During the month of December, we celebrate more important occasions besides the simple gift giving of Christmas. Christians celebrate the birth of Christ on December 25; Jewish people celebrate Hanukkah, which begins at sundown on December 13; and, African Americans celebrate Kwanzaa on December 26.

Hanukkah

Hanukkah is the eight-day holiday that marks the victory of the Jews, led by the Maccabees, against Greek persecution and religious suppression. If you would like to take online classes on Hanukkah, or any of the other Jewish holidays, visit Project Genesis' YomTov Classes. You'll learn the philosophy behind the holiday, the historical background, customs and practices, and relevant laws. The site says that while a background in the basic principals of Jewish law is helpful, it isn't necessary.

At the Hanukkah section of JewishHolidays.com, you'll discover new traditions for celebrating old holidays, Hanukkah recipes, how to make your own Menorah, and "Eight Cool Things about Hanukkah."

For more Hanukkah recipes, visit the Cyber Kitchen.

Christ's Birthday

A Search for the Meaning of Christmas is an impressive site that offers link after link in categories such as religious traditions, meditations, and advent calendars. Listen to religious music as you surf through the site, learning about different religious traditions that you can adopt for your family or church, such as decorating a Jesse tree.

At A Religious Christmas and Advent, you can find the true meaning of Christmas through reading the scripture, listening to music, viewing art masterpieces, or learning about the season of advent, which begins with the fourth Sunday before Christmas. Click on Drama for complete scripts of Christmas plays.

For Christmas recipes from around the world, visit Santa's Favourites: Food and Recipes.

Kwanzaa

The holiday of Kwanzaa begins on December 26 and lasts until January 1. Kwanzaa is an African American celebration that focuses on the traditional African values of family, community responsibility, commerce, and self-improvement. The Official Kwanzaa Web Site offers articles about the holiday, such as the seven principles, colors and decorations, the celebration, and meditation.

The Kwanzaa Information Center offers a comprehensive guide on the meaning of Kwanzaa, an online shop, and a Kwanzaa activities' calendar. Kwanzaa was formulated and initiated by Dr. Maulana Ron Karenga on December 26, 1966. The site offers a look into the symbols of Kwanzaa, origin of the flag, books for children, and much more.

For Kwanzaa food ideas, visit Kwanzaa Recipes.

Robin Nobles is a freelance writer who can be reached at robinnobles@robinsnest.com.

Back to Main Articles Page