#KWANZAA

[tomatodiscourse]

in all honesty there are too many things going on in december... i think we should replace everything with a month-long tomato fest

god I love when there are full-blown festivals for tomatoes or garlic or salmon. truly what we should all be getting together to celebrate

[operationladybug]

What were your favorite wintertime activities as a child? What upcoming holidays do you celebrate? How do you celebrate? ❄️ Reblog and share in the tags.

“Hi. Please take a moment to read this. I am writing a post on behalf of @suad-khaled whose fundraiser has been stagnating and has only reached 50% despite her fundraising for several months. Suad has been verified by @/nabulsi and also by @northgazaupdates, you can read more about her and her struggles in the tag here.

Suad is an engineer who after graduating with top marks was also working as a university lecturer in her university. Just before the October 7th's accelerated genocide, she also found she was pregnant and was ready to also start this new chapter of her life.

Since the genocide, she and her husband have been displaced multiple times, escaping bombing narrowly in the process. In June she gave birth to baby Khaled and then immediately had to move to a tent with him. Suad and her baby both have been sick this year and her infant has suffered from malnutrition and chest infections in the first year of his life. The doctor recommended nebulising sessions for baby Khaled because of his chest infection and allergies which also ate into the family's limited funds.

Right now, despite facing constant hunger Suad is deeply worried about being able to afford diapers and formula for Khaled. Prices have quadrupled; a pack of 36 diapers now costs $50, and a can of formula is $13. Buying cheaper formula caused baby Khaled's health to worsen. This is also baby Khaled's first winter and he needs winter clothes.

Please, please support Suad and baby Khaled and help their fundraiser reach completion so that they are able to survive and evacuate from Gaza.”

(Thank you for the help with creating this post! I did not have the brain energy to come up with the right words, so this was written by a friend of a friend.)

💙 Reblog, Queue, Share 💙

Tagging for reach under the cut:

@sliceofdyke @littlegermanboy @g00ngala @grillwizard @graciouswings @sillymeter @palestine-donation-links @palestinegenocide @palestine-info-uncensored @gazavetters @gaza-evacuation-funds @zhuiren @weltenwellen @xinakwans @egberts @kropotkindersurprise @niqabisinparis @pukicho @paper-mario-wiki @queenie-says-free-palestine @tamamita @ultimatedirk @astrolavas @atalienart @bob-belcher @beebeedibapbeediboop @botan @buggachat @bi-trans-alliance @cassandrajean @creativepromptsforwriting @crimson-chains @colormush @drawingden @daily-prompts @design-art-architecture @develop-your-oc @discount-supervillain @evermore-fashion @enenkaydoodles @eliotbaum @elasticitymudflap @fyblackwomenart @fannyrosie @fuckyeahgravityfalls @filmgifs @greelin @gawki @ghiblisdaily • Sorry to be a bother!

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[deacblues]

i meant to put this out on christmas, but my CSP license expired. also i've never drawn a kaftan before so let me know if i screwed that up.

[incognitopolls]

Anon's sibling has a theory that people who don't celebrate a major holiday in winter are more prone to seasonal depression because they don't have festivities and holiday cheer to look forward to.

*"Major" holiday in the sense that it's a significant reason to celebrate personally, not necessarily just major calendar holidays– for example, Hanukkah isn't a major holiday by religious tradition, but some individuals love it and might consider it "major" on a personal level.

–

We ask your questions so you don’t have to! Submit your questions to have them posted anonymously as polls.

[dolochicago]

Instagram: @thenatural.eye

[viadescioism]

Kwanzaa:

Kwanzaa, an annual holiday celebrated primarily in the United States from December 26 to January 1, emphasizes the importance of pan-African family and social values. It was devised in 1966 by Maulana Karenga, Inspired by Africa’s harvest celebrations, he decided to develop a nonreligious holiday that would stress the importance of family and community while giving African Americans an opportunity to explore their African identities. Kwanzaa arose from the black nationalist movement of the 1960s and was created to help African Americans reconnect with their African cultural and historical heritage. The holiday honors African American people, their struggles in the United States, their heritage, and their culture. Kwanzaa's practices and symbolism are deeply rooted in African traditions and emphasize community, family, and cultural pride. It's a time for reflection, celebration, and the nurturing of cultural identity within the African American community.

Kwanzaa is a blend of various African cultures, reflecting the experience of many African Americans who cannot trace their exact origins; thus, it is not specific to any one African culture or region. The inclusiveness of Kwanzaa allows for a broader celebration of African heritage and identity.

Karenga created Kwanzaa during the aftermath of the Watts riots as a non-Christian, specifically African-American, holiday. His goal was to give black people an alternative to Christmas and an opportunity to celebrate themselves and their history, rather than imitating the practices of the dominant society. The name Kwanzaa derives from the Swahili phrase "matunda ya kwanza," meaning "first fruits," and is based on African harvest festival traditions from various parts of West and Southeast Africa. The holiday was first celebrated in 1966.

Each day of Kwanzaa is dedicated to one of the seven principles (Nguzo Saba), which are central values of African culture that contribute to building and reinforcing community among African Americans. These principles include Umoja (Unity), Kujichagulia (Self-Determination), Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility), Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics), Nia (Purpose), Kuumba (Creativity), and Imani (Faith). Each family celebrates Kwanzaa in its own way, but Celebrations often include songs, dances, African drums, storytelling, poetry readings, and a large traditional meal. The holiday concludes with a communal feast called Karamu, usually held on the sixth day​​​​.

