Hue Knew Winter Celebration Guide: Where to Find Black Santa, Kwanzaa Celebrations, Hanukkah Events, and Culturally-Rich Holiday Traditions in Central Florida (2025 Edition)
December in Central Florida is a season filled with joy, cultural pride, and meaningful traditions that connect families to heritage and community. Whether it’s meeting Black Santa, celebrating the principles of Kwanzaa, honoring Hanukkah, or experiencing soulful concerts and holiday markets, this month offers a rich landscape of events that reflect the diversity and brilliance of Black families across the region.
New Hue Media proudly presents Hue Knew: Your 2025 Holiday Guide — a curated look at the celebrations that uplift culture and create lasting memories.
The Cultural Significance of Our Holiday Traditions
For African American families, December is more than a festive month—it is a deep expression of faith, resilience, memory, and identity. The traditions we honor during this season reflect centuries of spiritual journeys, cultural evolution, and the desire to preserve connection within our homes and communities.
Hanukkah | A Celebration of Resilience and Light
Hanukkah commemorates a pivotal moment in Jewish history when the Maccabees, a small Jewish resistance group, defeated the powerful Seleucid Empire in the 2nd century BCE. After reclaiming the desecrated Temple in Jerusalem, they found only one remaining jug of purified oil, just enough to last one night. Miraculously, it burned for eight days, inspiring the festival we celebrate today.
For Black Jews and African American families who embrace Jewish tradition, Hanukkah symbolizes perseverance, cultural survival, and the triumph of identity against oppression—an experience deeply familiar across the African diaspora.
Learn more about the history of Hanukkah:
Britannica — Origin of Hanukkah: https://www.britannica.com/topic/What-Is-the-Origin-of-Hanukkah
My Jewish Learning — Hanukkah History: https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/hanukkah-history
Christmas | A Celebration of Hope, Faith, and Community
Christmas honors the birth of Jesus Christ—a moment central to Christian faith. For African Americans, Christianity became both a spiritual refuge and a foundation of community-building. The Black church grew into a powerful institution of healing, activism, music, and cultural expression.
Celebrating Christmas in Black homes often blends spirituality, gospel traditions, family gatherings, and acts of community care. It symbolizes hope, love, renewal, and the enduring strength of African American faith traditions.
Learn more about Christmas history and meaning:
Touro Scholar — The History and Evolution of Christmas: https://touroscholar.touro.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1181&context=nyscas_pubs
Kwanzaa | Rooted in African Heritage and Cultural Empowerment
Kwanzaa was created in 1966 by Dr. Maulana Karenga at the height of the Civil Rights Movement. Inspired by traditional African first-harvest celebrations, Kwanzaa reconnects African Americans to ancestral values through the Seven Principles (Nguzo Saba):
Umoja – Unity
Kujichagulia – Self-Determination
Ujima – Collective Work & Responsibility
Ujamaa – Cooperative Economics
Nia – Purpose
Kuumba – Creativity
Imani – Faith
Kwanzaa is not a religious holiday—it is cultural. It strengthens identity, uplifts the community, and provides families with meaningful traditions that honor African heritage.
Learn more about Kwanzaa:
Wikipedia — Kwanzaa History & Principles: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kwanzaa
Country Meadows — Kwanzaa Overview: https://www.countrymeadows.com/blog/december-holidays-celebrate-varied-traditions
Why These Holidays Matter in Black Homes & Communities
Celebrating Hanukkah, Christmas, and Kwanzaa allows African American families to:
Honor spiritual and cultural resilience
Create intergenerational traditions
Reconnect with African and diasporic identity
Teach children pride in who they are
Build unity through shared experiences
Celebrate the diversity within the Black community
These holidays are not simply dates on the calendar; rather, they are touchpoints of identity, faith, culture, and community strength.
Where to Find Black Santa in Central Florida (2025)
1. Orlando Black Market: Holiday Edition
A lively marketplace featuring Black-owned vendors, cultural creators, food, music, and holiday photo opportunities with Black Santa.
2. Eatonville & Winter Park Community Celebrations
Historic Black communities are known for festive gatherings, toy giveaways, live performances, and appearances by Black Santa.
3. Black Santa Mini Sessions with Local Black Photographers
Each year, Orlando photographers offer holiday sessions with Black Santa—beloved by families wanting representation in cherished holiday photos
Kwanzaa Celebrations in Central Florida (2025)
1. Wells’Built Museum of African American History & Culture
Join the museum for Kwanzaa storytelling, drumming, cultural education, and community gatherings.
2. Eatonville Ujamaa Marketplace
A cultural market centered on cooperative economics with African-inspired goods, small businesses, and performances.
3. Tampa Bay Regional Kwanzaa Events
Ceremonies, feasts, youth-focused programming, and cultural showcases are held throughout the final week of December.
Hanukkah Events in Central Florida (2025)
1. Chabad of Orlando: Menorah Lightings & Family Events
Public menorah ceremonies, music, family crafts, and community gatherings at the Chabad.
2. Rosen JCC Hanukkah Festival
Enjoy the festivities for an inclusive celebration with games, crafts, music, and holiday treats.
3. Congregation Ohev Shalom (Maitland)
Community candle lighting and family Hanukkah programming.
Major Holiday Events in Central Florida (2025)
Dr. Phillips Center: Frontyard Holiday Festival
December 4, 2025 – January 4, 2026
https://www.drphillipscenter.org
City of Orlando — Lake Eola Park Holiday Celebrations
Tree Lighting: December 5, 2025
Event Details: https://www.orlando.gov/Events/2025-City-of-Orlando-Holiday-Happenings
Dr. Phillips Center Holiday Performances
Holiday Heartstrings: A CeCe Teneal Experience — December 20–21, 2025
Event Info: https://mycentralfloridafamily.com/holiday-concerts-and-christmas-shows-in-central-florida-2025
Black-Owned Holiday Markets & Cultural Pop-Ups
Orlando Black Market Holiday Festival
African & Caribbean Holiday Expo
Sanford & DeLand Cultural Pop-Up Markets
Cultural Holiday Day Trips in Florida
St. Augustine — Nights of Lights & African American Heritage Trail
Eatonville — Historic African American Cultural Sites
Mount Dora — Holiday Festivals & Artisan Shop
Celebrating Identity, Faith, and Community This Season
Whether lighting a menorah, celebrating the birth of Jesus, honoring the principles of Kwanzaa, visiting Black Santa, or gathering with loved ones, the holiday season is an opportunity to affirm identity, build connection, and pass down traditions that reflect our strength and heritage.
New Hue Media celebrates the brilliance, resilience, and cultural richness of Black families in Central Florida—and this guide ensures your season is filled with joy, meaning, and unforgettable moments.
