The profound message of Kwanzaa is based in values of family, community and culture for people of African descent around the world. Kwanzaa’s seven days – from Dec. 26 to Jan. 1 – are based on unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity, and faith.

If you know someone celebrating Kwanzaa, here are a few gifts of beauty and heritage they will treasure:

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If you’re reading this today, it can only mean one thing: You’re in the doghouse. You screwed it up, and now you’re looking to make amends. You are sooooo lucky, because The Style Insider is here to dig you out. Get the plastic out - this will cost more than it would have the first time around, but it’ll be worth it. We promise.

What were you thinking? This is Christmas. She bought you cashmere and tracked down the perfect retro hubcaps on eBay for your precious, precious vehicle, and you bought her a CD? There’s an

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No one knows how to ship packages like people who ship hundreds of thousands of them every day. And we aren’t referring to the post office. We’re talking about the home shopping networks, QVC and HSN. These people know volume, and they know speed. If they say it’ll be there by Christmas, what they mean is: It will be there by Christmas.

So, to rescue you from you dilly-dallying, we’ve found some last minute goodies:

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The time is now, and you are stuck with 1) a plain, old plate to serve your latkes on and 2) a very un-fun dreidel that still means something to you, but it’s not keeping the kids entertained.

Let’s start with the latkes. Potato latkes are one of God’s many blessings, and we want to be a better custodian of them. There are far too many fabulous latke platters and accompaniment bowls on the market to ignore.

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Even as we race around to finish our humdrum holiday shopping, we admit to an endless fascination with the gifts the beautiful people get and give one another for Christmas and Hanukkah.

Bild.com, the online version of the German newspaper, reports on several Hollywood holiday gift trends. Jessica Simpson, Kate Hudson and Anne Hathaway (above) are very into retro clothing, so they’re buying themselves and friends vintage blouses and Tiffany jewelry from the ’60s, the report says. (Perhaps like these ’60s Tiffany gold knot earrings for $3,395, above.)

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Still looking for some gifts for those looming eight days of Hanukkah? We’ve tracked down a wonderful gift for each day. Open your shopping bag and let’s go:

Perfect for all your keepsakes, this pretty blue-and-white stained glass Hanukkah trinket box has the Star of David etched on its hinged lid, with room for a monogrammed initial in the center. At Personal Creations ($18, above left). What three values does your family cherish most? That’s one of the 35 questions in the Hanukkah Box of Questions, which gets reflective conversations going in the most meaningful ways. At Kosher Gift Box ($20, above right).

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Everyone knows the best things come in small packages, e.g. diamonds and babies. (Well, except for a car, a house or a pony.) We’ve rounded up some penny-wise “little somethings” that may not be as exciting as a diamond, but they’re practical and shrunken for your amusement. 

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