Growing up, I was always told – largely by my well-intentioned grade school teachers – that the holiday season embodies three holidays: the Christian holiday of Christmas, celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ; the Jewish holiday of Hanukah, celebrating the victorious revolt of the Maccabees and rededication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem; and the African-American holiday of Kwanzaa, celebrating something about African culture. I was never sure though, as we weren’t taught the origins of Kwanzaa.
As historical records go, the first official Christmas celebration was in 336 AD, under the reign of Roman Emperor Constantine, the first Christian emperor of Rome. Though never officially enshrined in history books, you can imagine the ancient Romans sauntering through the market in December, the first victims of endless, inescapable Christmas music. Hanukah, likewise, traces its roots back thousands of years, predating Christmas. Kwanzaa’s roots, on the other hand, trace as far back as to when the Beatles were still touring the United States.
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