This Holidays

Writen by Gail Leino

Kwanzaa cards can be sent from December 26, when the celebration begins, until January 1, when Kwanzaa the celebration ends. The name Kwanzaa is derived from the phrase "matunda ya kwanza" which means "first fruits" in Swahili, the most widely spoken African language. The first-fruits celebrations are recorded in African history as far back as ancient Egypt and Nubia. Kwanzaa was established in America in 1966, in the midst of the Black Freedom Movement, and reflects its concern for groundedness in cultural thought, practice, and unity associated with this movement.

We all should embrace our heritage, and, at the same time embrace world unity by showing support to friends of various ethnicities. Sending cards to honor their culturally based holidays, even if they are not our own, shows respect and unity across cultural barriers. If you are not of African descent, you can still share the pride, and foster world unity and cultural diversity, by sending Kwanzaa cards to friends who do celebrate Kwanzaa.

Kwanzaa cards are available in the greeting card departments in most department stores, and they are easy to find online. Many Kwanzaa cards can be downloaded free, and printed on regular card stock. The up side to making your own cards, is you can personalize them, and add messages or poems of your own, and when you customize your own cards, you never have to worry that someone else has already sent a card like yours. Many online sites for Kwanzaa cards have Kwanzaa appropriate graphics you can print, or cut and paste to your cards. These sites also have all the background you would need to familiarize yourself with the holiday, if you need a refresher course.

Since Kwanzaa is a celebration of family, community, and culture, family snap shots are appropriate, as are culturally related poetry and gifts.