It's Kwanzaa Time!!

Happy Kwanzaa!
Today is the first day of Kwanzaa (Umoja / unity). I am spending the day doing quiet, deep contemplation and reflection. I am thinking about the ingredients that make for quality and meaningful interactions with other humans including peace, love, and integrity. Of course, I'm thinking about and channeling good, warm Kwanzaa vibes a very special someone.

Symbols of Kwanzaa: Mkeka (mat), Kinara (candle hlder), Muhindi (ear of corn),
MishumaaSaba (seven candles), Kikombe cha Umoja (unity cup), Zawadi (gifts)

Kwanzaa also builds upon the five fundamental activities of Continental African first-fruits rituals, which are as follows:

Ingathering: A time of ingathering of the people...of family, friends and community...in order to reaffirm the bonds between them.

Reverence: A time of special reverence for the creator and creation in thanks and respect for the blessings, bountifulness and beauty of creation.

Commemoration: A time for commemoration of the past in pursuit of its lessons and in honor of its models of human excellence...the ancestors...all the people and actions that have come before.

Recommitment: A time of recommitment to the highest cultural ideals...both personal and communal...in an ongoing effort to always bring forth the best of African cultural thought and practice.

Celebration: A time for celebration of the good...the good life and of existence itself...the good of family, community and culture...the good of the awesome and the ordinary...in other words, a celebration of the good in all its manifestations on the Earth.

It's Kwanzaa Time anthem: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wGR1963aezY

Talk About Traditions

It's Christmas Day and it's the first that I've spent away from my immediate family. By this time we're usually either making our rounds to the homes of relatives or taking calls from friends and family while we nest on the couch in front of a Christmas movie.

This year, I'm doing the same thing at my aunt and uncle's in San Diego. We've just said our goodbyes to a few visitors who popped in to spend an hour with us before heading off to their next family destination. The fireplace is blazing (even though its 60 degrees outside) and we've got our movie queued up for an afternoon matinee at home. We had pancakes this morning and now the snacks are out and accessible for snacking: various cheeses and crackers, sparkling ales, and of course, copious amounts of little chocolates. Sometimes on big holidays when you're keeping it low key at home, there's always a lull between morning activities (breakfast, talking with family on the phone, and gifting by the tree) and evening activities (a nice family dinner, a movie at the theater, caroling or lights festivals, ice skating or whatever else it is you do.) So, spending the time in close proximity to family has always been our go-to, whatever we do, wherever we are. Together.

Lately, I've been thinking about the value of traditions and how wonderful it is to have a habit unique to you and yours this time of year. For me, I've always looked forward to the holiday because it's a time I get to spend with family doing the things we love to do: eat, laugh, sing, play games, visit with extended family and make things festive. Family traditions are the pinnacle of closeness and I love finding creative ways to get closer together and have fun! This morning, I made the most delightful pancakes you've ever tasted and I think those will be back next year, for sure! I've been reading and exploring other people's traditions and found a few others that I think are really great:

• Making special ornaments for everyone in your family for Christmas and/or Kwanzaa.
• Enjoying a very casual Christmas Eve meal with friends like homemade pizza or chinese food.
• Having people over on Christmas day for a friend and family potluck.
• Agreeing that everyone makes one handmade gift for someone else.
• Reading holiday stories to the kids (big and small) at home.
• Spending time outside in the snow the day after Christmas (or making a trip to it if it's not right outside) for skiing or just to make snow angels, forts, and castles.
• Gifting funny slippers or pajamas.
• A champagne toast on Christmas Eve paired with something savory and sweet.

What are you favorite traditions?

p.s-- I'm looking forward to making them with you, Lasana Kazembe.


Merry Christmas and Happy Kwanzaa!

xo

Miracles

"It is a miracle if you can find true friends, and it is a miracle if you have enough food to eat, and it is a miracle if you get to spend your days and evenings doing whatever it is you like to do, and the holiday season—like all the other seasons—is a good time not only to tell stories of miracles, but to think about the miracles in your own life, and to be grateful for them." —Lemony Snicket, The Lump of Coal

The Person I'm Going To Marry