Each culture has its own traditions when it comes to the holiday season. Try a few of these decorating ideas to add multicultural flair to your festivities this year.

Kwanzaa

Decorating for Kwanzaa starts by rolling out a mkeka—either a traditional straw mat or a woven mat with African print will work. A kinara, a candleholder, is placed in the middle, and ears of corn (muhindi) are placed on either side. Place one ear of corn for each child in the family. A family with no children places two ears of corn, symbolizing the idea of social parenthood. The remaining elements can be placed creatively on the mkeka. They are the kikombe cha umoja (unity cup), mazao (a basket of fruits and vegetables) and zawadi (gifts).

Las Posadas

If you’re celebrating Las Posadas, the Mexican celebration of Mary and Joseph’s search for an inn, you can find piñatas and traditional foods when you visit our store. We have all the ingredients for a hearty feast.

Chanukah

The menorah is the central element of Chanukah, the Jewish festival of lights. After a victory over religious persecution, the Jewish army was only able to find enough oil for their temple menorah for one night, but miraculously, it burned for eight nights. A menorah is burned in each household as a remembrance of this miracle.

Diwali

On Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, the goddess Lakshmi is believed to visit the houses that are most brightly lit. It is traditional to light diyas, which are small clay lamps, and decorate the entryway with rangoli, which are intricate designs depicting the unity of man and the universe.