Category: Holidays

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Drive-thru holiday light shows

Whether you’re celebrating Christmas, the Festival of Lights, Kwanzaa, or Festivus (for the Rest of Us) this holiday season — it’s safe to say that we could all use a little extra light in our lives this year. If you’re looking for family friendly activities that are also COVID-safe — consider taking the show on the road!

Holiday Fantasy of Lights

Holiday Fantasy of Lights is proud to announce its 26th year of spreading magical, luminescent cheer! A South Florida family tradition, Holiday Fantasy of Lights will return for the 2020 season displaying its drive-thru spectacular with thousands of lights to dazzle the whole family. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to Gilda’s Club of South Florida, an organization dedicated to providing free services to men, women, and children impacted by cancer.

Website: holidaylightsdrivethru.com

Located: Tradewinds Park 3600 W

Sample Rd. Coconut Creek, FL 33073

2020 Dates: Nov 20 – Jan 2, 2021

Hours: Nightly 6-10 p.m.

 

Lights 4 Hope

Lights 4 Hope, Inc will return once again for the 2020 season to showcase a delightfully illuminated drive-thru holiday light show with a purpose — to share the spirit of giving with those less fortunate, and inspire happiness and hope to those in need during the holiday season. As a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, proceeds from the light show will go toward gifting holiday decorations and presents to children in local hospitals and families in need.

Website: lights4hope.org

Located: Okeeheelee Park 7715

Forest Hill Blvd. WPB, FL 33413

Cost: $12 to $30 depending on vehicle size, number of occupants.

2020 Dates: Nov 20 – 22, Nov 27-29, Dec 4-6, Dec 11-13, Dec 18-20, Dec 25-27, 2020

Hours: Fridays & Saturdays 6-10 p.m.

Sundays 6-9 p.m. (weather permitting)

Neighborhoods
For decades, these neighborhoods in South Florida have made a tradition out of bringing festive joy to the hearts and sparkle to the eyes of both the young and old by illuminating their homes and communities.

Gabriel Lane “The Christmas Street” (West Palm Beach, FL)

The Heights of Jupiter (Jupiter, FL)

 

 

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A not-so-tradional Thanksgiving

For many, at prior Thanksgiving holiday gatherings, it was the more people, the merrier. Not so much this Thanksgiving. If you are planning on hosting or attending a Thanksgiving celebration, to minimize your COVID-19 risk, here are some things to think about according to the CDC and other sources:

• Will the gathering be indoor or outdoors?

• How long will people be together? Hours? Days?

• How many people will be in attendance?

• What mode of travel will people be using, and are they coming
from areas with high infection rates? (Think about college
students returning for the holiday.)

• Have attendees been wearing masks, socially distancing, and
practicing other preventative measures, and will they do that at
the gathering?

• Are some people at greater risk due to age or underlying
conditions?

And even if you can’t be with family and friends in person, you can join them virtually.

The good news? More leftovers.

And then comes another tradition to re-examine: Black Friday, the traditional start of holiday shopping.

Unlike in years past, major retailers such as Walmart, Target, Kohl’s, Dick’s Sporting Goods, ULTA, and Best Buy will be closed on Thanksgiving Day. Given a retailer might see 30 percent to 40 percent of their retail sales in October – December, and being in crowds can be unhealthy, holiday deals will be spread throughout the 3-month period instead of clustered from Thanksgiving to Christmas.

When it comes to what gifts we’ll be giving and getting this year, that too is expected to change. While gifting experiences such as travel, concerts and events, has become more popular in recent years, with the pandemic expect a return to more tangible gifts including electronics, home entertainment, health and fitness equipment, and toys.

Black Friday will still have its share in-person deals, but expect long lines as stores limit the number of people in-store at one time, and prepare to follow safety protocols (using hand sanitizer and wearing masks) in-store.

Overall, online shopping is expected to be very big business from Thanksgiving through Cyber Monday. Sales are forecasted to reach $51.1 billion, up 80 percent compared to the $28.4 billion in sales in 2019.

A tradition that has survived the pandemic, with some changes, is Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

The show will go on—this is its 94th year— but will be different. The New York City event usually draws 3.5 million spectators, but this year crowds are discouraged.

Instead of the parade from uptown Manhattan to Midtown, the celebration will be in front of Macy’s Herald Square store. The balloons will still be there, but have no human handlers, and guest performances will be taped instead of live. High school and college marching bands won’t be appearing. If you want to tune in, it’s on NBC Thanksgiving Day from 9 a.m. until noon. Wishing you all a happy and healthy Thanksgiving!

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Thanksgivings remembered, recipes revised

Thanksgiving has always been my favorite holiday. As a child in the 1950s I would wake up early and smell the fire my father had made in family-room fireplace, right next to our kitchen. My mother was already in the kitchen making stuffing. She had to begin early because we had lots of aunts, uncles and cousins coming over for dinner A 22-pound turkey was a bare minimum.

