How To Celebrate Kwanzaa
- December 12, 2008
- 250 Views
Learn how to commemorate Kwanzaa, the seven-day celebration of African and African-American culture that begins on December 26.
You Will Need
- A special candelabra
- Seven candles—three red, three green, and one black
- A woven straw mat
- Several ears of corn
- A unity cup
- Modest children’s gifts
- An African cloth for the table
- Water or juice
- Foods from Africa, the Caribbean, Latin America, and the American South
- African art and books (optional) (optional)
Step 1: Prepare for the celebration
Prepare for Kwanzaa (KWAN-zuh) by gathering a candleholder called the kinara (kee-NAH-rah); one black, three red, and three green candles called mishumaa saba (mee-shoo-MAH-ah SAH-ba); a woven straw mat called a mkeka (em-KEH-kah); several ears of corn known as muhindi (moo-HEEN-dee); and a unity cup called a kikombe cha umoja (kee-KOHM-bee chah oo-MOE-jah).
The black candle stands for the African-American people; red represents their struggles; and green stands for their hope for the future. The straw mat symbolizes history and tradition, and the corn represents fertility and children.
Step 2: Know the symbolism
Be mindful of what the candles – the mishumaa saba – stand for: the seven principles collectively known as Nguzo Saba (n-GU-zo SAH-bah). They are, in order of how they are celebrated, unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity, and faith.
The African words for the seven principles are Umoja (oo-MOE-jah) for unity, Kujichagulia (koo-jee-cha-GOO-lee-ah) for self-determination, Ujima (oo-JEE-mah) for collective work and responsibility, Ujamaa (oo-jah-MAH-ah) for cooperative economics, Nia (Nee-ah) for purpose, Kuumba (koo-OOM-bah) for creativity, and Imani (ee-MAH-nee) for faith.
Step 3: Buy children’s gifts
Buy modest gifts for children taking part in the Kwanzaa celebration. Choose items that emphasize African heritage and learning.
Step 4: Decorate the table
Cover a table with your African cloth; place the woven straw mat in the middle; center the candelabra on the mat, and put the unity cup next to it, along with any African art and books you wish to display. Place the black candle in the middle of the candleholder, the red candles to the left of it, and the green candles on the right.
Step 5: Use the proper greeting
Beginning on December 26, greet friends and loved ones with, “Habari gani!” (hah-BAR-ee GAH-nee), which means, “What news?” in Swahili. The correct answer is the principle being celebrated that day.
Step 6: Light the kinara
Gather each day to light one candle and then discuss the principle of the day. The black candle is lit first; then the remaining candles are lit alternately from left to right.
Step 7: Drink up!
On the sixth day, fill the unity cup with water or juice, and pour everyone a glass as part of the libation ritual.
At the end of each of the seven days of celebration, declare, “Harambee!” (hah-RAHM-beh), meaning, “Let’s pull together!”
Step 8: Feast
Enjoy a feast, or karamu, inspired by the cuisines of Africa, the Caribbean, Latin America, and the American South. There are no specific Kwanzaa foods, so tailor your meal to your tastes.
Step 9: Give gifts
Also on the sixth day, distribute the zawadi (zah-WAH-dee), the children’s gifts.
Step 10: Meditate
On the last day of Kwanzaa, January 1, take time for quiet reflection about yourself and your community.
An American political activist created Kwanzaa in 1966 to introduce and reinforce African cultural values.
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