Merry Christmas refers, specifically, to the Christmas holiday, celebrated December 25th. Even religion finds its place under culture, rather than the other way around. Here’s a holiday message courtesy of Madge Stein Woods that explains the differences between Christmas and Chanukah. Kwanzaa, which is celebrated from December 26 through January 1, is an interesting holiday that’s pretty similar to Hanukkah. Hanukkah, Ramadan and Kwanzaa certainly don’t. When Judah was captured by King Antiochus III the Great of Syria, he allowed the people to continue with their customs and religion. The eight days of Hanukkah along with lighting the candles for the eight nights are in order to commemorate this miracle. The terms Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays have become a very controversial subject and are under constant debate. Mattathias, a Jewish priest, and his five sons led a rebellion against the King. Every year before we have our big Christmas Around the World day we teach Christmas, Hanukkah & Kwanzaa first, figuring those are holidays the kids will have experience with in their real lives. This year, Hanukkah begins on December 24 and lasts until January 1, Christmas (like always) falls on December 25, and Kwanzaa begins December 26 and lasts through January 1. This is mainly because the slave trade that first brought Africans to America ripped them out of their cultural setting, and thus prevented tribal traditions from being handed down to future generations. The last major Islamic religious holiday, Ramadan, based on a lunar calendar, ended on August 31. Jack said that people of all religions can celebrate Kwanzaa because it is a holiday that focuses on the maintenance of principles and values. definitely better … Where is the best place to find unity? One day of the festival is dedicated to faith, and another is called a Day of Meditation. “Many people mistakenly believe that Kwanzaa is a religious holiday, but it isn’t at all,” said Jack. This year Christmas Eve will fall on a Monday and Christmas Day on a Tuesday. Turns out, I was completely right. He was a popular saint among the Dutch people who used to help the poor and the needy. We can thank God for our ethnic heritage. The celebration of the Yule log is associated with this tradition. Kwanzaa is celebrated seven days and honors seven principles. This is not the least bit true, it is important not to confuse these holidays in order to not hurt the sentiments of different people. December is about more than just Christmas. Called the Festival of Lights, Hanukkah is an eight-day celebration. ; Christmastide, the Twelve Days of Christmas, the season (traditionally from the 24th of December to the 6th of January) around the holiday. Though it doesn’t always fall in December, Hanukkah is also associated with the December holiday season. Or Hanukkah. However, they only come to their full expression and ultimate perfection in Jesus Christ. The purpose of Hanukkah is to celebrate the re-dedication of the Holy Temple which is actually the Second Temple in Jerusalem after the invasion of Antiochus IV; while Christmas, on the other hand, is to celebrate the day God has given His beloved Son Jesus Christ to the world that whoever believes in Him will have everlasting life according to the Gospel of John. As you saw in our earlier post, there are tons of holidays that are celebrated in December, but arguably the main three are Hanukkah, Christmas, and Kwanzaa. It is a loving, trusting relationship with Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord. However, they could only find one sealed and purified flash, marked with the Seal of the High Priest. Lighting candles, celebrating by showing unity and doing things for one another. Whereas Kwanzaa offers us principles, Christmas gives us a person—the incarnate Son of God. Since the festival is held from December 26 to January 1 it appears to conflict with Christmas, and thus to rival Christianity. Noun (es) Christmas Day, the day it is celebrated, 25 December, an English quarter day. What is our true purpose in life? Hanukkah. Singing special songs, such as Ma'oz Tzur. It is celebrated from 26 December to 1st January and can sometimes be celebrated with Christmas and New Years. Hanukkah is celebrated by Jewish people to commemorate the successful reclamation of the Second Temple. Kwanzaa is Swahili and means `'first fruits.'' Although it is promoted as a festival for the worldwide African community, it is mainly observed here in the United States. But it is primarily a celebration of African culture. It spreads good tidings to those who celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, or any other holiday. Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility): To build and maintain our community together and make our brothers' and sisters' problems our problems, and to solve them together. Nia (Purpose): To make our collective vocation the building and developing of our community in order to restore our people to their traditional greatness. Although, the celebrations now include these things, Christmas is and always been about the birth of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. It starts on the 25th of Kislev, which can fall on anywhere between November and December on the Gregorian (Western) calendar. Posted on December 9, 2010 by Jen. All of the holidays have certain things in common, including unity, celebration and sharing. Permissions: You are permitted and encouraged to reproduce and distribute this material in its entirety Decorations include green evergreen, fake snow, white colors, ornaments, tinsel and mistletoe. LIGHT. Lighting candles each night. Although, Karenga initially established the holiday as an alternate to other religions, he quickly changed it stating that it is not to replace any religion and that people could celebrate Kwanzaa along with Christmas and other religious holidays. hanukkah, kwanzaa & baby Jesus. We can even celebrate it. The author wishes to acknowledge the assistance of Elder Michael Kennedy in thinking through the place of Kwanzaa in African American culture today.]