My mother’s stuffing was a combination of breads, herbs, vegetables, butter, sauteed chicken livers, and stock. I usually would get downstairs as she was mixing everything together. I was her taster. I would tell her if there was something needed. She was very careful about any mixture because she told me you can always add ingredients but you can’t take them out.

She would stuff both cavities and if there was any left, make a bowl for my sister and I to eat later. Thanksgiving aside, stuffing is on my top-ten favorite food list.

Everything after that was pretty typical of Thanksgiving: Jellied cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, green beans with crispy onions with cream of mushroom soup.

We did have a relish tray that had olives, black and green, celery, radishes and green onions (scallions). Basically, I made most of my dinner out of stuffing, smothered in gravy. Dessert, of course, was traditional pumpkin pie with lots of whipped cream.

Years later, after I started college, I began to cook. Our dorm had a small kitchen. The food in the college dining hall was passable, but anytime I could get away with my own cooking I did.

After while other girls joined me. Everything was very simple then because our tiny dorm kitchen had limited supplies of utensils, pots and pans.

By the time I got married I was cooking up a storm. I had my own kitchen and all the handy gadgets I could get my hands on. After we had children, I needed something to do. I began talking to other car-pool moms about my love of cooking. I had fantasized about having my own catering business.

Fortunately, one of the mothers ask if I had any interest in catering their Christmas holiday party. After that I got one phone call after another. My catering career was launched.

I knew that as much as I loved my mother’s food, there were foods out there that were a bit more sophisticated and inspiring, like Beef Wellington. I also have to thank my customers because I learned to cook lots of foods just because I said I could. Thus, began my in-depth reading and collecting of cook books. And I began to put my own spin on most recipes.

For example, returning to Thanksgiving, canned cranberry sauce is okay, but cranberry relish is several delectable steps above the gelatinous tube of magenta-colored mixture containing high fructose corn syrup, water and citric acid. Oh yeah, and some processed cranberries. The relish is very easy and can be created with ingredients customized to your family’s tastes.

Another food I added to my own Thanksgiving dinner was a Corn Timbale. It looks beautiful and tastes delicious. It’s a combination of corn, cheese, eggs and cream. As a caterer, I cared very much about presentation. If food looked delicious, most likely it would taste delicious. My catering career lasted 13 years. We moved to Chicago and I became a consultant for one of the city’s top caterers. (Note from husband: George Jewell took one look at photos of my wife’s catering creations and hired her on the spot.)

After my husband and I moved to Florida, I started teaching cooking at the Williams-Sonoma at Boca Raton’s Town Mall. What I found was there were lots of people who loved to cook but were intimidated by the process or the ingredients. I think I succeeded in taking some of the fear out of that!

I hope you enjoy these recipes as much as I do.

And feel free to add or subtract as you feel comfortable.

 

Bread Stuffing/Dressing

  • 2 lbs. bread, cubed (white, wheat, French) I save up old bread for weeks before the holiday.
  • Let dry out on a cookie sheet. If you keep it wrapped, you’re going to end up with penicillin.
  • 1 1⁄2 sticks unsalted butter
  • 4 to 5 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
  • 3 stalks celery, chopped
  • 3 onions, chopped
  • 3 to 4 cloves garlic, peeled and halved
  • 1/2 cup parsley (I use curly leaf)
  • 1 lb. fresh mushrooms, sliced
  • 3 chicken livers, deveined
  • 6 to 8 cups chicken stock
  • 2 eggs, beaten
  • 1⁄2 cup milk
  • Sage, dried or fresh (if using dried start off with 2 Tbsp. If using fresh chop leaves from 4 to 5 stems.)
  • Kosher salt and fresh pepper to taste
  1. Put all bread crumbs into a large bowl.
  2. Take the neck and heart from the turkey cavity and add to chicken stock. Heat
    to a simmer.
  3. Skim if necessary.
  4. Melt 1⁄2 stick of butter in pan over medium heat and add half of the
    onions, celery and all the garlic. Sauté about 10 to 12 minutes or until they are just translucent. Do not allow the garlic to brown. If you see it brown, take it out and add to bread crumb mixture.
  5. Add the uncooked onions, celery, and parsley to the bowl of bread crumbs. Add half of the chicken stock. Cover with plate or foil. This allows mixture to become moist.
  6. Using the same pan that you sautéed the onion mixture in, add 1⁄2 stick
    butter and 3 Tbsp. olive oil and heat on medium high until it is very hot. Add the mushrooms. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and allow to brown before mixing. Mushrooms will give off their liquid unless you cook them quickly. After they are browned, put into a wooden mixing bowl and chop very fine. You can also leave the mushrooms whole.
  7. Using the sauté pan again, add 1 Tbsp. butter or oil and sauté chicken livers until just cooked through. Chop well and add to mixture.
  8. Add another 2 cups of the chicken stock to the empty sauté pan and allow to simmer to pick up all the browned bits. Mix thoroughly. Cover again. Mix the eggs into the milk. Add this to the bread crumb mixture. Season with salt and pepper.
  9. You will have some stock left as well as some butter and oil. I do this because you may have started with more bread crumbs.
  10. I taste this mixture for seasoning. Even though there are fresh, uncooked eggs!
  11. Stuff your bird or put the dressing into a casserole.
  12. For the extra dressing, bake at 350 degrees for 1⁄2 hour covered with foil and 1⁄2 hour uncovered.

