African-American Holidays, Festivals, and Celebrations presents the history, customs, symbols, and lore of more than 100 diverse holidays and festivals celebrated by Americans of African descent in the United States. Events covered include contemporary and historical African-American holidays--ranging from slave observances to Kwanzaa. Also covered are holidays and festivals commemorating notable people, historical events, and cultural heritage. Religious observances include those of various Christian denominations as well as those of Santeria and other African-based faiths.
The work includes informative introductory essays by noted scholars and librarians Jessie Carney Smith and Jean Currie Church.
Each entry covers the official name and date of the holiday or festival; its history and how it was created; when and where it was first celebrated; where and how it is observed today; places to visit and relevant organizations, with contact information; and sources for further reading.