December Celebrations include Kwanzaa and Noels. Kwanzaa is a week-long celebration of African-American culture and heritage that begins on December 26th and ends on January 1st. It was created in 1966 by Dr. Maulana Karenga as a way to bring African-Americans together and celebrate their shared history and culture. Noels is a French term for Christmas carols, which are sung during the Christmas season. They are usually sung in churches or at public gatherings, and often feature traditional Christmas themes such as the birth of Jesus, the joy of the season, and the hope of peace.