Isn't Kwanza a holiday fabricated in the 60s? If so, why wasn't an older celebration used instead?
148051
Sadly, there is no equivilant that is older.  Anyway, traditions have to start somewhere.  And Christmas was started to distract people from Winter Solstice Celebrations.\n\nPatty "Fabricated in the 60's, too" Surrey
980585
What does being a "person of color" have to do with celebrating or not celebrating this holiday?  The offical celebration of Thanksgiving was not established until the time of President Lincoln.  It is a national holiday when people can take time out before the real hussle and bussle of the Christmas season to get together with family and friends and set a little special time aside to give thanks to whatever Diety they believe in.  There is no harm in having a special day of thanks.  Certainly, you should be grateful for the things of this world constantly, but there is no reason why you can't have a special day.  I agree that many things happened in the past that we of European descent have no cause to be proud of...however, I am, as a 21st century American, grateful for the fact that I live in this country and not another.  I am grateful for a government that sets aside a special day for thanks and that allows me the right to thank whatever Diety I wish in whatever way I wish.  No matter your ethnic/racial origins, you should be thankful for the way things are NOW and not dwell on the past.  A Mandan chief once said  something along the lines of not dwelling on things that cannot be changed (things in the past) and living toward changing those things that can (the future).  So, have a happy day of thanks.
866204
In the way longa ago it was considered celtic or even satanic.  Today it is just a time for children of all ages to dress up and have some fun.  Others participate in giving candy to children that come to the door in a costume.  I personally love to see the children all dressed up and smiling. In Mexico and maybe some other spanish countries They refer to it as the Day of the Dead. They believe the spirits are more apt to walk the earth and they even leave food out for them and light candles.\n\nI hope that helps you understand more
868399
It was set up as alternative to the traditional Christmas celebrating.  What was the motive? \n\nIf it was to enhance the characterics that it stresses and teaches; all in good.   Why can't these behaviours be based on everyday teaching of kids, not just during Kawanza?\n\nIf it was set up to prove to the "white man" then that was not a good reason, either.
174846
when i searched this word i just found that it could be a mistaken form of kwanzaa, when african americans come together to celebrate thier heritage and ancestors.The dude that started it came from west africa
889986
We aren't celebrating the killing of Native Americans!!  This is a day that we set aside to give "thanks" based loosely on what happened at the "first" Thanksgiving.  It is not actually about celebrating what happened 400 years ago, but its about remembering to give "thanks" for what you have now.  And as an American Indian, I think its just a tad bit racist to want to give to Native American charities just on Thanksgiving, which By the way, I never knew we had our own socio-economic problems, must be something knew...God, I love some of you white people with your guilt.  I'm just playing, you're hearts in the right place
480762
Excellent question!  Especially since my father is a used car salesman.  haha.\n\nAnyways, I know that certain people will not celebrate things like Christmas and Easter because they are not in the Bible, and the reason for this I believe is two-fold.  First of all, the Bible actually prescribes a very specific list of holidays that it requires.  These are the Jewish holidays, such as Passover, Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, and Shavuot, among some others.  Within this law it is stated that no one may add nor take away from the Law.\n\nTherefore, a strict interpretation might seem to indicate that these holidays, AND ONLY THESE HOLIDAYS should be celebrated, at least as RELIGIOUS holidays.\n\nHowever, Jews do celebrate some other holidays besides these because they are believed to be "within the spirit" of the Law.  For example, the Bible teaches that one should rejoice in the great things that God does in history.  So, Hanukkah celebrates a miracle that God performed for the Jewish people, and is considered to be acceptable to celebrate.  But it never is given the high status of the holidays which the Bible specifically describes.\n\nOn the part of Christians, I think it is noteworthy that Jesus seemed to accept the holiday of Hanukkah, even though it was post-Old Testament.  His disciples celebrated it, and Jesus told them to do so.  \n\nMost Christians however do not make this connection though I think, because they are not familiar with Jewish custom, and do not realize that Jesus was referring to Hanukkah when he mentions it.  (I'll get you a verse if you'd like, just ask and I can look it up).\n\nSo some Christians think that no holiday should be celebrated if it is not in the Law.  Christmas and Easter and Birthdays are not mentioned therein.\n\nOthers would say that birthdays are ok because they are not religious.\n\nOthers would say that Christmas and Easter are not permissible because they derive from non-Christian holidays that they believe embraced ideas contrary to their faith.\n\nThere are many things which have become custom and the people tend to assume it is biblical, when really, it is not necessarily.  Even the idea of getting married in a church or place of worship is not mentioned, and yet many would say firmly that a marriage done in a courthouse is not a marriage "in the eyes of God."\n\nI don't know why they would hold this view except that they must be ignorant of what is in their scriptures and what is not.
