This week we learned different things about different holidays during the winter season that a lot of different cultures celebrate! We learned more about Christmas, Kwanzaa, Hanukah, Chinese New Year and Las Posados! We have learned a lot and are growing a lot but I can definitely see that they need this winter break coming up because they are getting antsy! We also got through our first Christmas Concert! :) YAY!
Christmas - is a time when we celebrate Jesus' birth and Mary and Joseph's journey to find a place to stay to give birth to God's son.
Kwanzaa - a harvest festival celebrated from Dec. 26th until Jan. 1st in some African-American communities. This festival is celebrated with a kinara that has seven candles (3 red for the blood shed, 3 green for the land and 1 black for the people). For 7 nights they celebrate and each night has a different principles. The 7 principles of Kwanzaa are: Umoja (oo-MO-jah) Unity, Kujichagulia (koo-gee-cha-goo-LEE-yah) Self-Determination, Ujima (oo-GEE-mah) Collective Work and Responsibility, Ujamaa (oo-JAH-mah) Cooperative economics, Nia (NEE-yah) Purpose, Kuumba (koo-OOM-bah) Creativity, and Imani (ee-MAH-nee) Faith.
Hanukah - Is an eight day festival of light.
Chinese New Year - The Chinese New Year, or Spring Festival as it’s been called since the 20th century, remains the most important social and economic holiday in China. Originally tied to the lunar-solar Chinese calendar, the holiday was a time to honor household and heavenly deities as well as ancestors. It was also a time to bring family together for feasting.
Las Posados - Posadas are an important part of Mexican Christmas celebrations. The word posada means "inn" or "shelter" in Spanish, and this tradition re-enacts Mary and Joseph's search for a place to stay in Bethlehem.
Christmas - is a time when we celebrate Jesus' birth and Mary and Joseph's journey to find a place to stay to give birth to God's son.
Kwanzaa - a harvest festival celebrated from Dec. 26th until Jan. 1st in some African-American communities. This festival is celebrated with a kinara that has seven candles (3 red for the blood shed, 3 green for the land and 1 black for the people). For 7 nights they celebrate and each night has a different principles. The 7 principles of Kwanzaa are: Umoja (oo-MO-jah) Unity, Kujichagulia (koo-gee-cha-goo-LEE-yah) Self-Determination, Ujima (oo-GEE-mah) Collective Work and Responsibility, Ujamaa (oo-JAH-mah) Cooperative economics, Nia (NEE-yah) Purpose, Kuumba (koo-OOM-bah) Creativity, and Imani (ee-MAH-nee) Faith.
Hanukah - Is an eight day festival of light.
Chinese New Year - The Chinese New Year, or Spring Festival as it’s been called since the 20th century, remains the most important social and economic holiday in China. Originally tied to the lunar-solar Chinese calendar, the holiday was a time to honor household and heavenly deities as well as ancestors. It was also a time to bring family together for feasting.
Las Posados - Posadas are an important part of Mexican Christmas celebrations. The word posada means "inn" or "shelter" in Spanish, and this tradition re-enacts Mary and Joseph's search for a place to stay in Bethlehem.