Kwanzaa-What is it?

Kwanzaa--What is it?

Kwanzaa is not a festival originating in any of the 55 African countries nor is it an "African" Christmas celebration. Kwanzaa is an African-American celebration of life from December 26th to January 1st.

Dr. Maulana Karenga introduced the festival in 1966 to the United States as a ritual to welcome the first harvests to the home. Dr. Karenga created this festival for African-American as a response to the commercialism of Christmas. In fact, one might say that Kwanzaa has similarities with Thanksgiving in the United States or the Yam Festival in Ghana and Nigeria. The word "Kwanzaa" is a Swahili (Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania) word meaning "first."

Five common sets of values are central to the activities of the week: in gathering, reverence, commemoration, re-commitment and celebration. The seven principles (nguzo saba) of Kwanzaa utilize Swahili words: 

1. unity (umoja)

2. self-determination (kujichagulia)

3. collective work and responsibility (ujima)

4. cooperative economics (ujamaa)

5. purpose (nia)

6. creativity (kuumba)

7. faith (imani).

Each of the seven candles signify the principles. Similar to Hanukkah, candles are used to represent the concept of the holiday.

The symbols of Kwanzaa includes crops (mzao) which represents the historical roots of African-Americans in agriculture and also the reward for collective labor. The mat (mkeka) lays the foundation for self- actualization. The candle holder (kinara) reminds believers in the ancestral origins in one of 55 African countries. Corn/maize (muhindi) signifies children and the hope associated in the younger generation. Gifts (Zawadi) represent commitments of the parents for the children. The unity cup (Kkimbe cha Umoja) is used to pour libations to the ancestors. Finally, the seven candles (mishumaa saba) remind participants of the several principles and the colors in flags of the African liberation movements -- 3 red, 1 black, and 3 green.

Gifts are exchanged. On December 31st, participants celebrate with cuisine from various African countries. Participants greet one another with "Habari gani" which is Swahili for "how are you/ how's the news with you?" 

Kissing Under Mistletoe

Mistletoe refers to any of more than 200 species of semi-parasitic shrubs found worldwide. Mistletoe lives throughout the southern United States, from the Atlantic Coast to California, and on every continent except Antarctica.

Having true parasitic properties, mistletoe is devoid of roots. Instead, the dark green shrub has extensions called holdfasts that grip the host tree, from which the root-like anchors suck water and nutrients. Mistletoe is only found on living trees, which are essential to the mistletoe's survival. In contrast, Spanish moss uses trees dead or alive, but only for support, extracting water and nutrients from the atmosphere.

In the South, tiny yellow flowers bloom on the evergreen mistletoe from fall into winter. The familiar white berries begin to form soon after pollination and resemble little packets of glue around tiny indigestible seeds. A mistletoe plant can be either male or female, and, like a holly tree, only the female plant has berries. Although eating mistletoe berries may potentially be lethal for humans, birds seem to be immune to any toxicity.

The immunity of birds to mistletoe's poisonous qualities is essential to the welfare of the plant. The dispersal and propagation of mistletoe is largely dependent on birds that eat the berries but do not digest the seeds. Ecological studies suggest that seeds are most likely to survive and grow if a bird deposits them on the same species of tree on which the parent plant lived. A spring migration flock of cedar waxwings can result in newly developing mistletoe plants being far away from where the seeds were eaten.

Mistletoe thrives in bright sunlight in the uppermost branches of big oaks and is absent from pines and evergreen hardwoods such as magnolias with needles and leaves that hamper direct sunlight.

Kissing under the mistletoe is first found associated with the Greek festival of Saturnalia and later with primitive marriage rites. They probably originated from two beliefs. One belief was that it has power to bestow fertility. It was also believed that the dung from which the mistletoe would also possess "life-giving" power. In Scandinavia, mistletoe was considered a plant of peace, under which enemies could declare a truce or warring spouses kiss and make-up. Later, the eighteenth-century English credited with a certain magical appeal called a kissing ball. At Christmas time a young lady standing under a ball of mistletoe, brightly trimmed with evergreens, ribbons, and ornaments, cannot refuse to be kissed. Such a kiss could mean deep romance or lasting friendship and goodwill. If the girl was not kissed, she can expect to marry the following year. 

In some parts of England the Christmas mistletoe is burned on the twelfth night lest all the boys and girls who have kissed under it never marry. Whether we believe it or not, it always makes for fun and frolic at Christmas celebrations. Even if the pagan significance has been long forgotten, the custom of exchanging a kiss under the mistletoe can still be found in many European countries as well as in Canada. If a couple in love exchanges a kiss under the mistletoe, it is interpreted as a promise to marry, as well as a prediction of happiness and long life. In France, the custom linked to mistletoe was reserved for New Year's Day. Today, kisses can be exchanged under the mistletoe any time during the holiday season.

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How to make a Hanukkah Bush

HANUKKAH BUSH

The holidays can be confusing for children. Some families celebrate Hanukkah and others may celebrate Christmas or Kwanzaa. And some none at all. While Hanukkah is celebrated by lighting candles for 8 days and Kwanzaa for 7. The Christmas tree always sees to stand out. Most likely because of all the beautiful lights. So, parents have seemed to compromise by allowing a Hanukkah Bush. Some argue that they are too close to a Christmas tree--making the only difference the Star of David on the top.

