Kwanzaa is a holiday celebrated mostly by African-Americans. It's based on family, community, responsibility, commerce, and self-improvement. Kwanzaa is neither religious nor political. This special holiday begins on December 26 and goes on for seven days.

The word Kwanzaa comes from the Swahili phrase "matunda ya Kwanzaa," which means "first fruits". Kwanzaa is celebrated for the fruits and harvest.

The rather festive festival usually includes songs and dances, African drums, storytelling, poetry reading, and a large traditional meal. On each of the seven nights, a child lights one of candles on the Kara, a candleholder much like a menorah.

I found this info at http://www.tike.com/celeb-kw.htm and http://www.historychannel.com/exhibits/holidays/main.html.

Enough about Kwanzaa! Let's go onto Hanukkah!

Hanukkah is a Jewish holiday that's actually a lot like Kwanzaa. Hanukkah is an eight-day, eight-night celebration that goes this year from December 7 to December 15.

The holiday celebrates the rededication of the holy Temple in Jerusalem. The Greek King of Syria had outlawed Judaism and ordered the Jews to worship Greek gods. In 168 B.C., the Jews' holy temple was seized and dedicated to the worship of Zeus. Three years later, the Jews reclaimed their great temple.

On this holiday, Jews have many unique traditions, such as the dreidel (which we'll be able to play in Whyville!), latkes (potato pancakes), and lighting the menorah. A menorah is a special candleholder -- the candles are lit each day, in celebration of the miracle of the holy temple.

According to tradition, the temple only had enough oil to burn for one day during the rededication of the temple, but that oil lasted eight days, long enough to make more oil.

I thought it would be fun to learn a little more about the dreidel game!

A dreidel has four letters, one on each of the four sides, which allude to the miracle of Hanukkah. They refer to the phrase Nes gadol haya sham, which means "A great miracle happened there." In Israel, the phrase is changed to "A miracle happened here," because of course Jerusalem is in Israel. In the game, the letters stand for Nun ("nothing"), Gimmel ("all"), Hay ("half") and Shin ("put in").

Well, this is the stuff I know. If you want to learn more, you might try these sites:

http://www.billybear4kids.com/holidays/hanukkah/dreidel2.htm
http://www.historychannel.com/exhibits/holidays/main.html
http://www.canada.com/national/features/holidayguide/holidaynews/hanukkah.html

Well, I'm off to put up the Christmas lights,
*click click*
WhYbMaD