And remember, you may omit the chicken livers or mushrooms depending on family tastes. My husband wasn’t a fan of either when we married 46 years ago, but accepts nothing less now.

Corn Timbale

  • 12 ears of fresh corn
  • 6 eggs, mixed well
  • 1 large onion, chopped fine
  • 5 Tbsp. fresh parsley, chopped
  • 1 cup fresh bread crumbs
  • 1 cup gruyère cheese, shredded
  • 3⁄4 cup heavy whipping cream
  • 1/8 tsp cayenne
  • Kosher salt and fresh ground pepper
  1. Remove kernels of corn with a sharp knife and using a food processor, process 6 to 8 pulses. Pour into a bowl and add the rest of the ingredients.
  2. Butter an enamel baking container and place parchment paper on the bottom. Pour mixture into the container and place container into a larger pan, wide enough to add boiling water to go a third of the way up on the sides.
  3. Bake at 350 degrees until golden brown on top, approximately 1 hour.
  4. Take out of water bath and cool completely. Run a knife around the edge of timbale and turn out onto a platter.

I like to sauté brussels sprouts and put around the edge of the timbale. The green and yellow make a nice presentation.

 

Cranberry Relish

  • 1 12oz bag of fresh cranberries
  • 1 3⁄4 cups sugar
  • 1 granny smith apple, peeled, cored,
    and cut into small pieces
  • 1 cup dried cherries
  • Juice of 1 lemon
  1. Add all ingredients and bring to a boil on top of stove.
  2. Cook on a simmer until all the skins have popped, approximately 1⁄2 hour.
  3. Let cool completely.

Serve in glass bowl.

Have a safe, happy Thanksgiving
everybody.

 

 

 

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So much more than a parade

“Listen,” my mother said, “here it comes.” I heard the sound of drums and then horns in the distance, my first glimpse of a marching band. This was my first Fourth of July parade.

That morning was warm and sunny. At home, my mom told my dad to “hurry up,” we had to get there or we wouldn’t be able to see. My dad hoisted me up in his arms and then up over his head so I straddled his shoulders.

Off we went. We didn’t have a car, so it seemed like a long walk before I was on the ground and sitting on the curbstone across from the Everett Mill building in Lawrence, Massachusetts. Before long, a man came by selling balloons. My mom bought me an ice cream bar from a car and a crowd began to gather on the other side of the street ad behind us, three deep. Many of them held small flags.

As a young child, the Fourth of July was just a day for a parade with marching bands, girls twirling sticks, local Boy Scout troops trying to walk in step, policemen marching, some soldiers or sailors, and fire trucks at the end of the parade. There was music and flag waving and cookouts and summer fun.

At some point, however, I began hearing about the Declaration of Independence and that Thomas Jefferson wrote it. School textbooks were of little interest to me; they seemed so dull, even boring. The books had dates and dry facts: John Adams was born on October 30, 1735 and became the second president of the United States in 1797. No history teacher stirred my interest, either.

I was out of high school before I really felt, understood, and appreciated that these men — many who were men of wealth and means — had so much to lose and literally risked hanging as traitors guilty of treason. Still, they boldly and courageously signed their names to the document that accused King George III of multiple offenses and declared their independence.

Who knew what would happen next? A group of colonies had declared war on a powerful nation with a mighty military. The colonies had no army when they took on King George.

In August 1776, British troops, some 34,000 of them, were prepared to invade New York. About a year earlier Patrick Henry told angry colonists meeting at St. John’s Church in Richmond Virginia: “Give me liberty or give me death.” The sentiment grew among the colonists.

The Declaration of Independence was born during the summer of 1776. It did not flow unimpeded from Thomas Jefferson’s pen. He was the original wordsmith, but over 17 days, a committee and representatives at the Continental Congress made more than 80 changes to Jefferson’s draft. They voted for independence on July 2 and released the final signed declaration on July 4.

John Hancock, the first to sign it, stressed the need for unity when he said, “We must hang together,” to which Benjamin Franklin added, “Yes, we must, indeed, all hang together, or most assuredly we shall all hang separately.”

They pledged to each other “our fortunes and our sacred honor.”

