How Do People Celebrate Kwanzaa
How do people celebrate Kwanzaa? For many people, the meanings and celebrations that surround this holiday are a mystery. However, the vision and values of Kwanzaa are significant for the African culture.
What Is Kwanzaa?
Kwanzaa is a seven day holiday that focuses on the restoration of African culture, both in the United States and worldwide. Its values are centered on the Seven Principles, which seek to introduce and reaffirm those practices that seek to strengthen the family, the community, and the African culture as a whole. The Seven Principles include the following:
- Umoja: Unity
- Kuji-chagulia: Self-determination
- Ujima: Collective work and responsibility
- Ujamaa: Cooperative economics
- Nia: Purpose
- Kuumba: Creativity
- Imani: Faith
The purpose of these principles is to unite African communities through self-determination within a multicultural context. The word "Kwanzaa" originates from "Matunda ya kwanza", a phrase that means "first fruits."
Purpose of Kwanzaa
Kwanzaa's purpose is to organize and reinforce the common bonds that tie people to each other and to their cultural values. These bonds should be reaffirming as they morally strengthen those who practice these values. In turn, the strengthening of these ties empowers the community, society, and the world as one.
How Do People Celebrate Kwanzaa Today
How do people celebrate Kwanzaa today? Kwanzaa takes its roots from the first fruits celebrations that took place in ancient Africa, particularly celebrations such as Umkhost, which occurred in southern Africa and lasted for seven days. The significance of seven days is its relation to the Nguzo Saba, which stresses the importance of communitarian values and practices.
Obviously, Kwanzaa is an African celebration, but today others celebrate its significance as well. It is considered a holiday, and thus people of many other cultures often seek to join in the celebration as they, too, recognize the importance of family and community. In some cases, celebrations may be communal, meaning they focus on particular people or aspects of a community. In others, however, a Kwanzaa celebration may be more public in nature. Regardless of the circumstance for the celebration, the content of the message presented should focus on the benefit of all people. People sometimes mistakenly believe that Kwanzaa was created as an alternative to the Christmas celebration, but this isn't true. Kwanzaa is not a substitute for religious beliefs but is, instead, a common view for African culture.
Celebrating Kwanzaa
If you plan to celebrate Kwanzaa, the following are some of the key elements of a celebration.Gather together the seven Kwanzaa symbols, which include:
- Kinara: A seven candle holder
- Mkeka: A twig or straw placemat
- Mazao: Fruits and vegetables which represent the harvest
- Muhindi: Fresh or dried ears of corn, one for each child in the family
- Kikombe cha umoja: A goblet to represent unity
- Mishumaa saba: The seven candles including one black, three green, and three red
- Zawadi: Culturally enriching gifts to be given by parents to their children
The placemat should be placed on a table or floor with the candleholder containing the candles in the center of the placemat. Place the corn on each side of the placemat, and add the fruits, vegetables, gifts and goblet to the mat as well. Add decorations in Kwanzaa colors of red, black, and green to the room, which symbolize blood, the African people, and hope for the future respectively, as well as the Bendera, which is the flag of the Black Nation. This flag should face east within the room. The black candle is placed in the center of the candleholder with the red and green candles on either side. Begin lighting with the red candles and finish with the green at the end of the seven day period. Each day during Kwanzaa, families or communities should light a new candle and discuss one of the Seven Principles. The dates for this holiday typically run from December 26 to January 1.Finally, begin each celebration day or evening with a song, reading, dance, or some other type of cultural activity.
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