MONDAY, DECEMBER 7, 1998

Kwanzaa and Hanukkah celebrate heritage

By Carrie Porche-Jones

On-Line Forty-Niner

Ethnic Yule celebrations that return the focus to God and the spiritual meaning of Christmas are celebrated along with the traditional Anglo-Saxon, Christian Christmas.

Kwanzaa, the newest of the ethnic celebrations, was founded in 1966 by Dr. Maulana Ron Karenga, chairman and professor of black studies at Cal State Long Beach.

Based on Nguzo - seven guiding principles - Kwanzaa is a week long celebration from Dec. 26 until Jan. 1 that emphasizes unity and the reaffirmation of African-American people, their culture and the contributions of their ancestors.

Kwanzaa is the Swahili word for "first fruits of harvest." The extra "a" was added to make the word seven letters, one for each of the principles.

The festive spiritual celebration focuses on remembering, reassessing, recommitting, rewarding and rejoicing rather than religion.

The home is adorned with African inspired wall decorations and art. A table covered with handmade cloths of black, red and green holds seven symbols of Kwanzaa: a straw mat filled with an abundance of fruit and vegetables to commemorate the earth's abundance, ears of corn representing children, handmade gifts, a unity cup, a wooden candle holder and seven candles.

The center of the table and the Kwanzaa celebration is the Canary. The wooden candle holder and one black, three red and three green candles symbolize the seven principles of Kwanzaa. Each day a new candle is lit, beginning with the black one in the center that represents unity and the richness of the color of black skin.

The family greet each other with "habere gain?" meaning what is the news. The answer is the principle of the day. Another candle is lit and the principle is discussed by the family members.

The other principles in the order in which they are celebrated are self-determination (red candle), collective work and responsibility (green candle), cooperative economics (red candle), purpose (green candle), creativity (red candle) and faith (green candle).

On the seventh day, the family gathers around the table. The unity cup is filled with water, and a few drops of the water are spilled from the cup in memory of African ancestors and their accomplishments. Everyone takes a sip from the cup and the feast of collard greens and yams begins. After dinner the joyous celebration continues with singing and dancing.

The oldest ethnic celebration Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights, began over 2300 years ago in the land called Judea when the Jewish people defeated Syrian King Antiochus.

The Jews and the Greek people lived together peacefully until the King ordered the Jewish people to reject their God, beliefs and customs and worship the Greek gods. Some of the Jews rebelled and were led by a young man name Judah Maccabee.

He and his four brothers called together the Jews and created an army to fight the Greeks. The fighting lasted three years before they were able to drive the Greeks out of Israel and their temple. They went to work cleaning the Greek symbols and statues out of the temple. The work was finished on the 25 day of the Hebrew month of Kislev.

When the temple was ready for rededication, the Jews searched for oil to light the eternal light, the N'er Tamid, that burns in every Jewish house of worship. The search turned up one small jug of oil, which was just enough to keep the flame lit for one day. The lamp was filled and lit. But the light did not go out after the first day. Instead, it burned for eight days.

The miracle of the oil is celebrated in the Festival of Lights. Hanukkah, which means rededication, commemorates the rededication of the temple. So, actually there are two celebrations in one.

The eight day celebration begins on the 25 day of the Hebrew month of Kislev, but the start date varies yearly on the Western calendar, beginning this year at sunset on Dec. 13.

At the center of the celebration is the menorah or hanukiyah with eight candles, one for each of the eight days that the lamp burned and a ninth called a shamash. This candle is lighted first and then used to light the other candles.

The candles are placed in the menorah from right to left, but are lighted from left to right. One candle is lighted every day and they are not extinguished until after the eight day commemoration ends.

Families entertain at home throughout the eight days. Guests enjoy special foods such as latke and exchange small gifts or money. The menorah is lighted and a prayer is said.