When it comes to Kwanzaa, one ought to be skeptical about how people have actually celebrated in the past, especially when it comes to claims about any such lasting significance of the holiday. Mia called out Vice President Kamala Harris' false claims about how her family celebrated the holiday in last week's fact-check, noting that the holiday didn't even come about until 1966. The vice president was born in 1964.
Our Kwanzaa celebrations are one of my favorite childhood memories. The whole family would gather around across multiple generations and we’d tell stories and light the candles.
— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) December 26, 2020
Whether you’re celebrating this year with those you live with or over Zoom, happy Kwanzaa! pic.twitter.com/21bzGHZpYe
Our Kwanzaa celebrations are some of my favorite childhood memories.
— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) December 26, 2021
As families across the United States light the red, black, and green candles of the Kinara this week, our family sends our wishes and blessings for a happy and healthy new year.
When I was growing up, Kwanzaa was a special time. Friends and family members would fill our home. We would listen to the elders tell stories and watch them light the candles on the kinara. During dinner, we would discuss the seven principles.
— Vice President Kamala Harris (@VP) December 27, 2021
Despite the falsehood that the vice president's older relatives would have celebrated Kwanzaa before her time, Harris continues to share such a message similar to the ones from previous years that Mia included in her fact-check.
"Growing up, Kwanzaa was always a special time. We came together with generations of friends and family and neighbors," Harris said in her video address beside Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff. She also shared how "the elders would talk about how Kwanzaa is a time to celebrate culture, community, and family."
When I was growing up, Kwanzaa was a special time in our home. Today, my family and I are reflecting on the seven principles. Happy Kwanzaa! pic.twitter.com/w1pFOIUU9G
— Vice President Kamala Harris (@VP) December 26, 2022
Harris is not the only Democrat to celebrate Kwanzaa, far from it. The White House Twitter account sent out two tweets to do with the just recently brought about holiday.
The Biden-Harris Administration wishes you and your loved ones a joyous and peaceful Kwanzaa! pic.twitter.com/ZzrQ6QPttG
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) December 26, 2022
During Kwanzaa, the Biden-Harris Administration reflects on the rich heritage of African Americans and honors the seven principles as we turn towards 2023.
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) December 26, 2022
Not only did President Joe Biden send out a tweet from his official Twitter account, he and First Lady Jill Biden made a video as well as they lit their own kinara.
The Biden family sends our wishes for a happy Kwanzaa to all those families across America lighting the candles of the Kinara tonight.
— President Biden (@POTUS) December 26, 2022
May your celebration be blessed with hope, peace, and light.
Towards the end of the video, the president made reference to a point he also tried to communicate during his Christmas message, which is one of unity. "In 2023, it's our hope that we will all remember the wisdom of the seven principles of Kwanzaa, especially the values of unity and faith as we work to make the promise of our nation real in the lives of every American," he claimed during Monday's video.
While Biden has tried to portray himself as a "unity" candidate and now president, he's turned out to be anything but, least of all as evidenced by his doubling down on demonizing political opponents as "MAGA Republicans" ahead of the November midterms. It's likely in part due to such a demonizing tactic, at least as far as former House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-GA) believes, that Democrats performed better than expected last month.
We wish all those celebrating a peaceful, joyous Kwanzaa. pic.twitter.com/m1AZvzPcSB
— President Biden (@POTUS) December 26, 2022
The whole administration got involved in the holiday in what our friends at Twitchy called out for being the "case study in pathetic, pointless pandering" that they are.
The Department of Health & Human Services (HHS), as has the administration overall, has been particularly relentless when it comes to tying in holiday well wishes with telling people to get up to date on their vaccines, or else, which includes yet another booster.
While the Bider administration has had a tricky time being on the same page about COVID vaccines, they're all celebrating Kwanzaa.
HHS wishes you and your family a warm and happy #Kwanzaa! pic.twitter.com/RxXJ58whY3
— HHS.gov (@HHSGov) December 26, 2022
Help keep your holiday celebrations safe with updated COVID vaccines.
— HHS.gov (@HHSGov) December 26, 2022
Get targeted protection against Omicron.
Find updated vaccines at https://t.co/jDq2UIHFmT. #WeCanDoThis pic.twitter.com/vLXxaIJGMi
Not only did the department's official account tweet twice on Monday in honor of Kwanzaa, it also tweeted four times between Christmas Even ad Christmas, mostly about getting vaccinated.
Twitchy has also highlighted other bizarre examples of Democrats celebrating Kwanzaa, including Mayor Lori Lightfoot, who, along with her wife, last year wished Chicago residents a Happy Kwanzaa while "Joy to the World" played in the background. Such is not just a Christmas carol, but considered a sacred one, and is religious in nature.
The seven principles of Kwanzaa are as important as ever and should be a guide for all of us.
— Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot (@chicagosmayor) December 26, 2021
Happy Kwanzaa to all who celebrate. 🕯️ pic.twitter.com/kb0EtBwDMY
The use of such a religious Christmas carol is particularly interesting given the part of the Wikipedia page on Kwanzaa that James Lindsay highlighted with regards to the holiday's founder, Maulana Karenga.
— James Lindsay, cult busting (@ConceptualJames) December 27, 2021
Lightfoot went with a different take this year.
As we begin the celebration of the seven-day season of Kwanzaa, today we take a moment to learn the history and symbolism of the traditional altar from Baba Tyehimba Mtu. pic.twitter.com/bhkCorSOQU
— Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot (@chicagosmayor) December 26, 2022
Perhaps the most cringeworthy message, though, comes from the soon-to-be former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), who couldn't even pronounce the holiday's name correctly when expressing well wishes from the House floor last week. Giggling to herself, Pelosi clearly wished members to have a "happy Shwanza."
Happy Shwanza to all and to all a good night. pic.twitter.com/3bTwnAbdBs
— Greg Price (@greg_price11) December 23, 2022
