When we hear or say the term “Happy Holidays,” we are quickly flooded with images of Christmas trees or champagne toasts on New Years Eve. However, there are other holidays during this festive season, one of them being Kwanzaa.
Kwanzaa is an African-American and Pan-African celebration that starts on Dec. 26 and ends Jan. 1. The seven days of Kwanzaa celebrate family, community, and culture.
The seven days of Kwanzaa each represent a certain principle. For each principle, there is a candle on the kinara and for each day a candle is lit. The kinara is a candleholder and is symbolic of African roots and the continental people. The colors of the candles are representative of the African flag.
The name “Kwanzaa” is derived from the term “matunda ya kwanza,” which translates to “fresh fruits” in Swahili.
Black, green and red are the colors of Kwanzaa as well as the African flag. These colors hold sentimental value and they are symbolic. Black is for the people, green is for the land, and red is for the blood.
During Kwanzaa, family members each take a drink from the unity cup, the Umoja. A statement or discussion is made for each of the seven principles.
The seven days and principles of Kwanzaa are as follows, each with their own meaning: Umoja (Unity), Kujichagulia (self-determination), Ujima (collective work and responsibility), Ujamaa (collective economics), Nia (purpose), Kuumba (creativity), and Imani (faith).
On the sixth day of Kwanzaa is the Karamu or the Kwanzaa feast. During this time favorite foods and holidays dishes are prepared. The principle for the sixth day is Kuumba (creativity). Plays are performed and inspirational passages are read. At the end of Kuumba the eldest member of the family reads the Tamshi La Tutaonana, which was written by the creator of Kwanzaa.
According to officialkwanzaawebsite.org, the official Kwanzaa website, Kwanzaa was created in 1966 by Dr. Maulana Karenga, a professor of Black studies at California State University. In the midst of the civil rights movement, Kwanzaa was created for unity of the African-American culture and community.
sources:
officialkwanzaawebsite.org, holidays.net/kwanzaa