Kwanzaa

[ybrown]

Are you celebrating Kwanzaa? Why or why not?

[Nikkol]

I'm not. I just was looking up some things in reference to Kwanzaa (there are many sites about this).

I remember the first time I really heard about it and it being pushed amongst black people. I saw a kid book in Borders (I think that was the bookstore I was in) and remember reading a lot about their seemingly almost worship of dead ancestors. (this is what is known as libation).

The purpose is to bring black people together which isn't perse a bad thing. However, by some it has been seen as the push for blacks to get together in order to continue to revise the idea of reparations.

Some other things were in regards to the extra "a" that was put on Kwanzaa due to the study of numerology.

Also, this a time to celebrate the "creator and creation" and depending on who you talk to, the "creator" can be many different people. some would say allah, others buddha,etc....

However like I said, there are many sites regarding this.

[jasmine nsi]

nope i didn't celebrate it.

[Melani23]

No - waste of time - fake holiday - nothing really African about it.

[krazeeboi]

Unfortunately, Melani23 has it right. I say "unfortunately" because it really is a contrived "holiday." While it contains positive principles, it's not an authentic holiday.

[keita nsi]

Praise the Lord, Saints!

Just a question...

What determines the difference between a "fake" and an "authentic" holiday?

[lanl ns]

melani23 said:

No - waste of time - fake holiday - nothing really African about it.

LOL Mel, what about all those African names?

[Beulah5]

I did celebrate it.

[ybrown]

As a Christian I don’t celebrate it because it was created by a someone who was hostile to the God that I worship, calling Christianity, the death, burial and resurrection of Christ, all myths. That right there tells me what the founding of Kwanza ISN’T based on.

When you look at it, the guiding principles behind Kwanza is race and culture. These things are actually worshipped, as well as dead ancestors in the libation ceremony. These dead ancestors are said to be spiritual intercessors between us and God. As a Christian, Christ is the only intercessor between us and God. That’s Bible.

Ultimately, I see that Kwanzaa was intended to be an alternative to Christmas so that black folks could celebrate themselves instead of the birth of Christ.

[ATT]

Thany ybrown!!!,

I never celebrated Kwanza, and never gave it much thought, because I didn't know much about it.... Now I know not to celebrate it.

ATT

[ATT]

ATT said:

Thany ybrown!!!,

I never celebrated Kwanza, and never gave it much thought, because I didn't know much about it.... Now I know not to celebrate it.

ATT

I can't correct the above post.... It should have been Thank You, ybrown

[keita nsi]

beulah5 said:

I did celebrate it.

Don't ya just love a good karamu? ;D

Due to a death in my family, I didn't participate this year but I often celebrate Kwanzaa and have for many years. I have never found my celebrating Kwanzaa to be at all in conflict with my life in Christ. But that may be because my understanding of and experiences with Kwanzaa have always been positive and are quite a bit different from the very legitimate perceptions and concerns that ybrown shared.

[Beulah]

Same here Keita.

[MsKayLander]

And don't tell me you don't pour some out for the brothas that ain't here!!! LOL LOL

[keita]