They knew independence would not come easily. John Adams said “the object is great which we have in view, and we must expect a great expense of blood to obtain it. But we must remember that a free constitution of civil government cannot be purchased at too dear a rate.”

The king called them traitors. They called themselves patriots. The colonists did indeed shed their blood and win their independence, setting the stage for the creation of a unique government that persists today, in spite of social upheaval, unrest and pandemic.

And, on a much smaller scale, they saved me that space on the curb in Lawrence, Massachusetts so many years later, and the right for my mother to say, “Listen, here it comes.”

 

by Bill Johnson

Bill Johnson is a retired news reporter and congressional aide who is now a freelance writer.

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Do not forget them…

In Flanders Fields – John McCrae

In Flanders Fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie,
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high,
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

 

“In the spring of 1915 bright red flowers began poking through the battle ravaged land across northern France and Flanders (northern Belgium),” Barbara Maranzani wrote for history.com. 

“Canadian Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae, who served on an Allied artillery unit, spotted a cluster of the poppies shortly after serving as a brigade surgeon during the bloody Second Battle of Ypres.

“The sight of the bright red flowers against the dreary backdrop of the war,” she continued, “inspired McCrae to pen the poem, “In Flanders Fields,” in which he gives voice to the soldiers who had been killed in battle and lay buried beneath the poppy-covered grounds.”

The United States was not to enter the war for another two years, in April 1917. It was the month and year my father was born in Buffalo, N.Y. It was exactly one year before my wife’s father was born in St. Louis, MO. Archie and Bob.

Both served bravely in World War II: My wife’s father building hospitals for injured soldiers across Europe; my father at the controls of an M4 Sherman tank prowling Nazi-occupied Czechoslovakia. My wife’s mother, Pearl, born in Chicago in 1923, also served overseas in the U.S. Army during the war. That’s where Pearl met Bob.

Archie, Bob and Pearl were part of what Tom Brokaw called “The Greatest Generation.” They were among those who returned to their families.

This month we honor all the men and women who didn’t make it home, who gave up their lives in too many wars.

Earlier this year, before Covid-19 struck, Memorial Day events had been planned in communities throughout Broward and Palm Beach counties.

The “better part of valor,” however, as Shakespeare’s Falstaff reasoned in Henry IV, Part I, might still have us in stay-at-home mode at the end of the month.

One hundred years ago the country was still trembling from the devastation of the Spanish Flu. It killed an estimated 675,000 Americans between 1918 and 1920, more than were killed during the Civil War.

It was that same Civil War that sparked Union General John Logan to establish “Decoration Day” on May 30, 1868 to honor the estimated 620,000 who died in the four-year struggle. The name was later changed to Memorial Day and set for the last Monday in May.

One hundred years ago there were Memorial Day celebrations throughout Florida — in Tampa, Miami, Orlando — but at least one nearby city chose a different path.

“No Plans For Observance of Memorial Day,” read a headline on the front page of the Palm Beach Post, May 18, 1920.

“No preparations are under way for observance of Memorial Day,” the story read. “There is no post of the G.A.R and no organization of the Confederate Veterans or Spanish War Veterans” planning events for the day.

The G.A.R. was the The Grand Army of the Republic, the fraternal organization composed of veterans of the Union Army, Navy, Marines and the U.S. Revenue Cutter Service who served in the American Civil War.

After World War I Memorial Day was expanded to honor Americans killed in all wars. It became an official federal holiday in 1971.

This year, this month, again for “the better part of valor,” the Indianapolis 500, traditionally held on Memorial Day, has been postponed to August 23.

Still in its infancy a century ago, the race was held as scheduled on Monday, May 31. It was the race’s eighth running at The Brickyard.

Gaston Chevrolet, brother of the man who started the Chevrolet car company, won the race, posting an average speed of 88.6 miles per hour. The average speed at the 2019 race was 175.8 miles per hour.

Whatever Memorial Day events are allowed this difficult year and whomever you’re with, the Parklander joins all of you in honoring those brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country.

Richard Battin, Editor

We are the Dead. Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

Loved and were loved, and now we lie,

In Flanders fields.

 

Wikipedia page on Memorial Day

Wikipedia page on In Flanders Fields

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STAYCATIONING

in Florida’s historic hotels

Staying at a historic hotel is a unique experience filled with old-world charm that transports you to another era. You can enjoy that experience at one of the fourteen Florida hotels that are part of the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s Historic Hotels of America.

A hotel must be at least 50 years old and utilize historic accommodations to be included in the prestigious program. The hotel must also be designated as a historic landmark or eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places.

