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Celebrating the Seven Principles of Kwanzaa!

Founded in 1966, the seven-day festival is a way for African Americans to practice community building and heritage
7-Principles-of-Kwanzaa

Kwanzaa is a Kiswahili word that means "first fruits."

The seven-day festival was founded in 1966 by Dr. Maulana Karenga as a pushback on the commercialism of Christmas and a way for African Americans to celebrate the holiday through community building practices shared across the continent of Africa.

In fact, one might say that Kwanzaa has similarities with Thanksgiving in the United States or the Yam Festival in Ghana and Nigeria.

Five common sets of values are central to the activities of the week: assembly, reverence, commemoration, recommitment and celebration. Seven principles (the nguzo saba), that represent the cornerstone of Kwanzaa, are celebrated across each of the seven days:

The Seven Principles

December 26: Unity (umoja)

December 27: Self-determination (kujichagulia)

December 28: Collective Work and Responsibility (ujima)

December 29: Cooperative economics (ujamaa)

December 30: Purpose (nia)

December 31: Creativity (kuumba)

January 1: Faith (imani).

The Symbols of Kwanzaa

Similar to the Jewish practices within Hanukkah, candles are used to represent concepts of the holiday and during the Kwanzaa ceremony, there are seven symbols displayed, representing the seven principles.

The symbols of Kwanzaa include crops (mzao) which represents the historical roots of African-Americans in agriculture and also the reward for collective labor. The mat (mkeka) lays the foundation for self- actualization.

Kwanzaa, second day, principles, Kujichagulia, Self-deterination, Nuguzo Saba, meaning

The candle holder (kinara) reminds believers in the ancestral origins in one of 55 African countries; they also hold the seven candles (mishumaa saba) that are lit each day of Kwanzaa.

Corn/maize (muhindi) signifies children and the hope associated in the younger generation. Gifts (Zawadi) represent commitments of the parents for the children. The unity cup (Kkimbe cha Umoja) is used to pour libations to the ancestors. On December 31, participants celebrate with a banquet of food (karamu) which often entails cuisine from various African countries. Gifts are also exchanged.

The Greeting

During Kwanzaa, participants greet one another with "Habari gani" which is Kiswahili for "how are you/ how's the news with you?" The response is "Umoja, habari gani."




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