holiday

It is hard to pass up a First Night celebration. This event is geared towards family and community on the last night of the year.

When people think of Thanksgiving, most remember the story of the Pilgrims and the Indians at Plymouth Rock. The Pilgrims first arrived in America on December 11, 1620, not prepared for the winter they were to face. Out of the 102 who arrived on the Mayflower, forty-six of the people died during the first few months. Despite the devastation, they had a good harvest, partly in thanks to the Indians who lived nearby.

Ancient cultures had mid-winter celebrations that tied in with the solstice and with fertility rites. These usually included a feast because they would slaughter some of their cattle.

The sixties was a turbulent time, especially for African Americans. As a way of preserving African American culture, Dr. Maulana Karenga created a cultural holiday from December 26 through January 1. In 1966 Kwanzaa was born out of a need for all African Americans, regardless of their religious beliefs, to come together and celebrate family, tradition and community.

According to Dr. Karenga, the 7 Kwanzaa Principles were designed to solidify the values of African culture. These principles are based on family, culture and community among all African Americans regardless of their religious affiliations.

Since Kwanzaa gifts are mainly given to children, here are some gift ideas for the holiday.

Food is an important part of any celebration and Christmas is not an exception. That is why we have put together some ideas for that Christmas entertaining.

Be sure to have everything you need for your Christmas cooking at hand. Stocking your pantry for Christmas cooking and gathering all tools is easy. Just check the list below.