Maulana Karenga created Kwanzaa in 1966 as the first specifically African-American holiday. He chose Swahili words to represent values such as unity, self-determination and creativity, with each day of the seven-day festival honoring one of the values.
If you were to create a holiday which honored seven values, what would they be?
“Each night a child is born is a holy night—
A time for singing,
A time for wondering,
A time for worshipping.”
—Sophia Lyon Fahs
On this day when Christians celebrate the birth of the baby Jesus, what other child or children do you celebrate as well?
It’s one of the great mysteries of life. How does Santa manage to get all the way around the world in one night? How does he get inside all those houses, even the ones that don’t have chimneys? But then, how does joy manage to creep into the hearts of people all over the world, even those whose lives are filled with hardship?
How will joy find its way into your home today?
Fans of the TV show Seinfeld may remember the Costanza holiday of Festivus, which features a plain aluminum pole instead of a tree, and includes the “Airing of Grievances” and “Feats of Strength.” For some of us the relentless cheerfulness of holiday season can feel like a burden, and getting through all that is expected of us can feel like it requires superhuman Feats of Strength.
Go ahead. Just right here, right now, feel free to air your grievances with us.
The angels in the Nativity story who call out to the shepherds are beings of glory from on high who must tell the shepherds to “Be not afraid.” But our day to day world is full of much less impressive angels, ordinary people or animals or places who somehow manage to be messengers of the divine, who through their words or actions or simply by their presence bring us “tidings of great joy,” even if the message is as simple as the fact that our coffee is ready.
Who appears as an angel to you, bringing a message of joy?
