Wishing the SUNY Broome Community College A Joyous Holiday Season
In Celebration of Hanukkah, Christmas, and Kwanzaa
Happy Hanukkah
The eight-day holiday begins Sunday, Dec. 18 and concludes the evening of Sunday, Dec. 25. Hanukkah is an eight-day festival which kicks off on the 25th day of the month of Kislev in the Hebrew calendar. Also known as the Festival of Lights, Hanukkah commemorates the victory in 164 B.C. of a group of Jewish people (the Maccabees) over the Syrian Greeks, who had been occupying the Land of Israel since before 167 B.C. Not only had the Greeks destroyed the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem, but they also banned the practice of Judaism entirely. After a three-year fight, the Maccabees liberated the temple—and won the Jewish people the right to practice their religion. (www.rd.com/article/hanukkah-facts/).
Merry Christmas
Christmas is celebrated to remember the birth of Jesus Christ, who Christians believe is the Son of God. The name ‘Christmas’ comes from the Mass of Christ (of Jesus). A Mass service (which is sometimes called Communion of Eucharist) is where Christians remember that Jesus died and then came back to life. The ‘Christ-Mass’ service was the only one that was allowed to take place after sunset (and before sunrise the next day), so people had it at Midnight! So we get the name Christ-Mass, shortened to Christmas. (Online…WhyChristmas.com/customs)
Happy Kwanzaa
Kwanzaa is a seven-day festival held annually from Dec. 26 to Jan. 1 that celebrates African and African American culture and history. There are seven principles of Kwanzaa that are celebrated each day: Umoja (Unity) To strive for and maintain unity in the family, community, nation, and race; Kujichagulia (Self-Determination); Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility); Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics); Nia (Purpose); Kuumba (Creativity); Imani (Faith). Kwanzaa was created by Maulana Karenga, an African-American professor of Africana studies at Cal State University at Long Beach. (Online publication…Kirby Adams for the Louisville Courier, Dec 14, 2022.)
Submitted by: Carol Ross-Scott
Tags: Diversity