. The major difference includes how each festival is celebrated and the reason the festival is celebrated. Kwanzaa is a secular occasion, not a religious one. He is the author of. Unlike immigrant groups that chose to come to America, Africans did not have a social context that enabled old traditions to survive in the new world. It was founded in 1966. Umoja (Unity): To strive for and to maintain unity in the family, community, nation, and race. Jesus of was born by virgin birth to Mary and her husband, Joseph. Difference Between | Descriptive Analysis and Comparisons, Counterintelligence Investigation vs Criminal Investigation. The overlap between Kwanzaa and Christianity is not surprising. However, since the content of this faith and the object of this meditation are left unspecified, Kwanzaa should not be considered an alternative religion. Christmas, Hanukkah, Yule, Kwanzaa, Diwali (kind of), Boxing Day, and sometimes Ramadan. This way no one feels left out and and you dont have to worry bout what you say every time you meet someone. or in unaltered excerpts, as long as you do not charge a fee. December is about more than just Christmas. Whatever else we may think about Kwanzaa, we should not allow it to distract us from Jesus, whom God sent to be born in the manger, to die on the cross, and to be raised from the dead, so that everyone who trusts in him could be saved. You don’t have to be religious. But what common grace can do is remind us of the good and gracious God who made us all. Kwanzaa is a week-long spiritual festival celebrated among the African Americans celebrated in the United States and in the Western African Diaspora in other nations of the Americas. Though it doesn’t always fall in December, Hanukkah is also associated with the December holiday season. Hope you enjoy as much as I did! © 2021 Tenth Christmas is a popular holiday that is associated with the Christmas tree, Santa Claus, and lots of presents. Who has shown us what it means to work and to take responsibility for others? There is not an Islamic winter holiday tradition. Difference between Christmas, Kwanza and Hannukah Key Difference: Christmas is celebrated to commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ, son of God. And what is true faith? The legend behind Hanukkah goes something like this according to the Book of Maccabees. In the church of Jesus Christ, which unites people from all cultures into one indivisible and everlasting family. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Copyright © 2021, Difference Between | Descriptive Analysis and Comparisons. Kwanzaa and Hanukkah are important holidays that reflect the African American culture and the Jewish culture, respectively. ... Christmas Hanukkah Kwanzaa Baking Candy Snack Host & Hostess Gifts Gift Ideas Holiday Cookies. This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions. Christmas is now associated with Santa Claus as the bringer of presents to children that behave. Kwanzaa, which starts December 26 and ends January 1, is also grouped into the holiday festivities. As a result, Christmas, Hanukkah and many other religious and cultural celebrations fall during the month of December. People from all over the world, including astronomers followed the Star of Bethlehem in order to bring gifts to the newborn. During the last ten years the African cultural celebration known as Kwanzaa has become increasingly prominent in public life. unaltered excerpts (not the content in its entirety) and provide a hyperlink to this page. What are the primary difference between Kwanzaa and the holidays of Christmas and Hanukkah? However, all three festivals include loved ones, joy, laughter and food. The Seven principles are: Hanukkah is a Jewish festival that is celebrated to commemorate the rededication of the Holy Temple (Second Temple) in Jerusalem. The phrases Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays do have some differences. Christmas decorations tend to involve the use of different lights, such as fairy lights on the … Comparison between Christmas, Kwanzaa and Hanukkah: Chanukah or Chanukkah, Festival of Lights, Feast of Dedication, Celebrated by African- Americans of all religious background, Successful reclamation of the Second Temple, 25 December, although this date may change in certain countries, Begins on 25 Kislev according to the Jewish lunar calendar, Church services, gift giving, family and other social gatherings, symbolic decorating. What is the difference between Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa? December 8, 2002. Though, Hanukkah, is not a command of God to commemorate the miracle which the holiday corresponds to, it stemmed from a special miracle from God, which enabled a lamp with so little oil, to stay lit for so much time. H. Culmination. See more ideas about christmas classroom, christmas school, christmas … Since, it took eight days to clean and purify oil, not enough oil was available to sustain the candle for that long. But we have to be careful not to make it the basis for our life in this world. The name Kwanzaa is derived from the Swahili phrase “matunda ya kwanza”, meaning "first fruits of the harvest". It can be dated back to the 2nd century BC and lasts eight nights. Following the cleaning and purifying process of the temple, the people looked for purified olive oil in order to light the tradition Jewish candle, or Menorah. Hanukkah. Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and Ramadan At the end of the year, we all have something to celebrate, and whether you break your fast at Ramadan, light Hanukkah candles, decorate a Christmas tree, or explore your roots at Kwanzaa, the library is the place to be! However, they only come to their full expression and ultimate perfection in Jesus Christ. By opening our imaginations up to the sanctifying influence of the Holy Spirit. 1. Only the saving grace of Christ can do that. This year, Eid al-Adha, the Festival of Sacrifice, falls on November 6. People who celebrate Hanukkah are Jews. This is the difference between Kwanzaa and Christmas. So, people need not belong to a religious background to celebrate this holiday. Many Christians feel uneasy about Kwanzaa. How can we reach our full creative potential? Kwanzaa and Hanukkah, celebrated by African-Americans and Jewish people respectively, are observed during the Christmas season. It is a traditionally Christian sentiment. Playing the dreidel game, and giving Hanukkah gelt, Red and green colors. 2 Your Cookware Christmas? Called the Festival of Lights, Hanukkah is an eight-day celebration. Kwanzaa is a secular occasion, not a religious one. Centuries before the birth of Jesus, the Norse in Scandinavia celebrated Yule or the winter solstice. With the exception of self-determination, these virtues echo important aspects of biblical Christianity. Phil Ryken The festival is presented as a time of reverence for the Creator and the creation. Kwanzaa is celebrated by African American people to show unity and fight against oppression. By 165 BC, their rebellion was successful and Judah and his people liberated the Second Temple. Kwanzaa was created by Maulana Karenga in 1966 and was celebrated in the same year. Each day is dedicated to a principle, along with the lighting of the candle. What are the primary difference between Kwanzaa and the holidays of Christmas and Hanukkah? Join the discussion today. The following books and websites will help make your holiday more complete. Bringer of presents to children that behave specifically, to the Book of Maccabees Descriptive Analysis Comparisons! With it many different holidays that can be dated back to Saint Nicolas, a Jewish,! 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