La Plaza wishes you and yours a safe Holiday Season. Whether you are celebrating Christmas, Hanukkah or Kwanzaa we hope you find this page informative and entertaining.
Christmas Hanukkah Kwanza
Christmas is one of the few holidays that is celebrated worldwide with as many traditions as there are countries. Whether the symbols of Christmas are the Yule Log, singing carols, or Luminarias or Farolitos, the spirit rarely changes: The Spirit of Peace, Giving, and Good Will towards everyone.
Merry Christmas Feliz NavidadNew Mexican holidays, while celebrations of our cultural diversity, are also celebrations of all we have in common. They are expressions of ways to give thanks for the blessings of life, for our loved ones, and for the bounty of food that we receive.
Luminarias or Farolitos
Many years ago, Hispanic New Mexicans kindled small fires of pinon logs to light and warm their way to church on Christmas Eve. Later it was said that these fires were made to light the way for the Christ Child. With the advent of paper bags, the logs were replaced by candles et in a bed of sand at the bottome of a bag. Called Luminarias or Farolitos depending on where in New Mexico you are from, thousands of them create a golden glow which brings residents and tourists alike to the Plaza every Christmas season.Native American Celebrations
Some of the most touching and beautiful Holiday events are the Pueblo Dances and celebrations, many of which are combinations of Winter Solstice and Christian celebrations. These Dances are complex and beautiful, combining song in which stories are told, and the acting out of nature's dramas. They celebrate the the bounty of Mother Earth, the harvest of corn and the animals who give up their lives so that they may survive. They celebrate the seasons, the winds, the blessed moisture in a dry land, the gifts of wisdom, strength and persistence.Though many ceremonies may not be shared, the Pueblos,often called "The Rain Dance People," nevertheless welcome visitors to special celebrations which allow glimpses of their proud heritage.
Christmas Treat
Here is a Bilingual version of "Twas the Night Before Christmas", by Lalo Guerrero, who is from Tucson. Lalo Guerrero has been singing for fifty-odd years as an entertainer (L.A., Mexico City) of romantic music and musical parody.PANCHO CLAUS
(The Night before Christmas)
Twas the night before Christmas and all through la casa Not a creature
was stirring, Caramba! Que pasa?Los ninos were all tucked away in their camas, Some in vestidos and
some in pajamas. While Mama worked late in her little cocina, El viejo was
down at the corner cantina.The stockings were hanging con mucho cuidado, In hopes that St.
Nicholas would feel obligado To bring all the children, both buenos y
malos, A Nice batch of dulces and other regalos. Outside in the yard
there arouse such a grito, That I jumped to my feet like a frightened
cabrito.I went to the window and looked out afuera, And who in the world, do
you think que era? Saint Nick in a sleigh and a big red sombrero Came
dashing along like a crazy bombero! And pulling his sleigh instead of
venados, Were eight little burros approaching volados.
I watched as they came, and this little hombre was shouting and
whistling and calling by nombre.Ay, Pancho! Ay, Pepe! Ay, Cuca! Ay, Beto!
Ay, Chato! Ay, Chopo! Maruca and Nieto!Then standing erect with his hand on his pecho He flew to the top of
our very own techo. With his round little belly like a bowl of jalea, He
struggled to squeeze down our old chimenea.Then huffing and puffing, at last in our sala, With soot smeared all
over his red suit de gala. He filled the stockings with lovely regalos,
For none of the children had been very malos.Then chuckling aloud and seeming contento, He turned like a flash and
was gone like the viento.And I heard him exclaim and this is VERDAD,
Merry Christmas to all,
And to All Feliz Navidad!Some Christmas Links
Back to Top
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/2132/Christmas/index.html
Christmas Images for Downloadhttp://dir.yahoo.com/Society_and_Culture/Holidays_and_Observances/Christmas
Yahoo's Christmas Directoryhttp://christmas.com/worldview/
Christmas Around the World
Happy Hanukkah
Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights, is celebrated for eight days, commencing on the 25th day of the month of Kislev (November/December), to commemorate the victory of the Jews over the Hellenist Syrians in 165 BCE.
