Special to the Flash
No doubt on multicultural campuses like Jackson State University, students may celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, or Three Kings Day? Maybe they celebrate St. Lucia Day or Ramadan. Chances are there are students who observe more than one of those events. Few months present the multicultural “teachable moments” that December does! The following multicultural events and celebrations are among those that will happen this year:
Ramadan (Muslim)
Eid al-Fitr (Muslim)
Saint Nicholas Day (Christian)
Eid’ul-Adha (Muslim)
Fiesta of Our Lady of Guadalupe (Mexican)
St. Lucia Day (Swedish)
Hanukkah (Jewish)
Christmas Day (Christian)
Three Kings Day/Epiphany (Christian)
Boxing Day (Australian,
Canadian, English, Irish)
Kwanzaa (African American)
Omisoka (Japanese)
Christmas is thought of as the traditional winter holiday. A little conversation and research about diversity reveal that December offers great opportunities for teaching about our multicultural world. Take time this holiday season to explore and learn about a new culture.
Kwanzaa, which means “First Fruits of the New Harvest. The nguzo saba are the seven principles of Kwanzaa. In sequential order, they are: Umoja (Unity), Kujichagulia (Self-Determination), Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility), Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics), Nia (Purpose), Kuumba (Creativity), and Imani (Faith.)
The celebration of Kwanzaa begins on December 26 and ends on January 1, the day of the “first day of the new harvest.” Each day is represented by a principle.
The seven candles that represent each principle are placed in the Kinara (candleholder). By tradition, the Unity candle is lit first on December 26 and placed in the center. The red candle symbolizing Kujichagulia is lit on December 27 and placed at the extreme end of the Unity candle. The green candle for Ujima is lit third and placed at the extreme left of the Unity candle. On the fourth day of the Kwanzaa celebration we light the red candle symbolizing Ujamaa second to the right of the Unity candle. Next we light the green candle for Nia at the second left of the center. On December 31, the sixth day of Kwanzaa, we light the red candle for Kuumba which is to the immediate right of the center candle. The celebration of Kwanzaa concludes on January 1, New Years Day and the “first day of the new harvest.” This day represents the principle of Imani, symbolized by green, and is located at the immediate left of the Unity candle. Faith is the foundation of the other principles. — Source: Dr. A.W. Crump, JSU Department of History and Philosophy
Many Jewish communities in the United States observe the first day of Chanukah, which marks the start of Chanukah, also known as Hanukkah or Festival of Lights. Chanukah is an eight-day Jewish observance that remembers the Jewish people’s struggle for religious freedom. Jewish communities in the United States celebrate the first day of Chanukah on the 25th day of the month of Kislev in the Jewish calendar. The Chanukah period lasts for eight days and is celebrated from the 25th day of Kislev to the second day of Tevet. The first night of Chanukah (or Hanukkah) starts with special blessings at sunset the day before the 25th of Kislev. Many Jewish people light the hanukiah (or chanukkiyah), which is a type of candelabrum.
The first day of Chanukah is the start of a celebratory period in which a four-sided toy called dreidel is used for games. The first night of Chanukah is also a night when people sing traditional songs to celebrate Chanukah. Gift-giving is also popular at this time of the year.
The hanukiah (or chanukkiyah) is a type of candelabrum that holds eight candles to commemorate the eight days that the oil burned and a ninth candle that sits apart, known as the shamash, or servant candle that lights the others. One candle is lit on the first night, another on the second, and so forth until all candles are lit on the last night. — Source: www.timeanddate.com/holidays/us/chanukah
