How to Celebrate Kwanzaa

Guide Note Kwanzaa is a 7 day festival celebrating the African-American people, their culture and their history. Kwanzaa begins on December 26th and continues until New Year's Day, January 1st.

How to Celebrate Kwanzaa is a comprehensive look at the holiday and its practice.

Table of Contents



Introduction

  • Kwanzaa was established in 1966 by Dr. Maulana Karenga with the purpose of bringing the African-American community together by reinforcing seven basic values, rooted in family, community and culture. Like the name Kwanzaa, many of the terms are Swahili—the African language chosen to best represent people of African descent everywhere. The root of the word Kwanzaa is derived from the Swahili saying "mantunda yo kwanza", which means "first fruits".
  • 20 million people are expected to celebrate Kwanzaa this year, which takes place from December 26 through January 1. The seven days represent the Seven Principles (Nguzo Saba) and like Hanukkah, a candle is lit each day representing one of the seven principles. However, unlike Hanukkah and Christmas, Kwanzaa is not a religious holiday, but a cultural one. That means that it is possible to observe Hanukkah and/or Christmas and celebrate Kwanzaa.

Seven Principles (Nguzo Saba)

The Kinara, Mishumaa Saba and Seven Principles (Creative Commons Photo by SoulChristmas)
The Kinara, Mishumaa Saba and Seven Principles (Creative Commons Photo by SoulChristmas)
  • Kwanzaa is centered around seven core values or principles. There are seven candles that represent each principle. There is a standard Swahili greeting called "Habari Gani" which means "what is the news".
  • To reinforce the daily principle, each day starting on December 26th, it is customary to greet each other by saying "Habari Gani". The appropriate response is the corresponding principle of that day in Swahili. For example, on December 28th, the correct response to "Habari Gani" would be "Ujima".
  1. Dec. 26, Unity/Umoja: To strive for and maintain unity in the family, unity, nation and race.
  2. Dec. 27, Self-Determination/Kujichagulia: To define ourselves, name ourselves, create for ourselves and speak for ourselves.
  3. Dec. 28, Collective Work and Responsibility/Ujima: To build and maintain our community together and make our brothers' and sisters' problems our problems and to solve them together.
  4. Dec. 29, Cooperative Economics/Ujamaa: To build and maintain our own stores, shops and other businesses and to profit from them together.
  5. Dec. 30, Purpose/Nia: To make our collective vocation the building and developing of our community in order to restore our people to their traditional greatness.
  6. Dec. 31, Creativity/Kummba: To do always as much as we can, in the way we can, in order to leave our community more beautiful and beneficial than we inherited it.
  7. Jan. 1, Faith/Imani: To believe with all our heart in our people, our parents, our teachers, our leaders and the righteousness and victory of our struggle.

Symbols of Kwanzaa

  • There are seven basic symbols and two supplementary symbols that represent values and beliefs of African culture and are essential in observing and truly understanding Kwanzaa. The mat or Mkeka is the foundation where all other items are placed. The crops, candle holder, candles, unity cup, corn and gifts are all placed on the Mkeka. All Kwanzaa supplies can be found at African specialty shops or you can purchase Kwanzaa kits online.
The Kikobe cha Umoja (Unity Cup) (CC Photo by Kevin Batangan)
The Kikobe cha Umoja (Unity Cup) (CC Photo by Kevin Batangan)
  1. The Crops/Mazao: Traditionally, the harvest celebration represented the community's productivity and collective labor. The crops, or "first fruit" symbolize that unity.
  2. The Mat/Mkeka: The Mkeka symbolizes tradition, history, culture, achievements and sacrifices that the ancestors have made. It also serves as a foundation for present and future generations to build upon. All other symbols are placed on the Mkeka. You or your children can make a Mkeka from scratch. It's just another great way to keep them engaged.
  3. The Candle Holder/Kinara: Symbolic of the roots and the parent people of Africa. The Kinara holds the seven candles (Mishumaa Saba) and is placed on the Mkeka.
  4. The Corn/Muhindi: The Muhindi represents the children and future of the family. Each ear of corn represents one child. If there are no children, two ears of Muhindi are placed on the Mkeka to symbolize the children of the community.
  5. The Seven Candles/Mishumaa Saba: There are three colors that symbolize Kwanzaa: black for the people, red for their struggle and green for the future and hope that comes from their struggle. The black candle is surprising hard to find in stores, but you can order them online.
  6. The Unity Cup/Kikobe cha Umoja: The Kikobe cha Umoja represents family and community unity. It is filled with a libation and is passed around so that everyone can take a sip. A little is poured out to respect the ancestors.
  7. The Gifts/Zawadi: The Zawadi are gifts representative of the labor and love of parents and the commitments made and kept by the children. Such gifts usually include a book, video or other item that will educate the child about Kwanzaa.
  • Supplementary Symbols
  1. The Flag/Benders: Kwanzaa flags are red, green a black and if you can't get your hands on one, you can print one from the internet.
  2. Poster of The Seven Principles/Nguzo Saba Poster: You can purchase the poster online

Celebrating Kwanzaa

Kwanzaa Karamu (Feast) (CC Photo by cobb_tcb)
Kwanzaa Karamu (Feast) (CC Photo by cobb_tcb)
  • Once you are familiar with the principles and symbols of Kwanzaa, you are ready to celebrate. You must find an area in your home where you can set up a table/altar. The surrounding walls should be decorated with flags, banners, posters, sculptures and other related artwork. Letting children create some of the artwork is a great way to enrich their Kwanzaa experience.
  • Before you place the Mkeka on the center of the table, you will first cover the table with a green tablecloth. Once the tablecloth and the Mkeka have been placed on the table, it is time to set the Kinara, Mazao (the fruit can be placed into a bowl), Muhindi, Zawadi and the Kikombe cha Umoja on the Mkeka.

Lighting the Kinara

  • When placing the Mishumaa Saba in the Kinara, the black candle represents the first principle, Umoja (Unity), and is placed in the center of the Kinara. The red candles represent the principles Kujichagulia, Ujamaa and Kuumba and are placed to the left of the black candle. The green candles represent the principles Ujima, Nia and Imani and are placed to the right of the black candle. The black candle is lit on the first day, and each candle is lit on alternating sides starting on the outside and working in each day.
  1. Day One: Light the black candle (Umoja).
  2. Day Two: Light the black candle and the far left red candle (Kujichagulia).
  3. Day Three: Light the black, red and far-right green candle (Ujima).
  4. Day Four: Light the aforementioned three candles and the second red candle (Ujamaa).
  5. Day Five: Light the previous four candles and the second green candle (Nia).
  6. Day Six: Light the previous five candles and the last red candle (Kuumba).
  7. Day Seven: Light all candles including the third green candle (Imani).

Kwanzaa Karamu (Feast)

  • The sixth day falls on New Year's Eve and is the most significant day of Kwanzaa. This is the day of the Karamu, or feast. It is customary for friends and family to celebrate Kwanzaa together. The Karamu can be held at a home, church or community center, and decorations should be adorned throughout utilizing the three colors, black, red and green. Because the Karmau is centered around the "first fruit" harvest, it is appropriate to incorporate fruit and vegetables into the feast.
  • The Karamu is a traditional gathering and includes a program that is designed to welcome, remember, reassess, recommit and rejoice. Dr. Karenga has a suggested format for the Karamu that includes a welcoming, remembering, reassessment, rejoicing and libation statement. Now that you are aware of the Seven Principles, symbols, greetings, decorations and Karamu, you are ready to focus on tradition and values. Happy Kwanzaa!

Resources for How to Celebrate Kwanzaa



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