2 - QVI Club

America
African Americans celebrate the week-long Kwanzaa from 26 December to 1
January. This festival that celebrates ideals such as family life and unity was
first created by Maulana Karenga in 1966 to help African Americans reconnect
with their cultural and historical roots. The word Kwanzaa derives from the
Swahili phrase ‘matunda ya kwanza’, meaning ‘first fruits of the harvest’, and
is based on ancient African harvest festivals. During this spiritual holiday,
millions of African Americans dress in special clothes, decorate their homes
with colourful African fabrics, fruits and vegetables, and light a candleholder
called a ‘kinara’. The festival culminates in a feast and gift-giving.
to be jolly!
Central and South America
Holiday customs in this part of the world still reflect the historical
and deeply Catholic traditions inherited from Spain. The birth of
Jesus Christ is celebrated widely, with the manger or presepio -
the lowly makeshift bed that Jesus was born in - being the primary
focus of the holiday. Sometimes an entire room in a household is
elaborately decorated with shepherds, angels, and the Wise Men
surrounding the manger to pay homage to Jesus. On 6 January, the
three Wise Men bring gifts to children.
China
The Chinese New Year is usually celebrated sometime in January or February by millions of
Chinese around the world, from Taiwan to Singapore, from Toronto to Sydney. The Chinese follow
a lunar calendar, and the exact date of the New Year depends on the phases of the moon. To
usher in the New Year, households will embark on a thorough spring-cleaning to signify a fresh,
positive start. Old furniture, clothes and possessions are replaced with new ones, and lights are
left on throughout the eve to brighten the home. Families and friends visit each other, bringing
with them pairs of mandarin oranges to represent good fortune, and small red envelopes of
cash to give to children.