M Is For MERRY Christmas, Happy Hanukkah And Happy Kwanzaa
Most of us are starting to think about Christmas shopping, have already done most of it, or are bracing ourselves for our annual battle against over-commercialism.
I try to give educational gifts as much as possible, but at the same time I try not to go overboard and buy too much. Homemade gifts, such as knit scarves for example, are nice too. Some people suggest giving technology like computer software or hardware in the hopes that it will give kids an advantage in school and life.
Another fun holiday is Hanukkah, the commemoration of the miracle of the lamp (December 5 to 12 this year). It started when a group of ancient Hebrews were hiding from marauding enemies and had enough lamp oil to last one day... but it ended up lasting eight, long enough for them to wait in safety until the enemy had left.
...Ever wonder how to use a dreidel? It's a four-sided spinning top with one Hebrew letter on each side. The symbols are the first letters of the words (roughly translated) A Miracle Happened Here. They also are the first letters of the game directions (also roughly translated): take Nothing, Everything, Half, and Put in.
Players begin with an equal amount of pieces - candies, pennies, nuts or whatever. Each puts one piece in the pot and someone spins the dreidel to see whether he takes all, puts one piece in, etc. When the pot is empty each player puts one more piece into the pot. They continue until someone has won all the pieces.
Then theres Kwanzaa (December 26 to January 1). Modeled after an African harvest festival, Kwanzaa celebrates a different principle each day, these being:
Unity, Self-determination, Collective work and responsibility, Cooperative economics, Purpose, Creativity, and Faith.
If you plan to give a Kwanzaa gift, think enrichment - a book or something that will encourage creativity, such as a musical instrument. Also think about the recipients accomplishments over the past year and look for a gift along those lines.
Happy Holidays!
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12 words of wisdom and smart remarks:
Happy Holidays to you too, Anne.
Cooperative economics sounds like communism to me. Seriously, it does.
On South Park, Cartman had a terribly hilarious musical take on Dreidel, but I won't repeat it because it was also terribly offensive.
Art - thanks! :)
Woozie - considering the politics of the time (1966) when Kwanzaa began gaining popularity, I don't think Cooperative Economics has exactly the same connotation now as it did before. I take it to be a request to "buy black" when possible, not to join a kibbutz. I could be wrong.
South Park is good at being hilariously offensive. So are you sometimes. ;D
Happy holidays, right back at 'cha!
Really nice post. I think it's great that you researched to do this.
Happy holidays to you!
Good information. Good communication so people can learn and distinguish the differences is a path to peace. You are helping put people on it. Thank you.
Peace to All.
Another thought just came to me. Many years ago, I spent Christmas in Hong Kong. It was 1969. I was there on leave from Vietnam.
I met a young woman my own age who spoke English. She worked as a clerk in a tailor shop. I got to know her and we spent time together walking around Victoria Island a Kowloon.
It was Christmas, so we exchanged gifts. It wasn't pre planned, we both just thought we wanted to get the other person a gift.
We had them with us when we met one evening. We sat at a park bench and exchanged. I started to open mine and thought she was doing the same. I received a nice diary. She explained in a note that I would lead an interesting life and that I should write it down.
When I looked over to see if she liked her gift, she hadn't opened it. She said that in her culture, they didn't open gifts in front of the person who gave them.
I was stunned, but she took absolutely no offense. She understood my culture or heritage taught me another way and she accepted it, totally.
She wrote me in the next week after I returned to Vietnam to tell me how much she loved the Mother of Pearl hair combs and barettes. Giving me another gift by hearing from her and receiving kind words.
Thanks for letting me tell that little tale.
Peace to All, again.
Orhan - thanks! :)
Jali - thanks. I've been doing this for years. I mainly celebrate Christmas, but I also acknowledge the other holidays.
Spadoman - sounds like that lady was right, you've had a very interesting life so far, and plenty of stories to tell.
I'm never quite sure whether to open gifts when I get them or wait. I feel a little "on the spot" when people wait and stare expectantly.
I always wondered how the dreidel game worked but not enough to do the research. Thanks for that and the other informtion.
Anabel - I'm just a big ol' nerd. I research things just for fun. Lol. :)
I try to hold off on the christmas "spirit" for as long as possible because when i "fall", i fall hard.
I love X-mas.
But happy holidays to you too ;-)
Kiyotoe - thanks, brother. Merry Christmas to you too. :)
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