Happy Kwanzaa!

A very happy Kwanzaa to those of you celebrating it today. Kwanzaa is not part of our family’s tradition, but I love how it shows that we can honor our heritage in new ways, with traditions rooted in the past but developed in the present. (Kwanzaa was founded in 1966, which to me counts as present in terms of major holidays.) I like the way it draws from multiple African cultures regardless of religious faith and celebrates the diversity within a common identity. Lots of lessons there for all people.

Having said that it is not a part of my own family tradition, I should add: Last night at dinner, we were talking about various holidays. Helen’s side of the family is white and Protestant, and mine is Eastern European Jewish, though not observant. I’m a practicing atheist who spent my grad school years studying the medieval Catholic worldview. Our son, raised in our “We celebrate everything!” tradition, at one point proclaimed, “Let’s celebrate Kwanzaa!” and proceeded to demonstrate that he knew quite a lot about it, including its purpose and the meaning of the colors on the Kwanzaa candles. Let’s hear it for our modern, multi-cultural public education system. He was quite adamant that he wanted to observe it because he likes the idea of a harvest festival and celebrating people of all skin colors.

I can’t argue with that, although I am also aware of the dangers associated with cultural appropriation. Still, I see nothing wrong with simply talking about each of the Seven Principles of Kwanzaa during the course of the week. We’ll use it as an opportunity for raising our cultural awareness as well as discussing some of the commonalities across all our observances. Gotta go look up some kid-friendly poems or other short readings that might apply. (Suggestions welcome.)

Whatever holiday or holidays you observe, may you rejoice in your family’s heritage and your own unique interpretation of it.