Explaining to our children the differences that each tradition has while maintaining the pride in their own seems to be the best way to go. After all, we are all giving thanks.

So..... for those who would like to add a Hanukkah Bush to their celebration this year. Below are the steps on how to make one. Happy Hanukkah!! 



1. Choose your bush. You can purchase it from a traditional Christmas tree lot, any garden center or you can cut your own.


2. You can decorate a shrub growing in your front yard or use your potted plant for the holiday season.


3. Drape the tree with strings of lights in either white, or blue and white, the traditional Hanukkah colors.


4. Place ornaments of your choice on the branches: maybe miniature menorahs and oil lamps; dreidels made of paper, wood or lightweight clay; stars of David or animals from Noah's ark.


5. Place a large star of David on top of the bush.

What's a Snowflake?

Snowflakes under a microscope

What's a snowflake?

Have you ever looked at a snowflake and wondered how it formed or why it looks different from other snow you might have seen? Snowflakes are a particular form of water ice. Snowflakes form in clouds, which consist of water vapor. When the temperature is 32° F (0° C) or colder, water changes from its liquid form into ice. Several factors affect snowflake formation. Temperature, air currents, and humidity all influence the shape and size. Dirt and dust particles can get mixed up in the water and affect crystal weight and durability. The dirt particles make the snowflake heavier, and can cause cracks and breaks in the crystal and make it easier to melt. Snowflake formation is a dynamic process. A snowflake may encounter many different environmental conditions, sometimes melting it, sometimes causing growth, always changing its structure.

What are common snowflake shapes?
Generally, six-sided hexagonal crystals are shaped in high clouds; needles or flat six-sided crystals are shaped in middle height clouds; and a wide variety of six-sided shapes are formed in low clouds. Colder temperatures produce snowflakes with sharper tips on the sides of the crystals and may lead to branching of the snowflake arms (dendrites). Snowflakes that grow under warmer conditions grow more slowly, resulting in smoother, less intricate shapes.

· 32-25° F - Thin hexagonal plates

· 25-21° F - Needles

· 21-14° F - Hollow columns

· 14-10° F - Sector plates (hexagons with indentations)

· 10-3° F - Dendrites (lacy hexagonal shapes)

Why are snowflakes the same on all sides?
Snowflakes are not the same on all sides. Uneven temperatures, presence of dirt, and other factors may cause a snowflake to be lop-sided. Yet it is true that many snowflakes are symmetrical and intricate. This is because a snowflake's shape reflects the internal order of the water molecules. Water molecules in the solid state, such as in ice and snow, form weak bonds (called hydrogen bonds) with one another. These ordered arrangements result in the symmetrical, hexagonal shape of the snowflake. During crystallization, the water molecules align themselves to maximize attractive forces and minimize repulsive forces. Consequently, water molecules arrange themselves in predetermined spaces and in a specific arrangement. Water molecules simply arrange themselves to fit the spaces and maintain symmetry.

Is it true that no two snowflakes are identical?
Yes and no. No two snowflakes are exactly identical, down to the precise number of water molecules, spin of electrons, isotope abundance of hydrogen and oxygen, etc. On the other hand, it is possible for two snowflakes to look exactly alike and any given snowflake probably has had a good match at some point in history. Since so many factors affect the structure of a snowflake and since a snowflake's structure is constantly changing in response to environmental conditions, it is improbable that anyone would see two identical snowflakes.

If water and ice are clear, then why does snow look white?
The short answer is that snowflakes have so many light-reflecting surfaces they scatter the light into all of its colors, so snow appears white. The longer answer has to do with the way the human eye perceives color. Even though the light source might not be truly 'white' light (e.g., sunlight, fluorescent, and incandescent all have a particular color), the human brain compensates for a light source. Thus, even though sunlight is yellow and scattered light from snow is yellow, the brain sees snow as white because the whole picture received by the brain has a yellow tint that is automatically subtracted. Want more? http://chemistry.about.com

December Birth Flower

HELLO ALL. WE HAD TO POST THIS AGAIN FOR ALL THE DECEMBER BABIES!!

Narcissus

Egotism and Conceit. 

Symbol of Good Fortune.

Narcissus bulbs have been used medicinally for centuries, even though they are poisonous.

Roman soldiers were said to carry them in their first-aid containers.

European peasants applied Narcissus juice, mixed with honey, to cuts and swollen joints.

A doctor named Galen, who was surgeon at the school of Gladiators in Rome, used the juice from narcissus bulbs as his favorite salve to "glue wounds, cuts and gashes together."

In reference to the poisonous properties of the plant, the word narcissus originated from the Greek word "narkeo," meaning "to be stupefied." Lucorcine, which is contained within the bulbs, numbs the nervous system and paralyzes the heart.

Greek mythology relates the origin of the narcissus. Echo, a mountain nymph, fell deeply in love with Narcissus, who was beautiful young man. Narcissus vainly cared for nothing but own beauty, spending all his time viewing his reflection in a pool of water. Narcissus spurned Echo's love until she finally center nothing but her voice as she faded away. Echo's voice ran off into the mountains to mock every other voice it heard. The gods, angry with Narcissus's vanity, changed him into a flower whose fate was to stand by a pool of water nodding at his own image for time eternal.

Mohammed is known to have said, "Let him who hath two loaves sell one, and buy the flower of narcissus: for bread is but food for the body, whereas, narcissus is food for the soul."