Though it doesn’t always fall in December, Hanukkah is also associated with the December holiday season. These virtues are rooted in traditional African philosophies of life. unaltered excerpts (not the content in its entirety) and provide a hyperlink to this page. Newspapers routinely provide coverage of local Kwanzaa observances, and television stations include Kwanzaa with Christmas and Hanukkah in their holiday greetings. One day of the festival is dedicated to faith, and another is called a Day of Meditation. This year Christmas Eve will fall on a Monday and Christmas Day on a Tuesday. Centuries before the birth of Jesus, the Norse in Scandinavia celebrated Yule or the winter solstice. By opening our imaginations up to the sanctifying influence of the Holy Spirit. According to the Official Kwanzaa Website, the festival “brings us together from all countries, all religious traditions, all classes, all ages and generations, and all political persuasions on the common ground of our Africanness.” This makes it sound like culture is the ultimate reality. Kwanzaa also celebrates faith, creativity, … Common grace cannot save us. As you saw in our earlier post, there are tons of holidays that are celebrated in December, but arguably the main three are Hanukkah, Christmas, and Kwanzaa. [Information for this Window on the World comes from The Official Kwanzaa Website hosted by Dr. Maulana Karenga. It is celebrated from 26 December to 1st January and can sometimes be celebrated with Christmas and New Years. Although it is promoted as a festival for the worldwide African community, it is mainly observed here in the United States. (Hanukkah, Christmas and Kwanzaa.) In many places, Christmas is associated with the nativity scene, in which Mary and Joseph travel from Nazareth to Bethlehem for the census and Jesus is born and laid in the manger. hanukkah, kwanzaa & baby Jesus. Or Hanukkah. The following books and websites will help make your holiday more complete. Kwanzaa is celebrated seven days and honors seven principles. This is the difference between Kwanzaa and Christmas. This temptation—to make everything else revolve around our culture—is one that we all face, whether or not we happen to be African American. What is Kwanzaa, and how did it start? From his involvement in the Black Freedom Movement, Dr. Karenga recognized that black Americans lacked a cultural celebration that would affirm their African heritage. Hope you enjoy as much as I did! However, they could only find one sealed and purified flash, marked with the Seal of the High Priest. Hanukkah, Ramadan and Kwanzaa certainly don’t. Even religion finds its place under culture, rather than the other way around. It starts on the 25th of Kislev, which can fall on anywhere between November and December on the Gregorian (Western) calendar. Kwanzaa, which starts December 26 and ends January 1, is also grouped into the holiday festivities. In keeping with this definition, Kwanzaa is partly a harvest festival. Mattathias, a Jewish priest, and his five sons led a rebellion against the King. According to Karenga, the symbols were designed to convey the seven principles. Although, the celebrations now include these things, Christmas is and always been about the birth of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. He was a popular saint among the Dutch people who used to help the poor and the needy. Hanukkah celebrates faith and resistance against oppression. Noun (es) Christmas Day, the day it is celebrated, 25 December, an English quarter day. By Phil Ryken. The festival is presented as a time of reverence for the Creator and the creation. Unity, work, responsibility, purpose, creativity, and faith are noble virtues. Merry Christmas refers, specifically, to the Christmas holiday, celebrated December 25th. Playing the dreidel game, and giving Hanukkah gelt, Red and green colors. Feel free to embellish and add your observations about these two holidays, as well as our other great December days, Kwanzaa and the Winter Solstice. Comparison between Christmas, Kwanzaa and Hanukkah: Chanukah or Chanukkah, Festival of Lights, Feast of Dedication, Celebrated by African- Americans of all religious background, Successful reclamation of the Second Temple, 25 December, although this date may change in certain countries, Begins on 25 Kislev according to the Jewish lunar calendar, Church services, gift giving, family and other social gatherings, symbolic decorating. Christmas, Hanukkah, Yule, Kwanzaa, Diwali (kind of), Boxing Day, and sometimes Ramadan. Kujichagulia (Self-Determination): To define ourselves, name ourselves, create for ourselves, and speak for ourselves. This year, Eid al-Adha, the Festival of Sacrifice, falls on November 6. Though it doesn’t always fall in December, Hanukkah is also associated with the December holiday season. The word Kwanzaa means “first fruits” in Swahili, the most widely spoken African language. Just in case anyone asks you what the difference is between Christmas and © 2021 Tenth In the words of its founder, Kwanzaa reaffirms “the dignity of the human person in community and culture, the well-being of family and community, the integrity of the environment and our kinship with it, and the rich resource and meaning of a people’s culture.”. For Internet posting, please use only Decorations include green evergreen, fake snow, white colors, ornaments, tinsel and mistletoe. Image Courtesy: appsforpcmania.com, kids.britannica.com, melikedesign.com. The Seven principles are: Hanukkah is a Jewish festival that is celebrated to commemorate the rededication of the Holy Temple (Second Temple) in Jerusalem. By 165 BC, their rebellion was successful and Judah and his people liberated the Second Temple. Whatever else we may think about Kwanzaa, we should not allow it to distract us from Jesus, whom God sent to be born in the manger, to die on the cross, and to be raised from the dead, so that everyone who trusts in him could be saved. Kwanzaa is a secular occasion, not a religious one. But it is primarily a celebration of African culture. How can we reach our full creative potential? The holiday trio of Hanukkah, Christmas and Kwanzaa are bunched into almost overlapping dates this season, providing the chance to share faiths and cultures. Difference Between | Descriptive Analysis and Comparisons, Counterintelligence Investigation vs Criminal Investigation. In the church of Jesus Christ, which unites people from all cultures into one indivisible and everlasting family. And what is true