A look into Kwanzaa and Hanukkah (Chanukah)

This holiday season, more than just Christmas cheer is in the air. Even on our small campus there are students celebrating a multitude of different holidays aside from Christmas. Two of the most common others are Kwanzaa and Hanukkah, but not everyone knows much if anything at all about these holidays.

“Kwanzaa is an African American and Pan-African holiday which celebrates family, community and culture. Celebrated from 26 Decembe thru 1 January, its origins are in the first harvest celebrations of Africa from which it takes its name. The name Kwanzaa is derived from the phrase "matunda ya kwanza" which means "first fruits" in Swahili, a Pan-African language which is the most widely spoken African language,” according the the official Kwanzaa website.

To celebrate, the focus is on the symbols of Kwanzaa: Mazao (The Crops), Mkeka (The Mat), Kinara (The Candle Holder), Muhindi (The Corn), Mishumaa Saba (The Seven Candles), Kikombe cha Umoja (The Unity Cup) and Zawadi (The Gifts).

First, a central place in the home for the Kwanzaa Set, the symbols of Kwanzaa is chosen. A table is then spread with a beautiful piece of African cloth. Then, the mkeka (mat) is placed down and all of the other symbols are placed on it or immediately next to it to symbolize our rootedness in our tradition. Next the Kinara (candle holder) is placed on the mat and the Mishumaa Saba (seven candles) are placed in the kinara (candle holder).

The black candle is lit on the first day of celebrating and then each day from left to right a new candle is lit. More details can be found on the official Kwanzaa website.

“The Hebrew word Chanukah means “dedication,” and is thus named because it celebrates the rededication of the Holy Temple(as you’ll read below). Also spelled Hanukkah (or variations of that spelling), the Hebrew word is actually pronounced with a guttural, “kh” sound, kha-nu-kah, not tcha-new-kah,” according to ChaBad.org.

Also known as the eight day “festival of lights”, this holiday is celebrated with a menorah lighting each night, prayers, food and more. Hanukkah begins on “the eve of Kislev 25” which is the Hebrew month in the place of what we know as December and one of each of the eight candles is lit each night followed by special prayer and fried foods.

"I’ve celebrated it for many years now because I am Jewish and hold the tradition important. During Chanukah we have several traditions including lighting the menorah candles, playing dreidel, eating fried foods like latkes and sufganiyot (a type of jelly filled pastry), and giving charity," student Ariel Berry said.

Berry says that prayers and Torah readings of deliverance come next. "It’s a time to spend together with friends and family. So I’ll go to friends houses for dinner and have family over to my house for dinner and games/songs," they said.

"Interestingly, Chanukah isn’t that big of a holiday in Judaism. It is a small holiday in comparison to the festival of Passover or Sukkot. However it has become well known and popular in the West as a mirror of Christmas. So much so that many now give gifts and decorate their homes with lights and for some even a Chanukah bush," Berry continued.

A miracle involving oil surrounds the holiday, so it only makes sense that the foods be fried in oil. For more information on Hanukkah, click here.