Kwanzaa
Kwanzaa is an African-American and Pan-African holiday that lasts from December 26th to January 1st. In 1966, Dr. Maulana Karenga created the holiday to celebrate family, history, and culture. There are seven main ideals highlighted during the week: Umoja (unity), Kujichagulia (self-determination), Ujima (collective work and responsibility), Ujamaa (cooperative economics), Kuumba (creativity), and Imani (faith). Each night people light one candle to represent the principle of the day. During the day, people who celebrate will participate in activities such as reciting ancient sayings and poetry or drumming to connect with the ideal. Throughout the week, people enjoy cultural foods such as rice, plantains, and injera, as well as other things. On the sixth day of Kwanzaa, there is a feast called Karamu in which people tell stories to keep their history alive.
Hanukkah
Hanukkah is an eight-day-long Jewish holiday which lasts from December 7th to December 15th, 2023. In the second century BCE, Jerusalem was controlled by the Syrian Greeks who tried to make the people of Israel adopt Greek cultures and beliefs. This plan ultimately failed as Judah the Maccabee and armed Jews drove the Greeks from the land and reclaimed the Holy Temple for themselves. When they tried to light the menorah in the temple, they found only one container of oil which escaped contamination. This oil managed to last eight days when it should have only lasted one. Now, one of the most important practices during Hanukkah is the nightly menorah lighting. Each night, one new candle is lit. People also celebrate by eating foods fried in oil such as latkes (potato pancakes). Other traditions during Hanukkah include playing with a dreidel and giving gifts of money to children (Gelt).
