Kwanzaa

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Resolve to introduce the word enthusiasts in your family
to Merriam-Webster Unabridged this coming year.
http://www.merriam-webster.com/cgi-bin/unabridged_sub.pl?refr=U_wod
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The Word of the Day for December 26 is: 

Kwanzaa   \KWAHN-zuh\   noun
     : an African-American cultural festival held from December 26 to January 1

Example sentence:
     A joyous family spirit pervaded the Allen family's Kwanzaa celebration as 
three generations came together for a delightful meal and a beautiful 
candle-lighting ceremony.

Did you know?
     In 1966, Maulana Karenga, a Black-studies professor at California State 
University at Long Beach, created a new holiday patterned after traditional 
African harvest festivals. He called it "Kwanzaa," a name he took from a 
Swahili term that means "first fruits." The holiday, which takes place from 
December 26th to January 1st, was originally intended as a nonreligious 
celebration of family and social values. Each day of Kwanzaa is dedicated to 
one of seven principles: unity, self-determination, collective responsibility, 
cooperative economics, purpose, creativity, and faith.