I have read some place that Kawanzza replaces Christmas. Is this ministry lieing or is this true? I thought those that Celebrate Kwanazza celebrates Christmas also.
2006-12-23 09:11:09 · 24 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Holidays ➔ Kwanzaa
Your question is unclear, what do you mean 'replace'?
Obviously, a heck of a lot of people celebrate Christmas (and no one tells them not to).
Some people celebrate Kwanzaa instead of Christmas, if that's what you mean.
So what?
It's only with Kwanza that some people have some strange need to tell people they shouldn't celebrate it.
I think people should celebrate whatever they want, and give a miss to whatever doesn't ring their chimes.
They're all about the same thing (in the northern hemisphere, anyway) -- light and warmth in the dark and cold time of year.
2006-12-25 05:44:04 · answer #1 · answered by tehabwa 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Kwanzaa does not replace Christmas. It is simply the way Afrikan Americans celebrate as a Cultural Holiday of harvest and and festival. Many Afrikan American celebrate Chriistmas also. Some people for their own personal reason choose to celebrate one or the other or both. And yes some people do replace Kwanzaa for their Christmas. That is their choice to do so.
2006-12-23 17:51:00 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
No Kwanzza does not replace Christmas. It is a cultural celebration of the African American community established some years ago to reflect the values inherent to the African experience and values of African Americans. African American Christians are free to celebrate the Kwanzza as well understanding that the principles of Kwanzza are intrinsic in the life of the people.
2006-12-25 19:52:16 · answer #3 · answered by Bunny 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No it doesnt replace Christmas. Just like Jewish people celebrate Hanukkah. Africans/some African Americans celebrate Kwanzaa.
2006-12-26 17:25:23 · answer #4 · answered by Miss E 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, it was never meant to replace Christmas. Most people who celebrate Kwanzaa also celebrate Christmas and other holidays. Kwanzaa is a cultural holiday- pride, family, community gathering. There is no emphasis on gift giving. If gifts are given they are of an educational nature and given to children.
2006-12-27 08:30:38 · answer #5 · answered by Ebony Goddess 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Kwanzaa does not replace Christmas. In 1966, Dr. Maulana Karenga created the holiday in order to unify Blacks. He set it in a time when family were together the most and not doing much. After living in several different locations in Africa, he noticed that each region had a harvest festival for a different crop. They all shared the same moral concepts though. Most of the words are Ki-swahili which is a non-tribal language therefore connecting the African Diaspora.
-Kiarra S.
2006-12-25 11:22:42 · answer #6 · answered by Walking Contradiction 3 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Kwanzaa is a secular holiday meaning it has no religious intention. It is a 7 day holiday that starts on December 26th which further allows it to be celebrated by individuals who also celebrate Christmas. This was done purposely so anyone either, Jewish, Christian, Muslim, etc can celebrate Kwanzaa because it secular.
2006-12-24 19:58:01 · answer #7 · answered by AxB 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Yes, it was the original intent of Kwanzaa's founder Ron Karenga for it to be used as a replacement for Christmas since he considered Christmas to be a holiday of the "dominant society." However, he did recant to attempt to appeal to a larger African-American base.
The following is from wikipedia.com:
"In 1966 Ron Karenga created Kwanzaa while in California, as the leader of the black nationalist United Slaves Organization (also known as the "US Organization"), in order to give African Americans an alternative holiday to Christmas. He later stated, '...it was chosen to give a Black alternative to the existing holiday and give Blacks an opportunity to celebrate themselves and history, rather than simply imitate the practice of the dominant society.' "
"In 1967, a year after Karenga proposed this new holiday, he publicly espoused the view that 'Jesus was psychotic' and that Christianity was a white religion that blacks should shun. However, as Kwanzaa gained mainstream adherents, Karenga altered his position so as not to alienate practicing Christians, then stating in the 1997 Kwanzaa: A Celebration of Family, Community, and Culture, 'Kwanzaa was not created to give people an alternative to their own religion or religious holiday.' "
2006-12-25 22:20:58 · answer #8 · answered by Ray G 1 · 3⤊ 0⤋
No! Kwanzaa is not Christmas replacement. You could even celebrate Hanukkah.You do not need to be African American to celebrate Kwanzaa is about community and becoming productive life there are 7 principle which emphasize the ideas of Kwanzaa.
2006-12-24 02:15:39 · answer #9 · answered by Tammy 3 · 5⤊ 1⤋
I don't think it replaces it, I just think it is in addition to Christmas. I'm White, can my family and I embrace and celebrate Kwanzaa. I can get my daughter the African Cabbage Patch doll she wants.
2006-12-26 14:33:26 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