HAPPY KWANZAA

Kwanzaa is an African American and Pan-African holiday which celebrates family, community and culture. Celebrated from 26 December thru 1 January, its origins are in the first harvest celebrations of Africa from which it takes its name. The name Kwanzaa is derived from the phrase "matunda ya kwanza" which means "first fruits" in Swahili, a Pan-African language which is the most widely spoken African language.


Kwanzaa has seven basic symbols and two supplemental ones. Each represents values and concepts reflective of African culture and contributive to community building and reinforcement. The basic symbols in Swahili and then in English are:


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 two supplemental symbols are:


Bendera (The Flag)
The colors of the Kwanzaa flag are the colors of the Organization Us, 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.


Nguzo Saba Poster (Poster of The Seven Principles)

CELEBRATING CHRISTMAS

Attending lots of parties during this seaon is always fun but, let's not forget "the reason for the season" .

Christmas is both a sacred religious holiday and a worldwide cultural and commercial phenomenon. For two millennia, people around the world have been observing it with traditions and practices that are both religious and secular in nature. Christians celebrate Christmas Day as the anniversary of the birth of Jesus of Nazareth, a spiritual leader whose teachings form the basis of their religion. Popular customs include exchanging gifts, decorating Christmas trees, attending church, sharing meals with family and friends and, of course, waiting for Santa Claus to arrive. December 25–Christmas Day–has been a federal holiday in the United States since 1870.


HERE ARE SOME TRENDY PLACE SETTINGS THAT WILL GIVE YOUR TABLE THAT FESTIVE HOLIDAY SPARKLE..

and as for the food YUM YUM!!!!

LET THE PARTY BEGIN

No plans for New Year’s Eve? The Washington, DC area has lots of New Year's Eve celebrations. Here are some suggestions of ways to ring in the New Year in Washington, DC, Maryland or Virginia. Many events require reservations, so be sure to call ahead and check on specific schedules.

•Take a cruise along the Potomac River on the Odyssey or the Spirit of Washington. Enjoy an unforgettable New Year's Eve with an evening of dining and dancing while taking in skyline views of the nation’s capital.



•Take the whole family to a First Night event in Maryland or Virginia. Celebrate the New Year while enjoying local music and entertainment.



•Party the night away at a hotel New Year’s Eve Gala. These are some the region's liveliest parties, many with open bar and a wide variety of music and entertainment.



•Looking for a quiet, romantic New Year's Eve? Enjoy a nice meal at one of the Washington, DC area's top restaurants. Many of these restaurants offer special menus and entertainment. Most require advance reservations.



•Enjoy live music - attend a concert such as A Jazz New Year's Eve at the Kennedy Center or Drive-By Truckers, an alternative country rock band, at the 9:30 Club. See the schedule for a variety of musical performances. Advanced tickets are required.

THE FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS

Hanukkah the Jewish Festival of Lights, is celebrated Dec. 20-28, 2011. On the Jewish calendar, the Hebrew dates for Hanukkah are from sundown on the 25th of Kislev to sundown on the 2nd of Tevet in the year 5772.


The Festival of Lights, an eight-day celebration, marks the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem in the second century B.C.E. during the Maccabean revolt against oppressive Greek rulers. It is one of the most widely observed Jewish holidays -- perhaps due to its proximity to Christmas on the Gregorian calendar -- and is celebrated by lighting a nine-branch candelabrum commonly called a menorah. (Technically, the candelabrum is called a hanukkiah to distinguish itself from the seven-branch menorah used in the Temple.)

Today, Jews everywhere light menorahs on each night of Hanukkah. Traditionally, one candle or flame is lit for each night until the eighth night, when all eight lights shine together. The menorah has a ninth "helper" flame -- known as the shamash -- used to light the other candles. This is necessary because in Jewish law the Hanukkah lights serve no other purpose than declaring the miracle of the holiday. Jews place the lit menorah in a prominent window in order to fulfill this commandment.




Gift giving is now a common practice on Hanukkah, and it is therefore a beloved time for Jewish children. Fried potato pancakes (latkes) and doughnuts (sufganiyot) are traditional fare, and a spinning top (dreidel) with four Hebrew letters has become synonymous with the holiday. The letters -- nun, gimel, hei, shin -- form an acronym for the message of Hanukkah: A great miracle happened

YES, THERE ARE MORE CHOICES TO MAKE WHEN IT COMES TO DRESSES

 Picking the right neckline is key to your overall look. Remember that lots of necklines can have multiple names so be sure to ask before you pick one out. Also, this is a part of the dress that often gets a lot of alterations, so be prepared with the right under garments when trying them on.

HAPPY HUNTING