Anyone actually celebrate Kwanzaa?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

And to answer OP, yes, someone actually celebrates Kwanzaa. There are all sorts of different people out there in the world doing and celebrating things that are not familiar with the majority. If you are genuinely interested in Kwanzaa, then this is probably a good place to start. http://www.officialkwanzaawebsite.org/index.shtml

Yes, but I think the OP was asking if anyone on the board celebrates it -- and how they celebrate it. I wonder this too. They celebrate it at my daughter's daycare, but I'd love to hear from a family that celebrates it. (And no, checking wikipedia is not the same thing as hearing from an individual in this case.)

[Anonymous]

I celebrated it as a teenager with my friends, but never with my family. I do not celebrate it as an adult and have no plans to start doing so. I have one friend that celebrates it. I am African-American. I have never heard of non-African-Americans celebrating it, but then again, it is not a common topic of discussion. I don't think anyone would be offended by being asked if they celebrate Kwanzaa.

[Anonymous]

Kwanzaa probably gets the most recognition in schools, but I do know families who celebrate it. Like other holidays, it is a time for gathering folks and reflecting on how we human beings chose to live our lives. Developing family traditions with your kids can be a really nice thing. (Wish my family did more of that.) I'm not AA, so I'd feel presumptuous adopting the holiday in my own home, but I'd be happy to share the celebration with others, or at my DC's school. It is about values, living thoughtfully, recognizing history while looking forward,and taking care of others.

[Anonymous]

Kwanzaa always reminds me of the "Everybody Hates Chris" show when the father decides to celebrate Kwanzaa because it is cheaper. The kids get a can of beans and the mother wears the native garb and gives out cans of food for Kwanzaa. It doesn't go over wel with Rochelle and kids at all and finally, the father gives in.

[Anonymous]

On one episode of her Food Network show, Sandra Lee made a Kwanzaa cake by filling the hole in a bundt cake with corn nuts and apple pie filling, icing it with premade chocolate frosting, and decorating it with seven full sized taper candles.

Hi-larious!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:On one episode of her Food Network show, Sandra Lee made a Kwanzaa cake by filling the hole in a bundt cake with corn nuts and apple pie filling, icing it with premade chocolate frosting, and decorating it with seven full sized taper candles.

Hi-larious!

That woman is hilarious.

[Anonymous]

I've never met anyone who actually celebrates Kwanzaa. But you would think it's right up there with Ramadan in terms of its mention at EVERY holiday celebration ("We wish you a Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukah, and Happy Kwanzaa"...)

I would think it would be offensive to have this loser holiday thrown to me. At least make your made-up holiday good.

[Anonymous]

We do Festivus--for the rest of us.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:On one episode of her Food Network show, Sandra Lee made a Kwanzaa cake by filling the hole in a bundt cake with corn nuts and apple pie filling, icing it with premade chocolate frosting, and decorating it with seven full sized taper candles.

Hi-larious!

That woman is hilarious.

I always wondered how she was able to get her own show. But if she plays her cards right, she might be the first lady of NY?? She's still with Mo... er, I mean Andrew Cuomo, right?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We do Festivus--for the rest of us.

Inmate seeking kosher meals cites Festivus belief

"A Festivus for the rest of us? A convicted drug dealer in California thinks so. He cited his adherence to the holiday celebrated on a famous episode of "Seinfeld" to get better meals at the Orange County jail.

The Orange County Register reported Monday that Malcolm Alarmo King disliked the salami meals served at the jail, so he used his devotion to Festivus as a reason to get kosher meals reserved for inmates with religious needs."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20101213/ap_on_en_tv/us_odd_inmate_festivus

[Anonymous]

Prisoners and government employees who want to take leave.

[Anonymous]

Kwanzaa was started by Ron Karenga, a member of a black nationalist group. He was sentenced to prison for torturing a female member of the group. The religion celebrates the Seven Principles of Blackness, so it would be really pretty hilarious if a white person were to celebrate it.

[Anonymous]

Hey, there was a big Festivus celebration in Adams Morgan this weekend. You can still write your gripes about people and post them. I stupidly once wished an AA colleague a Happy Kwanzaa, and she death stared me and informed me she was Episcopalian and celebrated Christmas. I now exclusively wish everyone a "happy holiday."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So does anyone actually celebrate Kwanzaa? Is it the only holiday you celebrate or do you celebrate Christmas and/or Hanukkah also?

I admit that I pretty much wrote it off as a rip-off of Hanukkah but then I had to actually read up on it because my child learned about it at school and it does kind of have an appeal to it.

A rip-off of Hanukkah? That is a pretty weird thing to say. It jibes with general ignorance about Hanukkah being an oh-so-important Jewish holiday -- when it's really a minor, very minor Jewish holiday. Non-Jews seem to think it's terribly important just because it falls near Christmas.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Kwanzaa was started by Ron Karenga, a member of a black nationalist group. He was sentenced to prison for torturing a female member of the group. The religion celebrates the Seven Principles of Blackness, so it would be really pretty hilarious if a white person were to celebrate it.

The Seven Principles of Blackness???!!! I'm black, and I've never heard of such a thing. You sound really stupid. You got off to a good start by knowing who created Kwanzaa, but you still need to find out what it really is ... here's a hint - it's not a religion.