The reason behind people wishing Happy Holidays instead of wishing only Merry Christmas during the mid?winter is the celebration of two other festivals. They are Kwanzaa and Hanukkah. They are not related to the Christmas. In fact Kwanzaa is celebrated by the African?Americans and the Hanukkah is celebrated by the Jewish people. And these two are also observed during the Christmas season.

Kwanzaa and Hanukkah are celebrated for different reasons with different customs. But there are some similarities between them. Commitment is the focal theme for both of these festivals. And not only that, both these festivals use representative forms of light. Hanukkah is celebrated for eight days and nights, starting from one week before Christmas. The celebration of Kwanzaa starts from December 26 and continues till January 1.

Hanukkah was first celebrated in 165 B.C. when the Syrians were lost by the Jews. It was started to reinstate and rededicate the Jerusalem Temple which was dishonored by the Syrians and the golden menorah as well. Earlier the Syrians had banned the celebration of this ritual.

The chief symbol of Hanukkah is the menorah. It consists of eight separate lights. But a main feature of a menorah is that there must be enough gaps between the flames of each light which are used to make the menorah. It is so to produce the effect of eight different lights, otherwise it can be seemed to be a single flame when every light is lit. Menorahs are available in different shapes and sizes in the retail store.

The Jews lit a flame every night in remembrance of the miracle about how a small amount of oil kept the menorah burning in the deserted Temple for eight days. They think that the oil was sufficient for only one day. So Hanukkah celebration includes lighting a menorah over eight days.

Kwanzaa was initiated to provide the African?Americans and other people fro African Diaspora a scope for being engaged in celebration, a celebration that has African cultural elements in it. It was started by a university professor forty years ago.

Though Kwanzaa has not become as popular as Christmas, but it is celebrated with quite popularity among the people of African ancestry. And the availability of Kwanzaa greetings cards and postage stamps signals its invasion in the mainstream.

Kwanzaa teaches us seven values or principles. They are– unity, cooperative economics, creativity, collective work and responsibility, self?determinism, purpose and faith. These principles are not religious, but they are intended to raise a sense of spirituality and self?confidence and to establish self?identity.

One of the Kwanzaa symbols consists of a candleholder holding seven candles representing those seven ideals mentioned beforehand. Other symbols include The Mat for African tradition, The Crops for African Harvest, the Unity Cup, Corn for children who represent future and the Gifts. You can find these items in any African–American store.

The sense of spirituality and connection to one?s history are the spirits of Kwanzaa and Hanukkah.