Article: SEASON of LIGHT; From the Hmong New Year to Kwanzaa, these December celebrations of diverse groups are open to all.(FREETIME)

Christmas is so big that at times it's hard to see around it. With effort, though, it's possible to glimpse a wealth of activity beyond the boom and bustle of real and virtual card-sending, gift-shopping and feast-planning.

Hundreds of thousands of people in the Twin Cities area do not celebrate Christmas. They revel instead in the joys of such observances as Hanukkah, Eid ul-Fitr, Kwanzaa and Hmong New Year. Corresponding events are frequently open to the public, and all the organizers we spoke with welcome the widest possible community participation.

Though distinct, these holidays and Christmas resonate to some of the same themes: warmth, family ...

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