Kwanzaa

Alright, Kwanzaa! What is it? Most people mention it when they are wishing their ethnic friends and acquaintances a Happy Holiday. “Merry Christmas,” they say. “Oops, sorry Kwanzaa?” I myself do not know what this mysterious holiday is. However, I do know how people view Kwanzaa. This cryptic holiday is believed to be celebrated in some rural parts of Africa by people in traditional patterned African clothing and with candles that are suspiciously similar to the candles used for Hanukkah. It is ten days long, long  enough for high school student volunteers  to donate canned-foods for the poor African children during their winter break. Also, Kwanzaa is in December, but that doesn’t make any sense because there is no snow in Africa. How do they get in the Kwanza spirit? Do they have sandball fights and maybe, in a gesture of good-will, share their one cup of water to a friend? I bet however they celebrate it, it is a holiday Africans hold dear to their hearts, and unknown to the the hearts of pretty much everyone else.