Happy Hanukkah - Hanukkah begins every year during this special season on the 25th of the Jewish Month of "Kisley and is celebrated for eight days and nights.  Therefore, this year Hanukkah began on December 11th at sundown ends on December 19th.

The Festival of Lights: Hanukkah is the most widely celebrated American Jewish holiday, possibly because it is a fun, child-centered occasion. It is celebrated with excellent food, exchanging gifts, and lighting beautiful menorahs (special Hanukkah candelabras) filled with brightly colored candles. Unlike some of the other Jewish holidays, which require intense spiritual reflection or elaborate preparation, it is easy to celebrate.

Many Jewish holidays commemorate events invested with historical and religious meaning, and Hanukkah is no exception. Hanukkah means "rededication," and it commemorates the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem after its desecration by foreign forces. The celebration also reaffirms the continuing struggle to live by God's commandments and to lead Jewish lives.

When all is said and done, perhaps the most important message of Hanukkah may be found in the name of the holiday itself: Dedication. When Jews have dedicated themselves, through faith and action, to the pursuit of high religious and human ideals, Judaism has been strong. That imperative, to strengthen our religion and our people, remains an important challenge at this season, in every generation.

is celebrated during this special season traditionally from December 26th through January 1^st

Kwanzaa is an African-American cultural holiday conceived  and developed by Dr. Maulana Ron Karenga in 1966.  Each day of Kwanzaa focuses on Nguzo Saba, or the seven principles- "matunda ya kwanza" which means first fruits, Kwanzaa is rooted in the first harvest celebrations practiced in various cultures in Africa, and it seeks to (1) enforce a connectedness to African cultural identity, (2) provide a focal point for the gathering of African peoples, and (3) to reflect upon the Nguzo Saba, or the seven principles, that have sustained Africans. Africans and African - Americans of all religious faiths and backgrounds practice Kwanzaa.

NGUZO SABA - The 7 Principles of Kwanzaa

Umoja (Unity) To strive for and maintain unity in the family, community, nation and race.

Kujichagulia (Self-Determination) To define ourselves, name ourselves, create for ourselves and speak for ourselves.

Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility) To build and maintain our community together and make our brother's and sister's problems our problems and to solve them together.

Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics) To build and maintain our own stores, shops and other businesses and to profit from them together.

Nia (Purpose) To make our collective vocation the building and developing of our community in order to restore our people to their traditional greatness.

Kuumba (Creativity) To do always as much as we can, in the way we can, in order to leave our community more beautiful and beneficial than we inherited it.

Imani (Faith) To believe with all our heart in our people, our parents, our teachers, our leaders and the righteousness and victory of our struggle.

As I continue counting down to this exciting and spectacular Holiday, I leave you with a Christmas Blessing.  (Courtesy of John Greenleaf Whittier - an  influential American Fireside Poets and ardent advocate of the abolition of slavery in the United States.)

A Christmas Blessing
During this Christmas season,
May you be blessed
With the spirit of the season,
    which is peace,
The gladness of the season,
    which is hope,
And the heart of the season,
    which is love

Somehow, not only for Christmas
    But all the long year through,
The joy that you give to others
    Is the joy that comes back to you.
And the more you spend in blessing
    The poor and lonely and sad,
The more of your heart's possessing
    Returns to you glad.

De Happenings Don't forget  this Saturday, December 19th, 2009 - Sekou Flex Entertainment Presents his 4th Annual " Soca Parang Christmas Fete" featuring the popular Parang King of the World "Crazy".  The paranging certainly continues with Sekou at Zanzibar on the Waterfront - 700 Water Street, SW, Wash. DC (Diaspora Entrance), with great parang music being performed live by "Crazy", a live riddim section with Jump Starters  and 3 DJ's who will keep pumping the traditional Trinidad & Tobago's Christmas music and much more.  This exciting event is definitely one you cannot miss.  It will be full of fun, Parang, dancing, singing, good drinks, good vibes, good food (Black Cake, Ham and Turkey provided/sponsored by Crown Bakery and Sweet T&T), plus much more! Click the flyer to the left for all the details!   Plan to check out local Steel Pan Band "Pan Masters Steel Orchestra" at their annual parang on December 19th at their PanYard in Brentwood, Maryland.  The December Concert Series continues on this night as well, which will be followed by their annual Parang Celebration.  Click the flyer to the right for all the address and all details on this event!       HOUSE TO SHARE Finally, we received a listing regarding a House to Share in Laurel Maryland.   If anyone is in need of a place, and would love to share a beautiful home - please CLICK HERE  for all the details! Please check out our "Featured Events" below, or Log into our "Events" page for all the "What's Happening". Until Next Week, Take Good Care of yourselves and Have a lovely weekend!        Feel free to always comment regarding this commentary or any of my past E-Newsletter commentaries, and I thank you for all the intriguing and thought provoking comments you send me on a regular basis.  As usual, I am eager to hear your thoughts on all I wrote above, so I look forward to having you share them with me: susan@ariousentertainment.us.  Please check out our "Featured Events" below! Additionally log on to our  "Events" page to see all the events we are informed of.  Additionally, if you would like to share your thoughts on any of the issues above,  feel  free to send it directly to me at:  susan@ariousentertainment.us. Have a great weekend!  FEATURED EVENTS Check out our "Featured Events" listed below.   Also, there are several events taking place, so to view all the Events please log on to our "Events" Page above! To Enter The "Events" Page December 19, 2009 - North Brentwood, MD December 19, 2009 - Washington DC December 19, 2009 - Andrews Air Force Base, MD WIAMMA Holiday Dinner and Dance 2009 @ The Club, Andrews Air Force Base Time: 7:30 PM to 2:00 * Cost: $45.00 * Dinner: 8:30pm-10:00pm Music by: DJ Bobby Music Machine & DJ Brian To acquire tickets or event information, please contact the following members: Winfield St. Hill 301-523-1787; Pierre McLeod; 301-758-8273; Joel Robertson 301-782-4854; Lennox  Jobe 301-248-1779; Ian Gardner 301-877-9283; Marcus Rivas    301-728-5698; Jennifer Harris 703-943-9283; Ryan Bascombe 301-221-7788; Cedric Thomas 571-235-5797 A VALID PHOTO ID IS REQUIRED TO ENTER ANDREWS AIR FORCE BASE For More Details log on to: www.WIAMMA.com    December 19, 2009 - Norfolk, VA Featured Caribbean Social Network - LOG ON...JOIN...MAKE IT YOURS!