While many local families are preparing for Christmas and Chanukah, other families are also preparing for Kwanzaa. Kwanza is an annual holiday that takes place on December 26th to January 1st. The holiday was founded by Maulana Karenga, a black nationalist and professor, as a means of uniting and empowering the African-American community following the Watts riots in 1965. Kwanzaa is a cultural holiday with spiritual essence and doesn't replace Christmas. In fact, many families celebrate both.
Based on traditional African harvest festivals, Karenga named the holiday Kwanzaa after the Swahili phrase “matunda ya kwanza,” meaning “first fruits.”
Every day of Kwanzaa, a new principle is celebrated as part of the Nguzo Saba, also known as "The Seven Principles of Kwanzaa." These principles are:
Umoja: to maintain unity in the family and community
Kujichagulia: self-determination, to be responsible and speak for oneself
Ujima: collective work and responsibility, to build and maintain a community
Ujamaa: economic co-operation, to help and profit one another
Nia: purpose, to build and develop the community for the benefit of the people
Kuumba: creativity, to do everything possible to leave the community more beautiful and beneficial for future generations
Imani: faith, to believe in parents, teachers, and leaders.
Image Credit: Stockbyte I Canva
There are also seven symbols associated with Kwanzaa
- The mazao (crops)
- The mkeka (mat)
- The kinara (candleholder)
- The muhindi (corn)
- The Kikombe cha umoja (unity cup)
- The Zawadi (gifts)
- Mishumaa saba (seven candles). One candle is black, representing people of African descent, three are red, representing the struggle; three are green, representing land and hope for the future; and three are green, representing hope for the future.
Black, green and red are also the colors of Kwanzaa that's often reflected in the costumes and decorations of families who celebrate the holiday. Placemats, collages, and other decor items can easily be decorated and crafted with these hues. In celebration of Kwanzaa, encourage your children to make handmade cards, signs and artwork to give to family and friends. You can also take part on one of 3 major family-friendly Kwanzaa events in the Metro Richmond area:
- Black and Free Kwanzaa Expo (December 22nd)
- Richmond Kwanzaa Collective's Afrikan Heritage Celebration (December 27th)
- 2024 Capital City Kwanzaa Festival (December 28th)
For more information on Kwanzaa, visit: Official Kwanzaa Website
Celebrate with food: Your Guide to Kwanzaa Food Traditions | Taste of Home
Celebrate with arts & crafts: 5 Crafts To Celebrate Kwanzaa With Kids
