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Kwanzaa Celebrations
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Celebrated annually, Kwanzaa is a popular African-American
holiday, meaning "first fruits of the harvest." A festival of
the African heritage, history, community and rituals, it was
established in 1966 by Dr. Maulana Karenga, a black cultural
leader, in California.
From December 26th to January 1st (New Years Day,) Kwanzaa is
celebrated with family and friends, however, it is not a ritual
intended to replace Christmas. It is not a religious holiday,
but a spiritual observance to rejoice in the African culture and
meaning. This holiday is so widely accepted that people of many
races will join in and celebrate with their African friends.
The Seven Principles of Kwanzaa
Each of the seven days represents one of the seven principals of
Kwanzaa, which are the fundamentals that African-Americans wish
to live by. These seven principals are:
Unity
Self Determination
Collective work and responsibility
Cooperative economics
Purpose
Creativity
Faith
The colors that represent Kwanzaa are black, red and green. In a
traditional ceremony each day, a candle is lit to symbolize one
of the seven principals. The participants then discuss the
meaning each candle signifies. By the seventh day, all candles
will be burning and a large feast is enjoyed by all.
Kwanzaa Festivities
It is traditional to celebrate this holiday with parties, music,
singing and dancing. Family and friends exchange unique,
homemade gifts, and reaffirm their beliefs in how they should
live the upcoming new year.
Many families adorn their homes for Kwanza with decorations
symbolic of the holiday. Decorations include African items, ears
of corn, straw placemats, banners, and decorative candleholders.
Centerpieces are often made, representing the fruits of the
harvest.
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