’Tis more than just a season for gift-giving; ’tis also a season for living by principle and for honoring tradition.

Day 3 of the week-long holiday of Kwanzaa was celebrated at the Port Arthur Public Library on Wednesday. Of the seven principles of African heritage that the holiday observes, the principle dedicated for the day was Ujima, or Collective Work and Responsibility.

Laura Casmore, quilt artist and special guest for the day, talked about the quilting community effort and how it resonated with the community-oriented nature of Kwanzaa and Ujuima.

“Ladies used to get together and talk about things like social events and politics,” Casmore said. “We still do quilting and get together on our own. We have things like potluck.”

According to Casmore, the network of quilt makers and like-minded adherents of the Kwanzaa tradition has only grown.

“The old community used to be the neighborhood. Now, the community is the city,” Casmore said. “We’re expanding. The (proverbial) village now is big.”

In speaking of the holiday’s importance, Casmore said, “Kwanzaa is important for the younger set because it shows it’s okay to be yourself. Still, you have to maintain commitment to your history.”

Casmore cited the Mexican holiday Cinco de Mayo as an example of one culture celebrating its roots.

“You can’t get away from the past,” Casmore said.

Casmore said that many of the prints for her quilts come from designs found in such African counties as Senegal and Nigeria.

“African fabrics have a heavy weave,” Casmore said. “A lot of the fabric is coarse.”

Casmore said that the quilts on display at the library were “African-inspired, not African fabric.”

It usually takes a couple of months to make a quilt, according to Casmore. But she also said she has two to five quilts going at any one time.

“I have to be inspired,” Casmore said. “I have to feel it.”

Children’s librarian and organizer of the event Carolyn Thibodeaux spoke highly of the value of knowledge and community.

“As a librarian, what stands most important is information, education and sharing information,” Thibodeaux said. “We can break it down for the kids, but the adults will be learning something as well.”

Thibodeaux said this year’s celebration was especially important because it was the 50^th anniversary of Kwanzaa.

“I think people of all ages can learn from these celebrations about building strong communities,” Thibodeaux said. “It’s why I’m still here.”

Attending the library event were Rosa Guidry and Dorothy Euglon, who alternate between the Beaumont and Port Arthur Kwanzaa celebrations.

“We always like it — to be able to celebrate Kwanzaa,” Euglon said. “Just the principles.”

“It’s part of tradition,” Guidry said. “It’s reaffirming the principles — the seven principles. It’s a daily reaffirmation.”

Guidry highlighted the importance of principles in Kwanzaa.

“Anyone can get grounded if they participate in Kwanzaa,” she said. “There are no fancy gifts. They’re basic fundamental principles to live by.”

In discussing their adherence to the themes, Guidry said they practice what they preach.

Rodney Eddie was scheduled to read some poetry for the Kwanzaa celebration of Ujima. Among the poetry read would be his “Who Will Endure?” poem, which was published in 2007 in the National Library of Poetry.

“Kwanzaa is important because it’s knowing where we come from,” Eddie said. “People branch off and go their separate ways, so Kwanzaa charges them to come together and have a purpose. We need to be here.”

Eddie stressed that everyone has a purpose.

“It’s not happenstance you exist,” Eddie said. “Everyone has a reason for being here.”