Classic Florida style from the 19th and early 20th centuries pervades in hotels like the jazz-age Colony Club Hotel in Delray Beach. Opened in 1926, its gracious lobby still contains original iron chandeliers, terrazzo floors, and even a manually operated elevator. There, you can lounge in one of 50 pieces of 1920s wicker furniture or head out to the huge veranda to enjoy coastal breezes. Classic cocktails await at the Colony Porch Bar or you shop several boutiques inside. When the waves call, the Club has 250 feet of private beach with complimentary cabanas and chaises for guests.

Across the state, in St. Petersburg, the Don CeSar, affectionately known as the “Pink Palace,” is a Mediterranean-style building opened in 1928. It’s hosted such notables as F. Scott Fitzgerald, Al Capone, and Franklin Roosevelt. During much of the 20th century, the Don CeSar was conscripted into military service as an Air Force convalescent center and eventually a Veteran’s Administration office. It was saved from an uncertain fate and returned to its former grandeur as a hotel in the 1970s after a $7.5 million restoration.

Casa Monica Hotel circa 1900. (Wikimedia Commons)

St. Augustine’s landmark Casa Monica Hotel opened in 1888 and was purchased by railroad magnate Henry Flagler soon after its opening. The five-story Moorish-revival hotel boasts 100-foot towers capped with red tile and an arched carriage entrance showing 19th-century roots. Inside, take time to admire the gold-leafed archways and hand-painted Italian tile. Its 138 guest rooms have Spanish-style furniture, including wrought-iron four-poster beds and mahogany tables. The Casa Monica Hotel was reopened as a historic hotel in 1999 and soon after hosted the King and Queen of Spain. Today, it’s considered one of the finest boutique hotels in the country and St. Augustine’s only AAA Four-Diamond property.

Near the center of Miami Beach’s Art Deco Historic District sits the 14-story National Hotel. When it opened in 1939, the National Hotel was considered one of the grandest hotels on Miami Beach; today, the authentically restored Art Deco property stands as a testament to Miami’s golden era. Inside are treasures like hand-picked Deco-era furnishings, terrazzo floors, and a massive original oak bar, the centerpiece of the hotels’ Blues Bar. You can also enjoy jazz and other live entertainment or take a dip in the 250-foot palm-lined infinity pool. For more information on these or any of the other Historic Hotels of America, visit HistoricHotels.org.

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Honoring Martin Luther King, Jr.

Throughout the history of the United States, there were many individuals who fought for justice. Those who believed society needed to be repaired from effects of inequality began to fight for change. Martin Luther King, Jr., is one individual who began to become involved in these changes. The arrest of Rosa Parks in 1955 led King and other black community leaders to unify and placed him in the forefront of the fight for civil rights. Examining and analyzing this man is essential in order to better understand the reasons in which he is celebrated each year.

“I look to a day when people will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.” These words, spoken by King, clearly display what he stood for – racial equality and human rights. King also stood for nonviolent ways of advocating for equality for African Americans. He believed in protesting peacefully and using words to spread his message of racial equality. Honoring MLK
Writer Chris Lebron said,
“While he indeed fought for the security of a full schedule of rights for black Americans, he was, in fact, fighting for something greater and more difficult to articulate – the hope that white Americans could extend a hand of brotherly and sisterly love to blacks.” (opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/01/18/what-to-the-black-american-is-martin-luther-king-jr-day/.) This certainly resonates with his ideology of all people living and accepting each other. During the 1950s and 1960s, in the South and other areas of the United States, discrimination against African Americans heightened. As a result of this, King began to organize peaceful marches through the streets of many southern cities. With many behind him and others opposing him, he continued to fight for justice. As a result of his efforts, Congress passed the Civil Rights Act in 1964.

Looking forward to today, Martin Luther King’s legacy lives on. Local events take place annually in Broward County that commemorates his work. Various Broward County libraries are hosting events such as children stories, craft projects, and a youth summit. In addition, the City of Fort Lauderdale is hosting an event titled “United We Complete the Dream.” The event, which takes place on January 15, includes a parade, a unity march, and a multicultural festival.

These events allow young children and adults to be educated on the importance of this civil rights leader. While many have this day off from school, it is essential to participate in a day of service. Serving those who are underserved in our local community is an act that Martin Luther King would certainly applaud.

IF YOU GO:

King Holiday Parade & Unity March
When: January 15, 8 to 9:30am
Where: Lincoln Park, 600 NW 19th Ave.

King Holiday Celebration of Unity & Multicultural Festival
When: January 15, 10:30am
Where: Espanade Park, 400 SW 2nd Street

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The Celebration of Kwanzaa

Have you wondered what the Kwanzaa celebration involves?

Kwanzaa, the African American harvest and annual holiday, is a weeklong celebration from December 26 through January 1.

Dr. Maulana Karenga, professor and chairman of Black Studies at California State University, Long Beach, founded Kwanzaa in 1966. According to history.com, Karenga wanted to unite the African-American community, following the Watts riots in Los Angeles.

