Section B · Page 6 Wednesday, December 6, 2000 Pregnant? Birthright can help 1-800-550-4900 FREE AND CONFIDENTIAL The University Daily Kansan Holiday Guide Kwanzaa a time to reaffirm values By Luke Wetzel Special to the Kansan Although Christmas, Hanukkah and Ramadan might be restricted to members of specific religions, the principles of Kwanzaa — a traditionally African-American celebration — are open to everyone. Multicultural Affairs. "Family values are open to everyone. Kwanzaa is just the way African Americans celebrate these values." Some KU students this year plan to educate others about Kwanzaa, as well as celebrate it themselves. Kwanzaa, which means "first fruits" in Swahili, was created in 1966 by Maulana Karenga, chairman of Black studies at California State University, as a time of reaffirming values for African-American people. The celebration, which follows seven guiding principles, is held each year from Dec. 26 to Jan. 1. "It's just a celebration of the family," said Robert Page, director of Amber Sellers, Wichita sophomore, and her immediate family began celebrating Kwanzaa five years ago. A different member of the family cooks dinner each of the seven nights. After dinner, they talk about how to better themselves and their community. "My mom thought it would be more of a learning experience," Sellers said. "There's more to life at the end of the year than getting gifts." Her family's observations include lighting the seven candles of the kinara the traditional candle holder they made by hand as well as making small gifts like baskets and jewelry. But Sellers said the most important aspect of Kwanzaa was growth as a person. "Going through the seven days and principles helps you learn about yourself and yourself in the community," she said. "You have to be willing to follow the principles. If not, it doesn't do any good to celebrate Kwanzaa. You take what you learn in those seven days and refer back to them and how they reflect on yourself." Page said he thought Kwanzaa had evolved from a celebration into a study of principles. When he worked at Arizona State University, Page attended a Black Greek conference led by Karenga that focused on the principles of Kwanzaa. "It was started as a celebration thing, and now it's more about using the principles," he said. "But it's still a celebration." Alberta Wright, assistant director of Multicultural Affairs, said she naud learned about Kwanzaa in the late '70s when she worked in the office of African studies. Although neither she nor Page follow the traditional celebration of Kwanzaa, they follow the principles. Wright writes the principles on her day planner in order to read and reaffirm them. In the past, she has worn ethnic clothing. She is now discussing Kwanzaa in an online discussion with people across the country. She has sent the principles of Kwanzaa to members of the group, asking them to list them in their own languages. Wright said a unique aspect of Kwanzaa was that there was no dictated way to observe it. "It helps us name ourselves, define oursels, create for oursels and speak for oursels," she said. Christmas hype overshadows other traditions Edited by Erin McDaniel Bv Maaaie Koerth Kansan correspondent You can hear it in popular carols like "Silent Night." It pops up in the giant, plastic, light-up nativity scenes that grace many lawns. Even Santa Claus draws his origins from it. The Christian story of the birth of Jesus and Christmas, the holiday that story created, permeate almost every aspect of American pop culture throughout the months of November and December. Because of the amount of publicity it gets, one might find it easy to imagine Christmas is the only holiday celebrated this time of year. This is far from the truth. Both Islam and Judaism, two other major monotheistic religions, have important holidays in December and many less mainstream religions also have reasons to celebrate. "I think it has more of an effect on you as a child," said Asma Rehman, Kansas City, Mo., sophomore. "Christmas is made out to be so big and the event of the year, as a child one cannot understand why your parents won't let you take part in this beautiful holiday." beautiful holiday. Rehman is a practicing Muslim who celebrates a month-long holiday called Ramadan. Instead of agonizing over gift-giving, Rehman spends her December fasting and giving thanks for the blessings of the previous year. This year, the end of Ramadan will mark the beginning of a biannual holiday called Eid, which celebrates the end of the fasting with the slaughter of a sheep. The meat from the sheep is then split between the poor, the family and their friends. While Rehman accepts other people's right to practice their own religions, she is offended by how easily her own is overlooked. "Eastern culture tends to get looked at as something strange and weird," she said. "People don't even try to find out what is behind the traditions." C. Kai Au, a recent KU graduate, is a Shamanistic Tibetan Buddhist whose parents moved to the United States from Hong Kong. Both of Au's parents are influenced by predominately Christian backgrounds, even though they are not practicing Christians. "My parents think it's odd. They think that it isn't Chinese." Au said. "They don't understand why I don't want to celebrate such a materialistic holiday like Christmas." Rehman celebrates Ramadan with her family, but some students don't have this luxury. Rather than buy into Christmas — which Au sees as having lost all meaning under a pile of pointless gifts — he chooses to celebrate the Winter Solstice. He celebrates the holiday by giving thanks to Yamaraja, the god of the underworld, truth and social justice. He said he continually ran into conflict because of between his values and beliefs. Scott McKenzie, a Salina sophomore, said he participated in his family's Catholic-based Christmas activities even though he himself was "mostly atheist." "My friends are the 'reason for the season' to me," he said. "I am thankful for what I have, but I got it. It wasn't 'given' to me." McKenzie said he went along with the Christmas celebrations because it was tradition and because it was the best way to connect with his family and friends during the holidays. Rehman, Au and McKenzie all agreed more exposure was needed for holidays other than Christmas. Rehman and McKenzie said they thought schools needed to give more attention to non-Christian traditions. They want to change the way that society looks at them and their holidays, but they said they understood how much work such changes will take. "The religious history of this country is rooted in Protestantism," Au said. "It's understandable that it's hard for such a culture to incorporate my views. But enlightenment is up to the person. If they don't choose to understand, then that's OK with me." — Edited by Casey Franklin Fort Riley, Kansas Campus Serving Those Who Serve... Barton County Community College "College classes offered on-line" BCCC has served the Total Army Family at Fort Riley, KS since 1985. Our students have deployed or relocated to locations all around the world. Join the growing number of students that start and continue to accomplish their educational goals, no matter where in the world they are! - Interested in an Associates Degree or a Certificate Program? - Need to transfer credits and complete an Associates Degree? (You may be closer than you think!) - Need to supplement your current class schedule? From the convenience of your computer... Apply, enroll, and attend classes! 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