Holidays Around the World

Describes various festivals centered around light that are celebrated by different cultures throughout the year, including Candlemas, Bon Matsuri, Diwali, Hanukkah, Luciadagen, and Kwanza.

Twenty African-American celebrities, including singers, actors, comedians, and sport stars, describe their families' Christmas traditions and the Christmases that meant the most to them. Contributors include Aretha Franklen, Whitney Houston, Grant Hill, and Denzel Washington.

Because he has misbehaved, four-year-old Federico is afraid the three kings will not bring him the toy horse he asked them for and, unable to sleep, he goes outside to await their arrival. It's the eve of the Epiphany, or the Feast of the Three Kings, and that means the Three Wise Men, or Magi, will ride through the night sky to deliver gifts to children. Four-year-old Federico has misbehaved, and now he is afraid the Magi won't leave him any presents....

The author describes Christmas at his grandmother's apartment in Spanish Harlem the year she introduced him to the Metropolitan Museum of Art and Diego Velazquez's portrait of Juan de Pareja, which has had a profound and lasting effect on him.

A collection of holiday recipes from countries around the world, including a variety of dishes such as Thai Egg Rolls, Passover Matzo Layer Cake, Paella, and Danish Rice Pudding.

Presents the words of the familiar Christmas song, plus extra verses and brief descriptions of the Christmas traditions of Mexico, Sweden, the Philippines, Poland, Italy, and Kenya.

Retellling of the Dominican folk character, La Vieja Belén, who leaves gifts for poor children a week after the Feast of the Epiphany. El cuento de La Vieja Belén, personaje del folclor dominicano who deja regalos para los niños pobres la semana después de la Epifanía.

A girl describes how she and her family celebrate the seven days of Kwanzaa.