Kwanzaa was created in 1966 by   

                   Maulana Karenga, a professor at California

                    State University, at Long Branch.

                                Kwanzaa is a Swahili word meaning first

                    fruits of the harvest.

                    From December   26 to January 1, many Afro-

                    Americans celebrate Kwanzaa. 

                   

                              During Kwanzaa seven candles are

                    paced in a kinara (kee-nar-rah), which is a

                    candle holder.

                    For each day of Kwanzaa, one candle is lighted to       

                    to celebrate a special principle.  These principles

                    come from the beliefs by families in many parts

                    Africa.

                                The seven principles of Kwanzaa are:

 

Unity  (Umoja)umoja

Kwanzaa Symbol - Umoja (unity)

Self-Determination (Kujichgulia)kujichagulia

Kwanzaa symbol- Kujichagulia (self-determination

 

Collective Work and Responsibility (Ujima)

Kwanzaa Symbol - Ujima (collective work and responsibility)

 

Cooperative Economics (Ujamma)ujamaa

 

Purpose  (Nia)nia

Kwanzaa symbols - Nia (purpose)

 

Creativity  (Kuumba)kuumba

Kwanzaa symbol - Kuumba (Creativity)

 

Faith  (Imani)imani

Kwanzaa symbol - Imani (faith)

 

 

 

   

 

                  On each of the seven days, families will  

                   participate in an activity which symbolizes

                   that day's principle. 

               For example, on the sixth day of Kwanzaa people

                make up dances to perform for family and

                friends, showing creativity.

             

 

                       Kwanzaa gifts, called zawadi (zah-wah-dee) are

                made by hand.  Gifts symbolizing African ancestry.

                Some examples are:  fabric dolls with black-button

                eyes. homemade storybooks with African folk tales,

                 and necklaces strung with specked beads.

              These zawadi are made and given by adults and

               children alike on Kwanzaa.

                            Kwanzaa is a way of life rather than just a

                holiday.

 

Colors of Kwanzaa:

Black for the face of our people

Red for the blood of our people

Green for the hope and the color of the motherland