Starting a New Tradition
Shantelle Davis is a nine-year-old girl in New York. On a cold night in December, her family is standing around the kitchen table while she lights a candle. The table is decorated with baskets of fruits and vegetables and ears of com for Shantelle and her two brothers.
“This candle represents umoja, an African word that means being together,” Shantelle says. “That's the most important thing for a family. ”
Tonight is the first night of Kwanzaa, and Shantelle is spending the holiday with her family. More than 5 million African Americans celebrate Kwanzaa every year from December 26 until January I. It's a time when they get together with their families to think about their history and their ancestors in Africa.
Kwanzaa is very unusual because it was started by one man. In 1966, an American named Maulana Karenga wanted a holiday for African-Americans to honor their culture and traditions. So he used words and customs from Africa to create a new celebration. He took the name Kwanzaa from the words for “first fruits” in Swahili, an African language. At first, a few American families had small celebrations at home. Now there are also Kwanzaa events in schools and public places， and Kwanzaa has spread to other countries like Canada and Jamaica.
The main symbol of Kwanzaa is a candleholder with seven candles, one for each of the principles of Kwanzaa. Each night, a family member lights one of the candles and talks about the idea it represents： being together, being yourself, helping each other, sharing, having a goal， creating, and believing. The candles are red, black, and green, the colors of Kwanzaa. The parents also pour drinks to honor family members who have died. On the last night of Kwanzaa, there is a big dinner with African food, and children receive small presents.
Today people can buy Kwanzaa greeting cards and special Kwanzaa clothes. Stores sell Kwanzaa candles and candleholders. Some people don't believe that Kwanzaa is a real holiday， because it's so new. But other people say that customs and celebrations are always changing and that Kwanzaa shows what is important in people's lives.
Shantelle Davis says she likes Kwanzaa because it's fun. “But I also learn new things every year," she says.
词汇：
ancestor n.祖宗，祖先
be decorated with 由……所装饰
honor vt. 尊敬,使荣幸; n.荣誉,尊敬
ears of com玉米穗
candleholder n.烛台
注释：
1. It's a time when they get together with their families to think about their history and their ancestors in Africa.这段时间里他们和家人待在一起缅怀他们的历史和非洲的祖先。
2. ... shows what is important in people's lives. ……展现了人们生活中重要的东西。
开始新的传统
珊特尔•戴维斯是一位九岁的纽约小女孩。12月的一个寒夜，珊特尔•戴维斯的家人都围站在餐桌边看着她点亮一支蜡烛。水果蔬菜篮子和玉米穗装饰着这个餐桌，这些都是给珊特尔和她的两个兄弟的。
“这支蜡烛代表umoja，在非洲这个词意味着在一起，”珊特尔说，“这是家庭中最重要的事。”
今晚是宽扎节的第一个晚上，珊特尔正和她的家人待在一起。超过500万的非洲裔美国人每年从12月26日到1月1日庆祝宽扎节。这段时间里他们和家人聚在一起缅怀他们的历史和非洲的祖先。
宽扎节非常独特，因为它是由一个人创立的。在1966年，一个名叫马拉那•卡林加的美 国人想要为非洲裔美国人创立一个节日来向他们的文化和传统致敬。因此他利用非洲的语言和习俗来创造一个新的传统。他将节日命名为宽扎节，这个词来源于非洲语言斯瓦西里语;在斯瓦西里语中，宽扎节的意思是“最初的果实。” 一开始，只有少数一些美国家庭在家进行小规模庆祝。现如今学校和公共场所也有宽扎节的庆祝活动。并且宽扎节巳经流传到诸如加拿大、牙买加等其他国家。
一个放着七支蜡烛的烛台是宽扎节的主要标志，每支蜡烛代表宽扎节一个信条。每天晚上都会由一个家庭成员点亮一支蜡烛，并谈论这支蜡烛所代表的信条：在一起，做自己，互帮互助，懂得分享，拥有目标，有创造性和有信仰。这些蜡烛有红的、黑的和绿的，这是宽扎节的颜色。父母们也为逝去的家庭成员斟上喝的以此来纪念他们。在宽扎节的最后一夜会有一顿非洲风味的大餐，并且孩子们会收到小礼物