“As an African American and Pan-African holiday celebrated by millions throughout the world…Kwanzaa brings a cultural message which speaks to the best of what it means to be African and human in the fullest sense.” The Official Kwanzaa Website explains. Kwanzaa

South Florida celebrants look forward to sharing their African American heritage at this time.
Lisa Jackson, librarian at the African American Research Library and Cultural Center in Fort Lauderdale said, “It’s a celebration of unity, culture, family, and community.”

Koffi Ayi of Boca Raton agrees. “It is more of a cultural celebration and keeping the traditions of the African culture alive.”

To get into the spirit of Kwanzaa, one must decorate their home accordingly. It is customary to start by setting the table with a green tablecloth in the center of your home upon which a Mkeka, a straw or woven mat symbolizing African ancestry, is placed.

The seven days of Kwanzaa represent seven core values and nightly rituals are observed.
The main staple is lighting the Kinara. The candle-lighting ceremony draws everyone together to discuss the meaning of the holiday. Ayi enjoys “giving thanks and eating together with the family or tribe.”

The Seven Days of Kwanzaa:

Day one represents Umoja or Unity. The black candle is lit, and the Unity cup is filled with fruit juice and shared among participants. A passage or poem relating to the principle or one’s personal connection may also be shared. “The Unity part of Kwanzaa is the most important part for African Americans in the U.S.,” Ayi said.

Day two represents Kujichagulia or Self-Determination. As it pertains to Kwanzaa, this principle means to define, name, and speak for ourselves.

Day three represents Ujima or Collective Work and Responsibility. As stated on the website oneunited.com, “We must build and maintain our community together and make our brothers’ and sisters’ problems our problems and solve them together.” It is customary to work on a project as a family and donate to goodwill. The green candlelight signifies accomplishments as well as failings.

Day four represents Ujamaa or Collective Economics, which supports working together and sharing profits to build community.

Day five represents Nia or Purpose, encouraging one to set personal goals, as well as community goals.

Day six represents Kuumba or Creativity. Families put up extra decorations, don colorful outfits, listen to music and share stories.

Coinciding with New Year’s Eve, the Kwanzaa Karamu or Feast is enjoyed with friends and family.

Day seven represents Imani or Faith. According to africanamericanregistry.org, “This principle focuses on honoring the best of our traditions, draws upon the best in ourselves, and helps us strive for a higher level of life for humankind.”

Symbols of Kwanzaa include:
Mazao – fruit or crops placed in a bowl, representing the community’s productivity.
Kinara – a seven-pronged candle-holder.
Mishumaa Saba – the seven candles which represent the seven core principles of Kwanzaa. Three candles on the left are red, representing struggle; three on the right are green, representing hope; and one in the center is black, signifying the African American people or those who draw their heritage from Africa.
Muhindi – ears of corn.
Zawadi – gifts for the children.
Kikombe cha Umoja -Unity cup representing family and community.
Visit kwanzaalights.com/Kinara for the candle lighting order.

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The History of Father’s Day

“It is a wise father that knows his own child.” – William Shakespeare. Father’s Day is a time to celebrate fatherhood and give thanks for the significant male role models in one’s life. Although not as old a tradition as Mother’s Day, Father’s Day has its own unique history. The first Father’s Day may be traced back to the Middle Ages and the Catholic holiday of Saint Joseph’s Day celebrated on March 19. Father’s Day has also been linked to the June Solstice and pagan sun worship where the Sun has been called the “Father of the Universe.” Fathers make up a group of hardworking and dedicated men. Some cook and tend to household chores, some hold stressful jobs outside the home, some volunteer their time and serve as coaches or town councilmen, some are successful businessmen.

Whatever jobs or titles fathers may have, the best fathers have one trait in common: their families are their number one priority. Fatherhood takes on an even greater significance when the male parents are the sole caregivers of children. Such was the case for Sonora Louise Smart Dodd. Dodd, daughter of American Civil War Veteran, William Jackson Smart, is credited with being the founder of Father’s Day. Dodd, unfortunately, lost her mother when she was 16 years old. She then helped her father care for her five younger brothers.

While attending a church sermon on Mother’s Day, Dodd was inspired and motivated to make sure that her father received the same recognition. She reached out to local churches, the YMCA, shopkeepers, and government offices, campaigning for a special day to honor fatherhood just as Mother’s Day honors motherhood. Dodd originally requested for her father’s birthday, June 5, to be Father’s Day. However, the Ministerial Alliance in Spokane, Washington chose the third Sunday of June, thus the first “Father’s Day” was on June 19, 1910. In 1916, President Woodrow Wilson sent a telegraph to Spokane, Washington declaring the importance of Father’s Day Services. Five decades later in 1966, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed a Presidential Proclamation declaring the third Sunday of June as Father’s Day. In 1972, President Richard Nixon made it official and recognized Father’s Day as a National Holiday to be celebrated each year. Presently, Father’s Day is observed in 52 countries around the world. Countries in Europe, the United Kingdom, and Canada have adopted the U.S. custom of celebrating Father’s Day on the third Sunday in June.

