but there's good news for disorganized sportistas too -- Mountain biking is now legal in the parks! Have at it, baby!All this excitement is going to make you hungry. Springtime is traditionally the time to celebrate seafood, summer is for fruits, and winter steams with hot pot soups to keep you warm.The best thing to do is go and find some dim sum. Dozens of plates of tasty small items, sort of like sushi but it's cooked, and the varieties are endless.Since you won't be able to walk down the street without complete and total sensory overload, I'll just whap in the Hong Kong tourist board's guide to dining and leave you to your intuition.Good luck, take it slow and above all -- DON'T SPIT OUT YOUR CHEWING GUM ON THE SIDEWALK. Gum is legal but there's a $500 fine for intentional littering. Enjoy!Text by Steve Smith.

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Statue Square Christmas Lights(中環皇后像廣場聖誕燈飾2), Central, HK 360 Panorama | 360Cities

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Overview and HistoryHong Kong sits on the south coast of China, on the Pearl River Delta. It's got a population of more than seven million people and is one of the most densely populated places on earth.

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View of the colorful rainbow Christmas fountains on the Symphony Lake in front of the Petronas Towers, in the heart of Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia. Shot at night on a December evening, a little before Christmas.

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MALAYSIA - Kuala Lumpur Christmas Fountains 2 360 Panorama | 360Cities

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View of the colorful rainbow Christmas fountains on the Symphony Lake in front of the Petronas Towers, in the heart of Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia. Shot at night on a December evening, a little before Christmas.

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Christmas Lights in Medellin, Colombia. Every year this city has one of the most attractive Christmas Lights of latin america. The theme of this year are the values of Christmas. This place is called "The forgive station"

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Christmas Lights in Medellin 360 Panorama | 360Cities

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Christmas Lights in Medellin, Colombia. Every year this city has one of the most attractive Christmas Lights of latin america. The theme of this year are the values of Christmas. This place is called "The forgive station"