Thanks for the thoughts guys. I actually started thinking about it again because my son goes to a Saturday school in our city that is for people of African and/or Caribbean descent, and they do a huge celebration each year. So - some people here do celebrate it. Here is a bit of info I found today.
It was created by an African American but with the idea of Pan-Africanism. Our son is African, and not African American, so I'm not really worried if many AA's celebrate it per say...although in my reaserch I've found over 18 million celebrate it worldwide.
Here is a bit of basic background info:
"Kwanzaa is a seven-day holiday celebrated each year from Dec. 26 through Jan. 1.
Kwanzaa - Swahili for "first fruits" or "first fruits of the
harvest" - is a celebration of African-American heritage, community, family, and culture based on the rituals of African harvest festivals.
Kwanzaa is unique because it is a holiday with no religious, political or heroic associations. The holiday is not intended to substitute for Christmas, but rather to provide a time to focus on and celebrate African-American culture and traditions.
Kwanzaa is celebrated annually by an estimated 18 million people of African descent throughout the United States, Canada, England and the Caribbean"
Personally, although it wouldn't replace Christmas, it would add a bit of extra "meaning" to it for us, as we are not Christian. I also like how it stresses the idea of non-commercialism.
And thanks Ajax for the thoughts - but if my kids are going to be embarassed by anything it will be for alot more than the holidays we celebrate
For example, the other day we went to our 15 yr olds awards ceremony for honour roll. Auditorium was PACKED. My two year old takes off and I go to chase him, but my foot gets caught in my pant leg and I FLY through the air right and land on my...umm...well, you know...in front of the entire auditorium.
My 9 yr old thinks this is HILARIOUS and can't stop laughing at the top of his lungs...so, um, yeah, they're going to be embarassed by me no matter what so we might as well have some fun doing it!