Kwanzaa is more than just a celebration; it's a spiritual journey to heal, explore, and learn from African heritage. The holiday emphasizes the importance of community and the role of children, who are considered seed bearers of cultural values and practices for the next generation. Kwanzaa is not just a holiday; it's a period of introspection and celebration of African-American identity and culture, allowing for a deeper understanding and appreciation of ancestral roots. This celebration is a testament to the resilience and enduring spirit of the African-American community.

"Kwanzaa," Encyclopaedia Britannica, last modified December 23, 2023, https://www.britannica.com/topic/Kwanzaa.

"Kwanzaa - Meaning, Candles & Principles," HISTORY, accessed December 25, 2023, https://www.history.com/topics/holidays/kwanzaa-history.

"Kwanzaa," Wikipedia, last modified December 25, 2023, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kwanzaa.

"Kwanzaa," National Museum of African American History and Culture, accessed December 25, 2023, https://nmaahc.si.edu/explore/stories/kwanzaa.

"The First Kwanzaa," HISTORY.com, accessed December 25, 2023, https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/the-first-kwanzaa.

My Daily Kwanzaa, blog, accessed December 25, 2023, https://mydailykwanzaa.wordpress.com.

Maulana Karenga, Kwanzaa: A Celebration of Family, Community and Culture (Los Angeles, CA: University of Sankore Press, 1998), ISBN 0-943412-21-8.

"Kente Cloth," African Journey, Project Exploration, accessed December 25, 2023, https://projectexploration.org.

Expert Village, "Kwanzaa Traditions & Customs: Kwanzaa Symbols," YouTube video, accessed December 25, 2023, [Link to the specific YouTube video]. (Note: The exact URL for the YouTube video is needed for a complete citation).

"Official Kwanzaa Website," accessed December 25, 2023, https://www.officialkwanzaawebsite.org/index.html.

Michelle, Lavanda. "Let's Talk Kwanzaa: Unwrapping the Good Vibes." Lavanda Michelle, December 13, 2023. https://lavandamichelle.com/2023/12/13/lets-talk-kwanzaa-unwrapping-the-good-vibes/.

[the-real-google]

We're asking the real questions today.

For my non Americans, after Thanksgiving = end of November.

[i-give-u--art]

MARY CHRISTMAS. : DDDDD.

HAPPY HANUKKAH :))))))))

HAPPY KWANZA :}}}}}}

[moonlovesskunks]

christmas movies DONT demonize people who dont celebrate christmas challenge

[metalheadsforblacklivesmatter]

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTRbR8ANC/

-fae

[thepeacefulgarden]

That might mean... * We skip the holidays altogether * We poke our heads in for dessert, but we don't stay for dinner * We don't go to Christmas service/Mass (or whatever other worship service) * We buy gifts only for immediate family and close friends * We get our loved ones experiences instead of things * We make gifts * We don't DIY our decorations or gifts, or only DIY some of them * We get a smaller tree or none at all * We decline the invitation to that cookie swap that will have us making 3 dozen each of 3 different kinds of cookies * We don't invite certain people * We get smaller gifts for people * We limit the number of invitations we accept, and the number of events we host * We don't buy gifts for anyone past puberty * We walk away from conversations that aren't going anywhere good. * We hang up the phone or log off Skype/Zoom/whatever * We put ourselves on a budget * We learn to say "no" and set boundaries * We don't go see certain family members * We give ourselves permission to just let it be a normal day * We ask for help, and we learn to (graciously) accept that help * We make the gift-giving a "Secret Santa" kinda thing so we only have to get one gift * We send cards and letters only to close friends and family, instead of to everyone and their dog * We accept that our holidays might not look like a Norman Rockwell painting or a Hallmark movie or whatever's going on on Pinterest, and that's okay * We make space for grief and other messy feelings * We cancel plans and don't feel guilty about it * We make time to rest

[blackgirlsreverything]

Happy Kwanzaa!!

[sysboxes]

[Text: This user hopes anyone spending time with abusive family for Kwanzaa gets through it okay.]

Like/Reblog if you save or use!

[kemetic-dreams]

[joelojeda]

It's been quite a while since last I mustered the time to do a Holiday card (and I cheated a bit by repurposing a drawing made for a convention) but here's my best wishes to you all!

May you spend meaningful time woth your loved ones, share in blissful memories, and all around have a wonderful year-end festivities.

Merry Christmas!

Happy Holidays!

Happy Festivus!

Merry Yule!

Happy Hanukkah!

Happy Kwanzaa!

Happy Ōmisoka!

Happy Bodhi Day!

Happy Boxing Day!

Happy Winter Solstice!

Happy Sir isaac Newton's Birthday!

Whatever you believe in/celebrate (or not) I wish you the best.

Superman TM & C DC Comics, obvs.

[plural-affirmations]

This time of year can be rough, especially for plurals.

So, this Thanksgiving, I want to say thank you to:

Native, First Nations, and Indigenous systems of any and all kinds

Those who struggle with being around family, or a certain family member in particular

People with broken homes, divorced parents, or other circumstances that make the holidays feel isolating

Those who don't celebrate Thanksgiving

Systems who have a hard relationship with food

Plurals below the poverty line who can't afford to celebrate, even if they want to

And anyone else who just needs some extra reassurance for today

It's going to be ok. Today and this coming month won't last forever. I know you're going to get through it. I believe in you.

Positivity requests are still closed, but feel free to flood our inbox with any other messages. Venting, advice, needing comfort, anything. We're here for you. ❤️

🖤💜💙💚💛