Friday, December 23, 2022

December 25 is Christmas. Christmas is a Christian festival celebrating the birth of Jesus. In most European countries, gifts are exchanged on Christmas Eve, December 24, in keeping with the notion that the baby Jesus was born on the night of the 24th. The morning of December 25, however, has become the time for the exchange of gifts in North America. Since the early 20th century, Christmas has also been a secular family holiday, observed by Christians and non-Christians alike and marked by an increasingly elaborate exchange of gifts. In this Christmas celebration, Santa Claus plays the pivotal role.

December 26 – January 1 is Kwanzaa. Kwanzaa is an African-American holiday started in 1966 to celebrate universal African-American heritage. It affirms African family and social values and is celebrated primarily in the United States from December 26 to January 1. The concept of Kwanzaa draws on Southern African first-fruits celebrations. Each of the days of the celebration is dedicated to one of the seven principles of Kwanzaa and there are also seven symbols of the holiday. Gifts such as a communal cup signifying unity; and seven candles in the African colors of red, green, and black, symbolize the seven principles. On each day the family comes together to light one of the candles in the kinara, or candleholder, and to discuss the principle for the day. On December 31, families join in a community feast. Some participants wear traditional African clothing during the celebration.

Wishing all the Stony Brook families a happy and healthy holiday season!