Father’s Day may be celebrated in any way that makes a father figure feel extra special. Traditions and activities range from friendly visits and phone calls to lavish picnics and parties. Other common forms of celebration include treating dad to dinner at his favorite restaurant or showering him with gifts such as clothing or sporting equipment. Some of the most popular Father’s Day gift items include neckties, fishing gear, golf accessories, hats, socks, and electronics. Many fathers look forward to watching sports during Father’s Day weekend, as the U.S. Open Golf Tournament final is always televised that day. However, you go about celebrating, remember your favorite father figures on Sunday, June 18 this year.

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The History of Passover

Passover, Pesach in Hebrew, is one of the most important holidays in Judaism. Observed annually by Jewish people around the world, Passover is the first of the spring holidays and occurs during Nisan, the first month of the Hebrew lunar calendar.

Passover: A Celebration of Freedom and Renewal

The week-long holiday begins with a Seder, which means order. There are important rules and customs to observe before, during, and after the holiday meal.

At Seder, everyone gathers around the table and the Passover story is recited.
Participants read the Haggadah, the oldest liturgical text documenting the Israelites exodus from Egypt. Some families choose to make their own haggadot; others read from the original text. The story begins with the Israelites, who were made slaves by a cruel Pharaoh for more than 200 years in Egypt.

After much suffering, the Israelites enter into a sacred covenant with God: God promises to protect the Israelites in exchange for their devotion. God responds to Pharaoh’s mistreatment of the Israelites by casting “Ten Plagues” upon the land.

The Ten Plagues is a series of catastrophic events that include turning water into blood, sending swarms of locusts, and condemning to death all first-born sons. God instructs the Israelites to mark their homes with the blood of a lamb so the “angel of death” will “pass over” them and spare their first-born sons.

Pharaoh is finally convinced of God’s divine power and agrees to set the Israelites free. God appoints Moses to lead his people out of Egypt. At the Seder, celebratory songs accompany the story of the Exodus while adding to the holiday spirit.

Passover: The “Festival of Matzot”

Passover is also a time when Jewish people appreciate their history and celebrate their freedom. Every Seder starts with the words: “All who are hungry, let them come and eat.”

Foods eaten at the Passover meal are reminiscent of the suffering the Israelites endured. Matzot, known as the bread of affliction, is the most symbolic of these foods. Because the Israelites had to flee quickly from Egypt, they did not have time to bake their bread. This unleavened bread became what we now know as matzo.

Along with matzo, symbolic foods at the Seder table include: a roasted shank bone for the sacrificial lamb, a roasted egg, haroset: a mixture of fruit and nuts reminiscent of the bricks made by enslaved Israelites, green vegetables for springtime, bitter herbs to signify the harsh treatment of the Israelites, and salt water symbolic of their tears.

At the Seder, a favorite tradition involves hiding a special piece of matzo known as the Afikomen. After the meal, all young children search for the Afikomen. Those who find it receive a prize.

At the end of the Seder, a final cup of wine is offered and a door is opened for Elijah the Prophet. The hope is that Elijah, a miracle worker, will bring peace for the year ahead.

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December Blues

This time of year, when fall leads into winter, always boosts my spirits. It’s during this period of late November and December when there’s a variety of elements I find pleasing. The cooler weather is a big one. Give me low 50’s and 60’s all year-long and I’d be happy. A jog or walk around the neighborhood will not feel any better than it does now.

sportsThen there are sports. Baseball is long finished, but hockey and basketball are in full swing, and football is now getting to the good stuff. NFL teams are making their last push for a spot in the playoffs. College bowl games, even meaningless ones, are still fun. NCAA basketball is hitting full stride too. Whatever you like – and I like it all – it’s there in bunches.

With the holidays comes what feels like a collective deceleration of our society, at least a couple of weeks of diversion from the typical routine of the year, a period with some days off, visits to the stores for gifts, maybe some travel. I dig the festive lights around the neighborhoods and even the radio channels dedicated for a few weeks to holiday songs. I was born in the winter and maybe that has something to do with it. I just feel good this time of year.

Unfortunately, many people experience a different mood during these months. Seasonal Depressive Disorder or a milder version sometimes called “winter blues,” is a type of depression that recurs in relation to seasonal changes, and most commonly affects people in the late fall and winter months. Fittingly, December is Seasonal Depression Awareness Month.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health’s website, in addition to feelings of depression, this disorder during the winter is characterized by low energy, social withdrawal, and a propensity to overeat (with a particular craving for carbohydrates). The effects of SAD is seen in increasing numbers in populations further from the equator. Women and young adults are more often affected. About ten to 20 percent of Americans may suffer from mild symptoms of winter blues. Fortunately, only one percent of Floridians experience SAD.

