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Peanut Butter Pie
Eggnog (leaded and unleaded)
Lemon Delight
And the list goes on and on.
2. Do you normally open presents on Christmas Eve/Day?
9 People responded Christmas Eve
15 said Christmas Day
 3 Open presents both days
3 Get to open 1 on the Eve and the rest on Christmas Day.
Some families like to prolong the agony of the children and make
them eat breakfast before the presents are opened on Christmas Day.
One staff member recalled that her grandfather would not allow presents to
be opened until Epiphany(the day the 3 kings arrived in Bethlehem after
the birth of Jesus). As a child she got to open presents on Christmas Day
and then later at her Grandfather's house.
3. What is your favorite holiday song?
Everyone has a personal favorite, but the following songs received the most votes:
White Christmas 6
Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting) 3
Silent Night 4
Come O Come Emmanuel 2
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen 2
Little Drummer Boy 2
We Three Kings 3
4. Do you save or throw away the holiday cards you receive?
Save 29
Toss or Recycle - 9
If you send cards do you keep one to remember the style?
Yes - 1
No/not intentionally – 21
5. Do you save or throw away wrapping papers and bows?
Bows Wrap
Savers - 21 6
Tossers - 6 21
6. When do you put up and take down you Christmas
decorations?
Most of us are quick to put out the Christmas decorations and tree. Prize for earliest decorating goes to the staff member who puts her decorations up the weekend before Thanksgiving.
Most reported that their decorations went up soon after Thanksgiving.
After Thanksgiving/Early December - 24
Do not put up a tree - 3
Just as we are quick to decorate. We are just
as quick to take down after the holidays.
19 people responded that they take down the Christmas
decorations on or a few days after New Year’s Day.
Two staff members like to have all the decorations taken down December
26!
Last year while decorating the family’s
Christmas tree, one of our staff member’s daughter got a little
too excited about adorning the tree. In her hurry to complete the
decorating she caught her foot in the cord for the lights. Down she
went and down went the Christmas tree right after her!
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Chanukkah
Celebration of Light
Hanukkah is celebrated annually by Jewish families and it includes
nine days and eight nights of ritual and festivity.
This year it starts on December 24. Wilma Turetzky recalls some of
her family’s traditions: presents for the children each night (and they
were "savers" of cards, paper and bows), and their
favorite part of the celebration dinner, potato pancakes, or latkes.
The eight candles of the Menorah are lighted every night of Hanukkah,
using the ninth candle, the shamus candle to light the others.
The first night one candle is lighted, the second night, two candles, and
so on. This celebrates the miracle of the oil in the rededication of the
temple in Jerusalem, when one night’s worth of oil lasted eight nights.
Kwanzaa
By Schavonne Maxwell
The following story is a reprint from the 1994 ISU Library
Newsletter.
Kwanzaa is a unique American holiday that pays tribute to the
rich cultural roots of African ancestry. It originated in 1966 by
Dr. Maulana Karenga, a Black Studies professor at California State
University-Long Beach. His objective was to increase awareness
concerning African heritage and encourage qualities such as unity,
self-determination, and cooperation in the Black community.
Kwanzaa is not labeled as a religious, political, nor heroic holiday,
but rather a cultural one. December 26th
through January 1st has been set aside to observe this special
time. What started out as a day has now evolved into a week long
celebration.
Kwanzaa, meaning "the first" or "the first fruits of
the harvest" in the East African language of Kiswahili, is based
on the seven fundamental principles known as Nguzo Saba.
Those principles are Umoja (unity), Kujichagulia
(self-determination), Ujima (collective work and responsibility),
Ujamaa (cooperative economics), Nia (purpose), Kuumba
(creativity) and Imani (faith).
Like other holidays, Kwanzaa has its symbols. They are
instructive and inspirational objects that represent and reinforce
desirable principles, concepts and practices. These symbols reflect
traditional as well as modern concepts which evolved out of the life and
struggle of the African American people. They are Mazao
(fruit and vegetables), Mkeka (place mat), Kinara
(the candle holder for seven candles), Vibunzi
(ears of corn reflective of the number of children in the home), Zawadi
(gifts), Kikombe Cha Umoja (communal unity cup), and
Mishumaa Saba (the seven candles; one black, three red,
and three green). There are two optional, or supplementary symbols
which are Nguzo saba (seven principles), usually printed in large letters
for all to see, and Bendera ya Taifa (the national flag or standard).
The Bendera is the black, red and green flag given by the father of the
modern Black nationalist movement, Marcus Garvey. Red was for the blood
our people shed, green was for hope and is the color of the Motherland,
and black was for the face of our people.
As with other traditional holidays that have established meals,
Kwanzaa too has a traditional menu. This menu is put together based on the
seven principles, especially Ujima, Ujamaa,
and Kuumba. This menu could include some dishes like Kwanzaa
fried chicken, baked bluefish supreme, simply heavenly baked fish,
nice rice, dandy candied yams, rice cheese balls, sweet potato pie, and
African togetherness health salad. All it takes is some inspiration and
creativity to put together a celebration that will be remembered
throughout the years.
During Kwanzaa Africans fast from sunrise to sunset to cleanse
their bodies, minds and spirits. The spirit of Kwanzaa teaches them to
share their home, food, drink and music as their ancestors did during
the hunt or harvest. This same tradition is being carried out today.
African families open their home to other family members, friends and
neighbors to rejoice collectively in a meaningful way to strengthen unity.
Harambee (meaning "let’s pull together!")
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Uh-oh, Martha is a dog person, and how! Five dogs make their home
with her, all of them unwanted and now safe with her.
One is an Australian cattle dog, one an Australian shepherd.
One of her dogs is blind -- Martha took her in with her brother and
she gets around very well! The fifth is an Australian-corgi mix.
Quite a variety, and she loves them all.
Does anyone know what this is?