Christmas Around the World - Africa

"Sikukuu ya Kuzaliwa Kristo"
(See-koo-koo Yah Koo-zah-lee-wah Kree-stow) from Africa!

People in Africa who celebrate Christmas enjoy singing Christmas carols.
"Silent Night" is popular.

Many like to make special homemade gifts for Jesus like a dish, necklace,
or crown.

Kwanzaa is an African-American holiday. It is not a religious holiday and
is not a substitute for Christmas. Not all African-Americans celebrate
Kwanzaa. Not everyone in Africa celebrates Kwanzaa.

Kwanzaa is a winter holiday that promotes love, family, and togetherness.
Kwanzaa begins on December 26 and ends on January 1 each year. That's
seven days. Each day, they celebrate a different theme or principle. 
Believing in others and yourself, being creative, being responsible, and
faith are a few of the principles that are celebrated during Kwanzaa.

Each night, someone asks, "Habari gani?" (hah-BAH-ree GAH-nee) to
introduce one of the principles. That means, "What's new?"

The bendera (behn-DEH-rah) is the African flag.

The colors of Kwanzaa are red, green, and black.

The kinara (kee-nah-rah) is the special candle holder used.
There are seven candles.
The one in the middle is black. It represents the color of the people.
Three candles on the left are red. They represent the struggles.
Three candles on the right are green. They represent the future.

Each of us made an mkeka (M kay kuh) or (mmm-kee-kah).
It is a placemat used during Kwanzaa. Sometimes they put the kinara
or other important symbols of the holiday on it.

Miss Fulghum let us color a picture of a kinara. We had to show her that
we knew what the colors of the candles should be. She also brought a real
kinara to class, so we would know what one looks like.

As a Kwanzaa treat, Miss Fulghum made Mississippi Mud Pie. Some of us
thought she meant real mud, but we soon found out that it was really
chocolate pudding.

"Kwanzaa yenu iwe na heri!" (KWAHN-zah YEH-noo EE-weh nah HEH-ree)
That means, "May your Kwanzaa be happy!"