Causes include biochemical changes related to the shortening of daylight hours in the winter such as the increased production of melatonin due to more darkness, as well as difficulty regulating serotonin, an important neurotransmitter related to mood.

Some preventative tips are to seek exposure to light and the sunshine, and keep a regular sleep schedule. In addition, as hard as it is this time of year, avoidance of overeating is also recommended.

Seasonal depression is treatable by various methods, including medication, cognitive-behavioral therapy, light therapy, and vitamin D supplements. If you know anyone who could benefit from professional treatment related to seasonal depression, there is a wealth of information online that should get them started in the right direction.

Here’s to a joyous and safe holiday season for all our readers.

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Celebrating Turkey Day on a Castle

by Victoria Landis

castleIf you carve your Thanksgiving turkey in a galvanized tub while wearing cargo shorts and sitting on a stool on a flat castle roof, you might be a unique kind of redneck.

For 16 years, I hosted Thanksgiving dinner, usually for 10 to 12 people. I skew toward a medium-formal setting when I host; placemats, napkins, matching silverware, a table centerpiece, but nothing too Martha Stewart-y. But last year, I needed a break from the two full days of dawn-to-dusk cleaning, prepping, and cooking. So I made my cancellation announcement to the normal invitees, withstood some loud, and withering complaints, then my significant other and I headed south. Since we were lucky enough to be in the Florida Keys, we were invited to partake of the annual feast at the home of an acquaintance of the SO’s.

They were so kind to include us, and we gratefully accepted. I brought a big bottle of Pinot Grigio, and a from-scratch apple pie. We arrived at 3pm, as requested. They lived in an unusual place: A fake medieval castle. Yeppers. Had the notched parapet wall at the top and everything. A souvenir shop occupied the ground floor, and although there was no way to tell from the outside, the second floor had four apartments.

We trudged up the exterior stairs, knocked on the first door, and found 13 other people crammed into a teensy apartment without a table. There was a small living area that barely fit a sofa and side chair. and The television stand was flanked by a miniature kitchen with maybe a total of eight-feet of counter space.

Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m not putting my hosts down for being obviously economically challenged. But imagine our head-scratching, trying to figure out how they planned to feed us. There wasn’t space for each of us to actually sit anywhere. I wondered if their good intentions hadn’t been thought through.

The tiny kitchen had every available inch covered with various foods in the making, ingredients, dirty prep dishes, and booze bottles, since it also functioned as the bar. I opened my Pinot Grigio, poured a generous amount into a red plastic cup, and asked if I could be of any help in the kitchen. She put me to work making the gravy. While busying myself with my task, I asked the hostess, as nonchalantly as I could, how she planned on serving everyone. “We’re eating on the roof,” she said.

That inspired one of her kids to show me said roof. We went outside, up another flight of stairs, and a huge open area of flat concrete appeared. The notched walls were high, so no one would ever suspect parties could happen on top of the souvenir shop. Folding chairs lay against the wall, and three silt-encrusted folding tables sat empty in the middle of the space, but far away from and at odd angles to each other. So, you might ask, why wasn’t anyone from the crammed apartment hanging out up there?

Wind. It was so windy. How to prevent everything from blowing away? I shook my head, shut my mouth (It’s taken years, but I’ve gotten pretty good at that), and went back downstairs.

Our hosts made enough food for half the town. Two turkeys−one oven-roasted and one deep fried−and an enormous ham simmered in a big pot of Coca-Cola. No, I can’t explain that. Three kinds of potatoes, green beans, cornbread, and pasta salad. When it was time to eat, we hauled the food to one of the roof tables. The sooty dirt wasn’t cleaned off of any of them. They weren’t repositioned so the guests might feel like they were dining together. No tablecloths or placemats (they’d have blown away). Paper plates and paper towels were weighted down with rocks.

Our host pulled up a stool and put two galvanized tubs on the concrete floor, each holding a turkey. Using an electric knife, he carved them and placed the meat on platters, also set on the floor. Remember, it’s outside. Loose dirt abounds and it’s windy.

It was a precarious thing, holding a flimsy paper plate flapping in the wind while trying to plop food on it, and keep the plastic wrap or foil covering each dish from becoming airborne. In the end, that effort failed, and all that wasn’t secured did eventually sail off into another person’s backyard celebration.

We ate holding our plates down with one hand. When my SO, seated to my right, had finished his meal, he forgot for a moment and let go of his plate. A gust of wind picked it up and flung it at me. I went home with gravy and potato grease spots all over my shirt.

Thanksgiving is the American holiday. We celebrate it in many ways. There is no right way. Although it’s a ton of work, I am looking forward to my more traditional one again. Indoors.

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