faith? This year, Hanukkah begins on December 24 and lasts until January 1, Christmas (like always) falls on December 25, and Kwanzaa begins December 26 and lasts through January 1. People who celebrate Christmas are Christians. However, they only come to their full expression and ultimate perfection in Jesus Christ. It was founded in 1966. This way no one feels left out and and you dont have to worry bout what you say every time you meet someone. Reciting Hallel prayer. This Christmas we'll open presents then go to grandma's for dinner. What are the primary difference between Kwanzaa and the holidays of Christmas and Hanukkah? Kwanzaa is celebrated by African American people to show unity and fight against oppression. It can be dated back to the 2nd century BC and lasts eight nights. Jack said that people of all religions can celebrate Kwanzaa because it is a holiday that focuses on the maintenance of principles and values. When Judah was captured by King Antiochus III the Great of Syria, he allowed the people to continue with their customs and religion. Oct 6, 2011 - Explore Sister Teachers's board "Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa", followed by 3846 people on Pinterest. But what common grace can do is remind us of the good and gracious God who made us all. Please include the following statement on any distributed copy: As a result, Christmas, Hanukkah and many other religious and cultural celebrations fall during the month of December. In my very own concept the existing difference bewteen a Christmas Tree and a Family Tree is that the first is the traditional tree you bring home– or go into the woods and Singing special songs, such as Ma'oz Tzur. Lighting candles, celebrating by showing unity and doing things for one another. All the festivals are celebrated with a feast and all family members and loved ones are invited join the festivities. Kwanzaa was invented in 1966 by Dr. Maulana Karenga, who chairs the Department of Black Studies at California State University, Long Beach. But we have to be careful not to make it the basis for our life in this world. This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions. The terms Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays have become a very controversial subject and are under constant debate. Although, Karenga initially established the holiday as an alternate to other religions, he quickly changed it stating that it is not to replace any religion and that people could celebrate Kwanzaa along with Christmas and other religious holidays. This is not the least bit true, it is important not to confuse these holidays in order to not hurt the sentiments of different people. Presbyterian Church. See more ideas about christmas classroom, christmas school, christmas … While, Christmas includes exchanging presents, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa are not associated with gift giving. Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and Ramadan At the end of the year, we all have something to celebrate, and whether you break your fast at Ramadan, light Hanukkah candles, decorate a Christmas tree, or explore your roots at Kwanzaa, the library is the place to be! The overlap between Kwanzaa and Christianity is not surprising. Here’s a holiday message courtesy of Madge Stein Woods that explains the differences between Christmas and Chanukah. Whereas Kwanzaa offers us principles, Christmas gives us a person—the incarnate Son of God. Kwanzaa and Hanukkah include lighting a light and a similar candlestick (Kwanzaa has 7 candles and Hanukkah has 9), while Christmas includes a decorated tree and in some homes the Nativity scene. People who celebrate Hanukkah are Jews. a decorative mat (Mkeka) on which other symbols are placed, corn (Muhindi) and other crops, a candle holder kinara with seven candles (Mishumaa Saba), a communal cup for pouring libation (Kikombe cha Umoja), gifts (Zawadi), a poster of the seven principles, and a black, red, and green flag. Many Christians feel uneasy about Kwanzaa. Blue and silver colors Music, food, the menorah, star of David, chocolate gelt and dreidel. Kwanzaa symbols include a decorative mat (Mkeka) on which other symbols are placed, corn (Muhindi) and other crops, a candle holder kinara with seven candles (Mishumaa Saba), a communal cup for pouring libation (Kikombe cha Umoja), gifts (Zawadi), a poster of the seven principles, and a black, red, and green flag. Hanukkah. Read the Cioppino vs. Frutta Di Mare - Whats the Difference discussion from the Chowhound Restaurants, Boston food community. Christmas is a popular holiday that is associated with the Christmas tree, Santa Claus, and lots of presents. To glorify God the way Jesus taught us, which we can only do through a saving relationship with him. Only the saving grace of Christ can do that. Following the cleaning and purifying process of the temple, the people looked for purified olive oil in order to light the tradition Jewish candle, or Menorah. Unlike immigrant groups that chose to come to America, Africans did not have a social context that enabled old traditions to survive in the new world. During the last ten years the African cultural celebration known as Kwanzaa has become increasingly prominent in public life. Since, it took eight days to clean and purify oil, not enough oil was available to sustain the candle for that long. The eight days of Hanukkah along with lighting the candles for the eight nights are in order to commemorate this miracle. DaniDane November 28, 2011. However, the oil lasted eight days and this was considered as a miracle. Kwanzaa, which starts December 26 and ends January 1, is also grouped into the holiday festivities. Where is the best place to find unity? The month of December is known to bring many different holidays, of which Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanza are the most popularly known. Kwanzaa is a week-long spiritual festival celebrated among the African Americans celebrated in the United States and in the Western African Diaspora in other nations of the Americas. It spreads good tidings to those who celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, or any other holiday. In fact, when Kwanzaa first started to attract public attention, many black churches actively opposed it for this reason. Kwanzaa and Hanukkah are important holidays that reflect the African American culture and the Jewish culture, respectively. We can even celebrate it. December 8, 2002. 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