Habari Gani – what’s the news – about Kwanzaa? Truthfully, the week-long holiday doesn’t get as much shine in the public eye as its December counterparts. The first Kwanzaa holiday film was produced in 2009, there are only two USPS stamps in existence and the White House didn’t even celebrate it last year! If you have your doubts about the harvest celebration, read on to see what’s true…and what’s false:

1. It’s been around for a while

Not so much. Kwanzaa was created in 1966, right before the height of the Black Power movement and during the heart of Pan-Africanism.

2. It originated in Africa

Though the celebration has African roots, Kwanzaa was created in the United States – California to be exact. Kwanzaa creator Maulana Karenga was an Africana Studies professor at California State University, Long Beach at the time. Read More »

Kwanzaa.

It’s definitely not an obscure holiday. Everyone knows the word (part of a Swahili phrase meaning “first fruits”) but it’s not the most mainstream one. Most likely, you didn’t learn about it in school. It didn’t get the Rugrats treatment like Hanukkah or Passover. And since it falls at the end of the year, its significance gets lost in a sea of jingle bells, menorahs and sequins. But we at College Candy refuse to let your brains rot in your winter boredom blahs, so we’re here to break down Kwanzaa for you.

What is it?

Kwanzaa is a week-long holiday, starting December 26 and going through January 6. It is a celebration of all African culture, but is primarily observed by African-Americans.

What is the story behind it?
Kwanzaa was created in 1966 by CSU-Long Beach professor Maulana Karenga. He was an active proponent of Pan-Africanism. This is a philosophy born in the 18th century. When Africans were sold into slavery, they were completely stripped of their culture. Over generations, it became difficult, especially for African-Americans, to trace their heritage back to their home country. Pan-Africanism seeks to unite all people of African descent around the world into a large global community by highlighting their shared historical experiences and cultural norms. In the 1960s, Pan-Africanism made a resurgence in the United States in conjunction with the civil rights movement, and Dr. Karenga established Kwanzaa as a way to embed Pan-Africanism into African-American culture. Kwanzaa was also rooted in a desire to give African-Americans a holiday of their own.

Read More »

…or Hanukkah.
…or Kwanzaa.
…or Festivus.
…or just because.

Yes, it’s holiday season, which means it’s time to print out that list of wants you’ve been keeping all year and hand it over to mama so she can make all your dreams come true. We all know this time of year should be all about the giving, but we can admit that getting feels really freaking awesome, too. And with all the giving you’ll be doing, you deserve to get some great stuff in return!

Since I’ve been working my ass off and totally neglecting my every shopping desire to save some serious cash this year, there are about a billion things I want for the holidays. Like this dress from Alloy (wouldn’t it be adorbs for NYE??), or any of Ashley Watson’s brilliant recycled leather handbags, or even a lame gift card to iTunes! (I’m so cheap I’ve been listening to Miley on YouTube all year…) Yeah, I want it all. And I know I’m not the only one…

This week I asked the CollegeCandy writers to share their #1 wish this year. Perhaps this will inspire any friends/boyfriends out there still looking for gifts for the special people in your life. Or maybe the writers can just send this along to their parents as a little nudge in the right direction.

Now you tell us – what’s #1 on your list? Read More »

Ugh. I'd much rather be catching up on Glee than doin' this ish.

Thanksgiving. Sigh.

After being more stuffed than the holiday turkey, it’s time to come to terms with the fact that the holiday season has begun. Whether you celebrate Hannukah, Christmas, Kwanzaa or none of the above, it’s a given that you will be inundated with all kinds of holiday-ness over the next 6 weeks.

Whether you love it or hate it, every aspect of the holidays comes with some pros and cons. Yes, even getting lots and lots of presents. Have you ever had to do the fake “OMG I LOVE IT?!” upon opening the most awful gift ever followed by months of excuses when grandma doesn’t see you wearing those giant, sparkly cross earrings she got you? It sucks.

So, this week I’m gonna break down the ten best/worst things about the holidays. Or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Season

10. Christmas music
Jingle Bell Rock? Loathe it. “Yule Shoot Your Eye Out” by FOB? Love it.

9. Cookies
And Candy. And Gingerbread houses. And fruit cake (ew!). So many calories – yuck. However, like my mom says, calories don’t count on Xmas! Work it off before Spring Break and you’re in the clear.

8. Shopping
Shopping can be a bitch, especially if you hate mass crowds and fighting for a coveted Burberry coat. Skirt the crowds and the lines and shop online. Read More »

Everything is all about Christmas and Hanukkah (and sorta Kwanzaa and Festivus…people just don’t devote enough attention to those ones) right now, but what about the people who don’t celebrate any of those holidays? What about the atheists and humanists out there? They need a holiday, too.

And they have one? Who knew?

Today, December 23rd, is HumanLight. What is that? I have no idea, really, and either do the people celebrating it. It is supposed to be a family holiday, but because there is no set religion (and therefore, no set rules), people can choose to celebrate the holiday however they’d like.

All I know is this is another great reason to drink on a Tuesday. So, grab your holiday drink of choice and let’s pour one for our HumanLight celebrating homies!

It’s my belief that dads are the most impossible group of people for whom to buy holiday gifts. What do they want, anyway? Year after year, I dread the rolling around of his birthday and Christmas because I have absolutely no idea what to get for my dad.

Not this year!

Inevitably, there will always be people on your holiday-gift list who stump you (especially now that you waited until the last minute!). Maybe you haven’t seen Great-Aunt Ruby since you were ten, but you have to get her something this year because she just sent you a ton of cash for your birthday. Or maybe you just made a new friend, but you aren’t sure of this person’s likes and dislikes yet.

Charity to the rescue!

If the people you know are nice, they’d probably really appreciate a charitable gift. Not the kind of charity where you give them money—the kind of charity where you give others money in the name or honor of those you’re gifting.

Here are some great places to start.

Heifer International – This organization has a gift catalog link from their home page, which will lead you to a menagerie of offerings to give in the name of friends or family members. You can give a flock of chicks or ducks for as little as $20. Heifer is all about providing livestock to people who need it to become self-reliant, and it’s a great cause. Read More »

Sometimes you need a little something like the holidays to give you an excuse to really…excel in the bedroom.

For those of you who have never delved into the whole sex toy thing don’t be alarmed. While the entire concept may seem seedy, it doesn’t have to be!This Christmas (or Hanukkah or Kwanzaa…) take the plunge into the world of adult toys. Don’t know where to start? Allow us to guide the way:

Boditalks – $69.00 (hehe…)

The slogan here is “getting off while you’re on”. And it’s simple. Boditalks is simply a vibrator that is activated by the use of your cell phone and it only turns off once the call is ended.

Do you know how useful this would have been when I was in a long distance relationship? For the college girls who are, you owe this to yourself!

Sex Night Planner - $12.00

Maybe vibrators are a little too much for you. Or maybe you don’t need one (lucky). In that case, make it fun and set up how you want things and when with a Sex Night Planner. Similar to Magnetic Poetry, this planner will tell your guys all the very important specifics of what you want.

I’m thinking this will go over well with the compulsive English major types, no? Read More »