December is chock-full of tradition and celebration. Christmas and good ole St. Nick may appear to dominate the season, but the season also embodies two rich cultures: Kwanzaa and Chanuka.Dr. Maulana Karenga founded Kwanzaa in 1966 in Los Angeles because there was no celebration of culture, said Wanda Cousar, executive director of Shivers Academy of Art, Science and Technology.”It (Kwanzaa) has nothing to do with a spiritual celebration, it is a cultural celebration,” Cousar said.”It is a celebration of harvest for people who are descendants of Africans. The purpose is to reflect on what it is that holds our community together, while honoring our ancestors and those who have made contributions.”Kwanzaa is a seven-day festival that begins the day after Christmas.The first night is a celebration of unity signifying the importance of remaining together as a community.The last day is celebrated at home with family … “a time for reflection,” Cousar said.During the festival, celebrants practice the seven principles of Kwanzaa – creativity, cooperative economics, purpose, faith, work and responsibility, unity, and self-determination.”These are the seven principles in which we should guide our lives,” she said.Participants are encouraged to wear African attire. Exchanging handmade gifts is also encouraged “because they come from the heart and are more economical,” Cousar said.The Jewish community will begin celebrating Chanukah on Dec. 25. Chanukah starts on the 25th day of the Jewish month of Kislev, said Rabbi Moshe Liberow of Chabad Labavitch of Colorado Springs.People are often confused with the different spellings of the holiday, he said, but “Chanukah” is the accurate spelling. “Hanukkah” has no meaning in translation from Hebrew, while “Chanukah” in Hebrew means “dedication” and “resting,” he said.The celebration represents the re-dedication and cleansing of the first temple in Jerusalem in 165 B.C after it was destroyed when the Greek-Syrian Empire dominated Israel.The main function of the temple was to light the menorah, which is comparable to a candelabra. Liberow said a small jar of pure olive oil bearing the unbroken seal of the High Priest Yochanan was the only way to light the menorah then. The amount was sufficient to keep the menorah lit for one day, but through a “miracle,” it continued to burn for eight days until new oil was available, Liberow said.”The high priest decreed the eight days of Chanukah should be days of peace and thanking for all time,” he said. “The menorah represents the number of days the miracle lasted. Chanukah symbolizes that every person has the ability to light a flame within themselves.”Menorahs have been placed around the world, including the White House, Liberow said.The largest menorah is 32 ft. tall and located in New York City. Colorado Springs has the largest menorah in southern Colorado at 7 ft. 6 in. tall.Local Chanukah celebrations will include “Chanukah on Ice” at the Chapel Hills Mall skating rink Dec. 28, the Proclamation to Chabad on Dec. 30 and menorah lighting at the Citadel Mall.For more information about local Chanukah events, contact Chabad Labavitch of Colorado Springs, 634-2345, or log on to www.virtualchanukah.org.For more information about local Kwanzaa festivities, call 473-6566.
