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| Kwanzaa Gifts: | |
| On December 31st gifts are given. Mainly to children, but should always include a book and a heritage symbol. The book is to emphasize the African value and tradition of learning, and the heritage symbol to reaffirm and reinforce the African commitment to tradition and history.
After the children receive their gifts they must tell how they will use the seven principles in the upcoming year to improve their life.
The feast is called "Karamu" is also celebrated on December 31st. It is a celebration of food, music and African dance. |
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| Mexican Flag: | |
| The colors of the Mexican flag represents: Green~~Hope, Fertility of the soil White~~ Purity Red~~ The blood shed during Independence |
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| Hispanic Heritage History: | |
| Many people confuse Cinco de Mayo with Mexican Independence Day (September 16, 1810). Cinco de Mayo is celebrated more in the United States than in Mexico and many people of Mexican descent celebrate with parades, mariachi music, dancing, and feasting. | |
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| Chanukah, the Festival of Lights: | |
| Chanukah, the Festival of Lights, is a celebration of the victory of the Maccabees and the rededication of the Jerusalem Temple. It also commemorates the miracle of the oil that burned for 8 days. Every year between the end of November and the end of December, Jewish people around the world celebrate the holiday of Chanukah, the Festival of Lights. Chanukah begins on the 25th day of the Hebrew month of Kislev, but the starting date on the western calendar varies from year to year. The holiday celebrates the events which took place over 2,300 years ago in the land of Judea, which is now Israel. |
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| History of the Shamrock: | |
| In written English, the first reference to the Shamrock dates from 1571,
and in written Irish, as seamrog, from 1707. As a badge to be worn on the lapel
on the Saint's feast day, it is referred to for the first time as late as 1681. The Shamrock was used as an emblem by the Irish Volunteers in the era of Grattan's Parliament in the 1770's, before '98 and The Act of Union. So rebellious did the wearing of the Shamrock eventually appear, that in Queen Victoria's time Irish regiments were forbidden to display it. At that time it became the custom for civilians to wear a little paper cross colored red and green. |
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| Kwanzaa History: | |
| When was the first Kwanzaa celebration? December 1966 Who started Kwanzaa? Kwanzaa was created and developed by Dr. Maulana Karenga. Is Kwanzaa a religious holiday? No, Kwanzaa is an African-American cultural holiday Colors and Decorations Black, red, and green are the colors of Kwanzaa. Decorations include African items such as African basket, cloth patterns, art object, and harvest symbols. What is this called? Seven Candles: Mishumaa Saba Candle Holder: Kinara Unity Cup: Kikombe cha Umoja Flag: Bendera Ya Taifa |
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| Kwanzaa Principles: | |
| What are the seven principles? The Seven Principles, also known as nguzo saba (in-GOO-zoh SAH-bah) are the main ideas that are most important to the celebration of Kwanzaa. Each Principle is represented by one of the seven days of the holiday. Day 1. Umoja (oo-MOW-jah) means unity. Day 2. Kujichagulia (koo-jee-chah-GOO-lee-ah) means self-determination. Day 3. Ujima (oo-JEE-mah) means working together. Day 4. Ujamaa (oo-JAH-mah) means supporting one another. Day 5. Nia (NEE-ah) means purpose. Day 6. Kuumba (koo-OOM-bah) means creativity. Day 7. Imani (ee-MAH-nee) means faith in ourselves and the world. |
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| Dia de los Reyes or Three Kings Day: | |
| The Epiphany, or Día de los Reyes (Three Kings Day), is a Catholic celebration that falls on January 6. Three Kings Day celebrates the Biblical story of the Three Kings Caspar, Melchior and Balthasar (or Three Wise Men} who saw the star over Bethlem when Christ was born. They followed it and found the Christ child on January 6th. They brought him gold, frankincense and myrrh. In Latin America , children receive most of their gifts from the Three Kings every Jan. 6 instead of Christmas day. Since the Three Kings brought the gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh to the baby Jesus, so too did they bring gifts to the good boys and girls. Like Santa Claus, the Three Kings would be the recipients of children's letters and wish lists. Instead of leaving milk and cookies for Santa on Christmas Eve. On the evening of January 5, children leave candy for the wise men and grass, hay and water for the camels and horses the Three Kings rode on. On the morning of January 6 when the children wake up, they look under their beds for their gifts. The hay would be gone and the shoes will be full of presents. The tradition is that the three wise men are to give gift to all children who have been good all year through. The three wise men were viewed as humble, wise men whose gifts to the children were not necessarily expensive, but meaningful. |
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| Cinco de Mayo: | |
| This date is of great importance for on May 5th, 1862, a great battle was fought. The Battle at Puebla. It was on this day the 2000 poorly trained Mexican peasants, under the command of General Ignacio Zaragoza and 6000 French soldiers under the command of Napoleon the third. The Mexicans defeated the French at Puebla, inflicting serious losses. Cinco de Mayo is an opportunity to celebrate Mexican and Chicano culture in general. Cinco de Mayo celebrations often include huge fairs with Mexican singing, dancing, food, costumes, fireworks, parades, and entertainment. Mariachi bands play while dancers perform native Mexican dances such as the Mexican Hat Dance and the Raspa. In Mexico, several towns elaborately reenact the Battle of Puebla in a day-long dramatization that includes acting and speeches encompass a large part of the celebration too. Today on May fifth, Cinco de Mayo is celebrated by native Mexican ( but very especially in the state of Puebla and in Mexico City.) and American people everywhere. |
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| Las Posadas: | |
