KWANZAA-  This is a non- religious African American holiday. This holiday celebrates culture, community, and family. It is celebrated for one week: December 26- January 1. The word Kwanzaa comes from the phrase "matunda ya kwanza". This means "first fruits" in Swahili. The center of the Kwanzaa setting is called the kinara. This represents the original stalk which we came from. Our ancestry. Kwanzaa was first celebrated from December 26, 1966- January 1, 1967. Kwanzaa is based on the Nguzo Saba. This is also known as the seven guiding principals. Here are those seven guiding principals.

• Umoja (oo-MO-jah)
• Kujichagulia (koo-gee-cha-goo-LEE-yah)
• Ujima (oo-GEE-mah)
• Ujamaa (oo-JAH-mah)
• Nia (NEE-yah)
• Kuumba (koo-OOM-bah)
• Imani (ee-MAH-nee)

PASSOVER

CHRISTMAS-

Christmas was said to have been dated first back to over 4000 years ago. It is a holiday to celebrate the birth of Juses Christ. There are many traditions that people look forward too such as the giving of gifts, Christmas carols, the wonderful food, spending more time with family, midnight mass, and more! Songs, movies, poems, ect. have been made to shows the joy of this season. Most people decorate their homes with brights lights that glow throughout the night. A majority of the people give gifts to their loved ones, friends, relatives, ect. and recive gifts in return. People go cut down, or just buy from a lot, a Christmas tree(usually a pine tree). Once it is Christmas Eve, St. Nicholas(Santa Clause) comes and sets down gifts for the little ones underneath the Chrismtas tree and the children open them  on Christmas morning. Christmas is a wonder time of the year to celebrate with family and friends.

BOXING DAY

The festival is observed by the kindling of the lights of a special candelabrum, the Menorah or Hanukkah, one light on each night of the holiday, progressing to eight on the final night.

This a menorah, a

nine-branched

candelabrum used

on Hanukkah.

VALENTINE'S DAY- This is a holiday celebrated on February 14. In the Americas and Europe, it is the traditional day on which lovers express their love for each other by sending Valentine’s cards, presenting flowers or offering confectionery. The holiday is named after two among the numerous Early Christian martyrs named Valentine. The day became associated with romantic love in the circle of Geoffrey Chaucer in the High Middle Ages, when the tradition of courtly love flourished. The day is most closely associated with the mutual exchange of love notes in the form of "valentines." Modern Valentine symbols include the heart-shaped outline, doves, and the figure of the winged Cupid.