The title asks it all. I was just wondering if anyone on AG actually celebrates Qwanza, and if so, what do you do on Qwanza? It is kind of obscure near where I live.
Kwanzaa is a weeklong celebration held in the United States honoring universal African-American heritage and culture, observed from December 26 to January 1 each year. It features activities such as lighting a candle holder with seven candles[1] and culminates in a feast and gift giving. It was created by Maulana Karenga and was first celebrated in 1966 - 1967.
Can't we just roll all the holidays in December into one long holiday and call it 'Hangovermes' or 'Lazyval' or something? Remembering all these religious and cultural observances is a bugger on the brain.
It seems like all the religions that have a holiday during this time root to one place. I believe it's Paganism, but certainly something else inspired Paganism.
I agree, just roll it all into one. It's not about religion for Christmas anymore.
Indeed, and by fully shifting the values of the holiday to something that everyone can agree on (family, togetherness, giving and sharing, etc), then we encourage greater cohesion between cultures and present a united front.
I agree, again! We do not HAVE to have religion in order to have this type of togetherness, giving, love, and all that jazz. It's more of a humanitarian holiday than a religious one.
But I do like the idea of paying homage to our planet and celebrating nature, but not to some deity.
I'm pretty sure--now this was way back, so it may not be what I thought it was--my African American friends celebrated Kwanza back in New Jersey in '97 when I was staying there. They were Christian, but didn't set the typical holiday food out until the 26th, which I thought was odd, being an impressionable little tyke. I'm not too sure if they celebrated it the full week though.
Being me, a week-long holiday just seems rough. I believe that you will get more involved with the holiday if it is just 1-2 days instead of a full week. By the end, you would just get tired of the dang thing >_>
Can't we just roll all the holidays in December into one long holiday and call it 'Hangovermes' or 'Lazyval' or something? Remembering all these religious and cultural observances is a bugger on the brain.
Personally I think I would go with the name Giftmas since they all seem to involve gift giving/receiving.
[quote]I'm pretty sure--now this was way back, so it may not be what I thought it was--my African American friends celebrated Kwanza back in New Jersey in '97Â when I was staying there. They were Christian, but didn't set the typical holiday food out until the 26th, which I thought was odd, being an impressionable little tyke. I'm not too sure if they celebrated it the full week though.
Being me, a week-long holiday just seems rough. I believe that you will get more involved with the holiday if it is just 1-2 days instead of a full week. By the end, you would just get tired of the dang thing >_>
No one that I know actually celebrates Kwanzaa, I think it's pretty much died out, unless it moved from the US to another place.
I agree with Frank, I've always thought Hanukkah would be an incredible pain after the first week.[/quote] You think Hanukkah would be painful? Imagine Ramadan, a month of fasting and only eating after the moon rises. I did Ramadan this summer and I was starving.
For Qwanza, I think I heard about it as a joke on a Futurama Christmas special. Other then that nada. I don't know or even heard of somebody celebrating Qwanza.
Imagine Ramadan, a month of fasting and only eating after the moon rises. I did Ramadan this summer and I was starving.
To Islam fasting during this month constitutes one of the five pillars of Islam. It is an act of worship which is done to please Allah (God). Like the other pillars (Declaration of Faith, Salah, Zakah and Hajj) fasting helps to produce and nurture a whole range of positive values and qualities in both individual and community life. In particular, through fasting a person can develop piety, strengthen their conviction in God, and develop moral character.
I know I'm a Muslim . This was the first year I was able to fully do it because it was on summer break. My parents wouldn't let me fast at school because they thought I wouldn't be able to think right. Anyway, let's not get of topic and end the fasting thing here.
Oh, I did the fasting part of Ramadan either last year or the year before. I must say, it takes a lot of self-restraint, I admire those who do it every year.
