Happy Kwanzaa

"Kwanzaa was created to introduce and reinforce seven basic values of African culture which contribute to building and reinforcing family, community and culture among African American people as well as Africans throughout the world African community. These values are called the Nguzo Saba which in Swahili means the Seven Principles. The Nguzo Saba stand at the heart of the origin and meaning of Kwanzaa, for it is these values which are not only the building blocks for community but also serve to reinforce and enhance them."   - Dr. Maulana Karenga (Founder and Creator)

Kwanzaa is a week-long celebration observed from December 26 to January 1 each year.
 
Edible Art: Seven Basic Principles of Kwanzaa.
The colors of the Kwanzaa flag are black, red and green; black for the people, red for their struggle, and green for the future and hope that comes from their struggle. It is based on the colors given by the Hon. Marcus Garvey as national colors for African people throughout the world.
 
The Kwanzaa art includes the following foods: apples, raspberries, strawberries, black beans, prunes, black berries, black rice, green bell peppers, broccoli, spinach, grapes, and string  beans.

             

Kwanzaa has seven basic symbols. Each represents values and concepts reflective of African culture and contributive to community building and reinforcement. The following are the basic symbols:

Mazao (The Crops) These are symbolic of African harvest celebrations and of the rewards of productive and collective labor. 

Mkeka (The Mat) This is symbolic of our tradition and history and therefore, the foundation on which we build. 

Kinara (The Candle Holder) This is symbolic of our roots, our parent people -- continental Africans.

Muhindi (The Corn) This is symbolic of our children and our future which they embody.

Mishumaa Saba (The Seven Candles) These are symbolic of the Nguzo Saba, the Seven Principles, the matrix and minimum set of values which African people are urged to live by in order to rescue and reconstruct their lives in their own image and according to their own needs.

Kikombe cha Umoja (The Unity Cup) This is symbolic of the foundational principle and practice of unity which makes all else possible.

Zawadi (The Gifts) These are symbolic of the labor and love of parents and the commitments made and kept by the children. 

The following videos share the history and traditions of Kwanzaa. The first video was created by Sesame Street and the story of Kwanzaa is told through a young  boy; the second video is a Happy Kwanzaa song by Teddy Pendergrass; and the third video is a trailer from "The Black Candle", narrated by Maya Angelou.

Sesame Street: Kwanzaa

 

Happy Kwanzaa 

Teddy Pendergrass

Kwanzaa, a Celebration.
"The Black Candle" trailer, 

narrated by Maya Angelou.

Wishing the lights of Kwanzaa
brings happiness, warmth and prosperity.

Resources
The Official Kwanzaa Web Site
The Official Kwanzaa Web Site, to make a donation  
 Wikipedia: Kwanzaa 

When you learn something from people, or from a culture,
you accept it as a gift, and it is your lifelong commitment
to preserve it and build on it. 

- Yo-Yo Ma

December 2010 Wellness News

Current  News, Resources and Events in Nutrition, Food, Health, Environment,
Safety and Disability Rights. Encourages awareness and inspires ideas for
Journalists, Educators, Consumers and Health Professionals.

Wellness News

Monthly Events Highlights

World Aids Month

In 1988 the World Health Organization of the UN declared Dec 1 as World AIDS Day, an international day of awareness and education about AIDS. The WHO is the leader in global direction and coordination of AIDS prevention, control, research and education. A program called UN-AIDS was created to bring together the skills and expertise of the World Bank, UNDP, UNESCO, UNICEF, UNFPA and the WHO to strengthen and expand national capacities to respond to the pandemic. Light for Rights events are being held all over the world on World AIDS Day 2010. The events encourage 100 cities to dim the lights on public landmarks to remember the devastating affect AIDS has had, and then to turn the lights back on - to illuminate the fundamental human rights shared by all - but often denied people living with HIV.

National Fruit Cake Month

National Egg Nog Month

National Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention Month.

Every day, 36 people in the United States die, and approximately 700 more are injured, in motor vehicle crashes that involve an alcohol-impaired driver. This December, during National Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention Month, consider what you and your community can do to make injuries and deaths from impaired driving less of a threat.

Safe Toys and Gifts Month

Universal Human Rights Month

December Weekly Observances

1-7 Cookie Cutter Week.
1-8 Recipe Greetings for the Holidays Week

2-9 Chanukah (Hanukkah), sundown 12/1.

Feast of Lights. Festival lasting eight days commemorates victory of Maccabees over Syrians (165 bc) and rededication of Temple of Jerusalem. Begins on December 1st at sundown.

5-11National Handwashing Awareness Week 

Will Sawyer, MD is the creator of the Henry the Hand Foundation and Henry the Hand Champion Handwasher. The goal of the foundation is to improve health by making us more aware of the role our hands play in the spread of disease.

10-17 Human Rights Week. Presidential Proclamation issued since 1958 for the week of December 10–17, except in 1986. See also: “Human Rights Day” (Dec 10) and “Bill of Rights Day” (Dec 15).

19-25 Gluten free Baking Week

25-31 It's About Time Week

26-1/1 Kwanzaa

December Daily Observances

1 Special Kids Day

A day to honor children who are developmentally delayed or physically challenged with a community-wide party. Established in 1990, this event builds on UN Resolution #47/3, which sets aside a day to promote integrating the disabled into society. This free, all-volunteer party features a family photo session with Santa, food and gifts for all special-needs children and their siblings.

2 Special Education Day
Celebrate the anniversary of the first US special education law—Dec 2, 1975. A time to reflect and move forward. Where were we when President Ford signed the groundbreaking legislation? Where are we now? And where do we need to be tomorrow? A day to honor progress, dialogue about challenges we face, and consider reforms for the future of educating all children.

3 UN Intl Day of Persons with Disabilities
On Oct 14, 1992 (Res 47/3), at the end of the Decade of Disabled Persons, the General Assembly proclaimed Dec 3 to be an annual observance to promote the continuation of integrating the disabled into general society.

4 Coats and Toys for Kids Day 

5 UN International Volunteer Day for Economic and Social Development

The United Nations (UN) annually observes the International Volunteer Day for Economic and Social Development on December 5. The day, gives volunteers a chance to work together on projects and campaigns promoting their contributions to economic and social development at local, national and international levels.

6 National Gazpacho Day

7 Islamic New Year, sundown on 12/6

10 Human Rights Day; Nobel Prize Day

 

15 Bill of Rights Day

20 UN International Human Solidarity Day
The United Nations' (UN) International Human Solidarity Day is annually held on December 20 to celebrate unity in diversity. It also aims to remind people on the importance of solidarity in working towards eradicating poverty.

21 Winter Solstice; Kiwi Fruit Day (California)  

24 Christmas Eve

25 Christmas

30 National Bicarbonate of Soda Day
31 New Years Eve; Universal Hour of Peace Day