Posted on 12/31/2001 10:00:08 AM PST by Valin
Seven candles symbolize seven principles. That's one fact every family participating in the Kwanzaa celebration at the Minnesota History Center could agree on.
But whether the seven-day celebration should replace Christmas or augment it is up for debate.
"Kwanzaa" is derived from Swahili for "first fruits." Beginning Dec. 26, each day celebrates a particular value: unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity and faith. Sunday was the fifth day, which means it celebrated purpose.
The celebration of the African-American culture and values that dates back to 1966 is a relatively young holiday and its identity still is being shaped.
On Sunday, families joined in the arts and crafts table, making "purpose" necklaces out of crescent-shaped cardboard, feathers and shells. On a floor above, children from the Walker West Music Academy in St. Paul pounded djembe drums.
Angela Earl hopes her 4-year-old son will be better informed about Kwanzaa than she was.
Growing up, Earl celebrated Kwanzaa only once, when she was 5.
"We were attending a dinner with my aunt, and they passed the cup around for each of us to drink," Earl said. "When the cup got to me, I wiped the rim of the cup and all I know is that based on the way everyone looked at me, it was embarrassing."
Wine is passed in a goblet known as the Unity cup. The act of sharing the cup of wine represents community and family.
"Maybe he won't wipe off the rim from the Kwanzaa cup," Earl said, whose family has replaced Christmas with Kwanzaa.
Others said they celebrated Kwanzaa in addition to Christmas.
"To abandon Christmas for Kwanzaa is making more of a political statement than it is about a religious or spiritual renewal," said Bruce King, who with his 8-year-old daughter made necklaces. "It's like celebrating the Fourth of July, which recognizes nationalism. Celebrating the African-American heritage is not really a religious holiday. I'm comfortable celebrating Christmas and the next day celebrating Kwanzaa."
The festivities ended in an auditorium where most of the 350 seats were filled with people singing and clapping along to Fred Steele's performance.
Steele, 47, said he became aware of Kwanzaa, which ends Tuesday, during his early college years.
"It wasn't something we celebrated," Steele said. "Now, in the last decade, families talk about the principles and what they mean. But in my family, we don't go as far as lighting the candles."
Jasmine Kripalani can be reached at jkripalani@pioneer press.com or (651) 228-5061.
© 2001 PioneerPlanet / St. Paul (Minnesota) Pioneer Press / TwinCities.com- All Rights Reserved copyright information
Kwanzaa is a pagan, racist, charade founded by a man in 1966 who tortured 2 women.
If idiocy draws some unfortunates to it, that is their problem.
But it doesn't celebrate the heritage of most African-Americans in this country who did not come from W.Africa (Swahili), and had no knowledge of corn (used in the celebration). There are just too many things about Kwanzaa that don't make sense if it were to truly reflect "African-American heritage."
Valentines day, Mothers Day, Secretary's Day, Grandparents Day, Earth Day . . . I could go on.
It has nothing to do with religion, so why all the fear? Is Mother's day a Pagen holiday?
Kwaanza was created to fuel racial separatism, and is therefore far more insidious.
I suppose the fourth of July is pagan as well?
collective work and responsibility
cooperative economics
And here, in a nutshell, we have the cultural and ideological germ of a great deal of the poverty and degradation in today's America.
I've been wondering for a while now just what this is. IMO about 80% of it is negative, slavery, poverty, second-class citizenship, Really something to celebrate.
If this isn't the best perspective I've read to date.
It has nothing to do with religion, so why all the fear?
If you don’t want answers to questions, don’t ask them, genius.
What lesson should I learn from this?
You nailed it, that is why they are so desperate to celebrate the 20% that is not negative. I see no problem with that. It has not caught on in a big way, nor would I expect it to. I do not understand people's hatred of it though.
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