542257
In 1647, the English parliament under Oliver Cromwell made Christmas celebration illegal (considering feasting and celebration on a holy day to be immoral).   That law was repealed.\n\nThe Holy Days and Fasting Days Act of 1551, which among other things forbade the use of any kind of transportation on Christmas, has never been repealed.
996385
Kwanza is a made up holiday to keep 1 race happy and is not supported by African nations
417857
maybe the tradition...
47558
Most say Bowie did this in 1966, though one or two people insist it was 1965. An exact date, with month and day? EXTREMELY difficult and I just couldn't find it. :-)
323819
Okay . . . Okay . . . the questioner is correct . . . \n\nChristmas is originally a pagan holiday . . . a week long festival . . . actually 12 days long . . . reminds you of a song.\n\nThis holiday was adopted to convert pagans into Christianity . . . and they accepted it hook, line, and sinker.\n\nThe majority of the holidays celebrated by Christian have pagan origins . . . but back to Christmas . . . \n\nSome of you said you celebrate this day in remembrance of the birth of Christ.  Did Christ ask his followers to remember his birth?  No he did not . . . instead he commanded his followers to commemorate the last supper in his remembrance . . . . Not do perform it daily or weekly . . . but annually like the early christians did . . . prior to 325 AD.
97451
Dancing has been around as long as people have. It is one of many forms of communication, and appears to have no particular "birthdate". Ancient peoples danced to bring rain, worship gods, and court eachother.
379247
Kwanzaa or Kwanza is a seven-day festival in celebration of the African heritage of African Americans, beginning on Dec. 26. Developed by Maulana Karenga and first observed in 1966, Kwanzaa is based in part on traditional African harvest festivals but particularly emphasizes the role of the family and community in African-American culture. Each day is dedicated to a particular principle (unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity, and faith), and on each day one of the candles on a seven-branched candelabrum is lighted. The celebration also includes the giving of gifts and a karamu, or African feast.
915523
No it is not.\n\nToday is a Federal Holiday to celebrate our brave heros.
838201
What's wrong with you? Thanksgiving is a commemoration of the first successful harvest of the Mayflower Pilgrims in New England. If you knew anything at all, you would know that they travelled to the New World to escape religious intolerance in England. But still you ask how we celebrate Thanksgiving here in the UK. The USA and UK may have the same language, but that does not mean that they will necessarily have the same traditions.\n\nThe nearest thing we have to the USA's Thanksgiving is Harvest Festival celebrated in churches, and usually in September. See this website for more details: http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/customs/Harvest.html\n\nHalloween was hardly celebrated in the UK before the 1980s. There were some kids' parties, with children dressed as witches, and apple bobbing. Swedes (Swedish turnips) were used for making lantern faces illuminated by a candle. Some older kids would remove garden gates from their hinges, and hide them - all trick and no treat. And that was about it.\n\nThe reason for that is that the UK has a more established celebration on November 5th - Guy Fawkes Night (aka Bonfire Night or Fireworks Night). See this website for further information: http://www.bonefire.org/guy/ . Furthermore children used to collect money in the street - see the "Penny for the guy" tradition as outlined in this webpage:  http://homepages.tesco.net/~derek.berger/holidays/guyfawkes.html\n\nHowever things changed in the 1980s following the release of the films E.T. and Halloween. As a result of the 1982 film, E.T., (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0083866/) more children began dressing up in spooky costumes and knocking on doors for sweets. A consequence of the 1978 film, Halloween (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0077651/), was that a public demand for pumpkins was created, and they are now used for making lantern faces. Adults also have costumed Halloween parties. Nowadays Halloween here is no different from the USA.\n\nI hope this answers your query.
9700
A carol was originally any song associated with any feast day which was also intended to be danced to.  Think of it as the medieval version of club music.