The most important observance associated with Hanukkah is the kindling of the Hanukkah lights on the Menorah or Hanukkiya, a seven- or nine-branch candelabrum. On each night more more light is kindled, beginning with one candle on the first night of Hanukkah and ending with eight on the final evening. The lighting is accompanied by the chanting of appropriate blessings and the singing of songs. The ninth branch is reserved for the shamash, the servant light, which is lit first and used to kindle the other lights of the Menorah.
"Light One Candle" a Hanukah song--written by Peter, Paul, and Mary. It appears on their Holiday Album, available through Amazon.Com .
Light One Candle
Light one candle for the Maccabee children,
Give thanks that their light didn't die.
And light one cnadle for the pain they endured,
When their right to exist was denied.
Light one candle for the terrible sacrifice
Justice and freedom demand,
Light one candle for the wisdom to know
When the peacemakers' time is at hand.Don't let the light go out
It's lasted for so many years,
Don't let the light go out,
Let it shine through our love and our tears.Light one candle for the strength tha twe need,
To never become our own foe,
Light one candle for those who are suffering,
Names we heard so long ago,
Light one candle for all we believe in,
That hate will not tear us apart,
Light one candle to bind us together,
For peace that's the song in our heart.Don't let the light go out
It's lasted for so many years,
Don't let the light go out,
Let it shine through our love and our tears.
Don't let the light go out
It's lasted for so many years,
Don't let the light go out,
Let it shine through our love and our tears.What is the memory,
That's valued so highly,
That we keep alive in that flame,
What's a commitment to those who have died,
We cry out they've not died in vain,
We have come this far,
Always believing,
That justice would somehow prevail,
This is the burning,
This the promise,
This is why we will not fail.Don't let the light go out
It's lasted for so many years,
Don't let the light go out,
Let it shine through our love and our tears.Don't let the light go out
It's lasted for so many years,
Don't let the light go out,
Let it shine through our love and our tears.Don't let the light go out.
Don't let the light go out.
Don't.let.the.light.go.out.Some Hanukkah Links
Back to Top
hhttp://www.theholidayspot.com/hanukkah/history.htm
History Of Hanukkahhttp://www.123greetings.com/events/hanukkah/
Send a Hanukkah Greetinghttp://www.holidays.net/chanukah/
Chanukah on the Web
Kwanzaa is a spiritual, festive and joyous celebration of the oneness and goodness of life, which claims no ties with any religion. Happy KWANZAA
The focus of Kwanzaa is centered around the seven principles (Nguzo Saba) with particular emphasis on the unity of our Black families. It is a time for gathering of our families, and for a rededication to manifesting the principles of Kwanzaa (Nguzo Saba)as a way of life for Black Americans.
NGUZO SABA - The Principles of Kwanzaa
The Nguzo Saba are the set of principles/ values by which Black Americans must order their relations and live their lives, if they are to make decisions about their lives and begin to build a new world and a new people to develop it.
1.UMOJA (UNITY) (oo-MOE-jah) - To strive for and maintain unity in the family, community, nation and race.2.KUJICHAGULIA (SELF DETERMINATION)
(koo-jee-cha-goo-LEE-ah) - To define ourselves, name ourselves, create for ourselves and speak for ourselves.3.UJIMA (COLLECTIVE WORK AND
RESPONSIBILITY) (oo-JEE-mah) - To build and maintain our community together and to make our brothers' and sisters' problems our problems and to solve them together.4.UJAMAA (COOPERATIVE ECONOMICS)
(oo-JAH-mah) - To build and maintain our own stores, shops and other businesses and to profit together from them.
5.NIA (PURPOSE) (nee-AH) - To make as our collective vocation the building and developing of our community in order to restore our people to their traditional greatness.6.KUUMBA (CREATIVITY) (koo-OOM-bah) - To do always as much as we can, in the way that we can, in order to leave our community more beautiful and beneficial than when we inherited it.
7.IMANI (FAITH) (ee-MAH-nee) - To believe with all our hearts in our parents, our teachers, our leaders, our people and the righteousness and victory of our struggle.
Some Kwanzaa Links
http://www.itskwanzaatime.com/music.html
Music of Kwanzaahttp://www.globalindex.com/kwanzaa/
Kwanzaa - An African-American Celebrationhttp://www.tike.com/celeb-kw.html
Everything about Kwanzaa