| In Mexico, Christmas is an important holiday season with strong traditions. One of the most colorful traditions is the posada party. Christmas festivities begin with Las Posadas, nine consecutive days of candlelight processions and lively parties starting December 16. From December 16th through December 24th a religious and social celebration takes place to commemorate Mary and Joseph's difficult journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem in search of shelter. Posada means, simply, shelter or lodging in Spanish. Nowadays, the posada has evolved into a religious and social celebration, paying a festive homage to the journey. Traditionally, the posada party begins with a group of guests carrying candles who stand outside house doors, singing about their long, tiring journey, asking for shelter. The posada song is a representation of an elaborate conversation between Joseph and the inn-keeper. Joseph (who is played by the procession) asks for shelter at the door and is refused also in song (sung by the hosts inside the house where the posada will be held). He asks again, and again is refused. Finally they are admitted into the house and the party begins. There is singing, dancing, fireworks and games, but the highlight of the posada is always the breaking of the piñata. The classic piñata is a clay pot wrapped in a few layers of newspaper. It is then decorated with tissue paper cardboard and other bits of colored paper. The piñata is filled with peanuts, sugar cane, oranges, tejocotes (similar to apricots), and other fruits. These days piñatas come in all shapes and sizes. Traditionally made in the shape of a star symbolizing the star of Bethlehem they are filled with candy, toys, and sometimes money. The fun part is trying to break the piñata suspended from a rope; a group of children and adults gather around the piñata and each takes a blindfolded turn, swinging at it with either a bat or a broomstick until the piñata is broken and all its contents spill out. In the old days, the last posada held on December 24 was most popular, because it was followed by midnight Mass. In the provinces of Mexico, this tradition lives on. |
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| Dia de los Reyes or Three Kings Day: | |
| January 6 The Epiphany, or Día de los Reyes (Three Kings Day), is a Catholic celebration that falls on January 6. Three Kings Day celebrates the Biblical story of the Three Kings Caspar, Melchior and Balthasar (or Three Wise Men} who saw the star over Bethlem when Christ was born. They followed it and found the Christ child on January 6th. They brought him gold, frankincense and myrrh. In Latin America , children receive most of their gifts from the Three Kings every Jan. 6 instead of Christmas day. Since the Three Kings brought the gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh to the baby Jesus, so too did they bring gifts to the good boys and girls. Like Santa Claus, the Three Kings would be the recipients of children's letters and wish lists. Instead of leaving milk and cookies for Santa on Christmas Eve. On the evening of January 5, children leave candy for the wise men and grass, hay and water for the camels and horses the Three Kings rode on. On the morning of January 6 when the children wake up, they look under their beds for their gifts. The hay would be gone and the shoes will be full of presents. The tradition is that the three wise men are to give gift to all children who have been good all year through. The three wise men were viewed as humble, wise men whose gifts to the children were not necessarily expensive, but meaningful. |
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| Interesting Facts about Iraq: | |
| Just in case you might think of Iraq as "only" an oil rich nation, ruled by an evil dictator for 30 years, whether it has been supporting terrorists or may not be very important, here are a few important facts regarding the important history and roles that this nation has played down through history* 1. The garden of Eden was in Iraq. 2. Mesopotamia which is now Iraq was the cradle of civilization! 3. Noah built the ark in Iraq. 4. The Tower of Babel was in Iraq. 5. Abraham was from Ur, which is in Southern Iraq! 6. Isaac's wife Rebekah is from Nahor which is in Iraq. 7. Jacob met Rachel in Iraq. 8. Jonah preached in Nineveh - which is in Iraq. 9. Assyria which is in Iraq conquered the ten tribes of Israel. 10. Amos cried out in Iraq! 11. Babylon which is in Iraq destroyed Jerusalem. 12. Daniel was in the lion's den in Iraq! 13. The 3 Hebrew children were in the fire in Iraq (that's good news to know that JESUS has been in Iraq too as the 4th person in the fiery furnace!) 14. Belshazzar, the King of Babylon saw the "writing on the wall" in Iraq. 15. Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon, carried the Jews captive into Iraq. 16. Ezekiel preached in Iraq. 17. The wise men were from Iraq. 18. Peter preached in Iraq. 19. The "Empire of Man" described in Revelation is called Babylon which was a city in Iraq! And you have probably seen this one. Israel is the nation most often mentioned in the Bible. But do you know which nation is second? It is Iraq! However, that is not the name that is used in the Bible. The names used in the Bible are Babylon, Land of Shinar, and Mesopotamia. The word Mesopotamia means between the two rivers, more exactly between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers. The name Iraq, means country with deep roots. Indeed Iraq is a country with deep roots and is a very significant country in the Bible. Here's why. * Eden was in Iraq--Genesis 2:10-14 * Adam & Eve were created in Iraq--Genesis 2:7-8 * Satan made his first recorded appearance in Iraq--Genesis 3:1-6 * Nimrod established Babylon & Tower of Babel was built in Iraq-- Genesis 10:8-97 & 11:1-4 * The confusion of the languages took place in Iraq--Genesis 11:5-11 * Abraham came from a city in Iraq--Genesis 11:31 & Acts 7:2-4 * Isaac's bride came from Iraq--Genesis 24:3-4 & 10 * Jacob spent 20 years in Iraq--Genesis 27:42-45 & 31:38 * The first world Empire was in Iraq--Daniel 1:1-2 &2:36-38 * The greatest revival in history was in a city in Iraq--Jonah 3 * The events of the book of Esther took place in Iraq--Esther * The book of Nahum was a prophecy against a city in Iraq--Nahum * The book or Revelation has prophecies against Babylon, which was the old name for the nation of Iraq--Revelation 17 & 18 No other nation, except Israel, has more history and prophecy associated it than Iraq |
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