How to Celebrate Kwanzaa

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Kwanzaa is a holiday through which African-Americans can connect with their heritage and culture. It's celebrated from December 26 through January 1, with each of the seven days focusing on one of seven core values (Nguzo Saba). A candle is lit on each day, and on the last day, gifts are exchanged. Since Kwanzaa is a cultural holiday, rather than a religious one, it can be celebrated alongside Christmas or Hanukkah, or on its own.

Steps

1. Decorate your home or the main room with the symbols of Kwanzaa. Put a green tablecloth over a centrally located table, and on top of that, place the Mkeka which is a straw or woven mat that symbolizes the historical foundation of African ancestry. Place the following on the Mkeka:
   
   • Mazao - crops represent the community's productivity; place fruit in a bowl;
     
   • Kinara - the candle-holder
     
   • Mishumaa Saba - the seven candles which represent the seven core principles of Kwanzaa; three candles on the left are red (to represent struggle), three on the right are green (hope) and one in the center is black (people).
     
   • Muhindi - lay out one ear of corn for each child; if there are no children, place two ears to represent the children of the community
     
   • Zawadi - gifts for the children
     
   • Kikombe cha Umoja - a cup to represent family and community unity
     
   
   Decorate around the room with Kwanzaa flags and posters emphasizing the seven principles. You can purchase or make them (especially with kids).
   
2. Starting on December 26, greet everyone by saying "Habari Gani" which is a standard Swahili greeting meaning "what is the news?". If someone greets you, respond with the principle (Nguzo Saba) for that day:
   
   • December 26 - "Umoja" - Unity.
     
   • December 27 - "Kujichagulia" - Self-determination.
     
   • December 28 - "Ujima" - Collective work and responsibility.
     
   • December 29 - "Ujamaa" - Cooperative economics.
     
   • December 30 - "Nia" - Purpose.
     
   • December 31 - "Kuumba" - Creativity.
     
   • January 1 - "Imani" - Faith.
     
   
   
3. Light the Kinara daily. Since each candle represents a specific principle, they are lit one day at a time, in a certain order. The black candle is always lit first. Some people light the remaining candles from left to right (red to green) while other people alternate as follows:
   
   • black candle
     
   • far left red candle
     
   • far right green candle
     
   • second red candle
     
   • second green candle
     
   • last red candle
     
   • last green candle
     
   
   
4. Have the Kwanzaa Karamu (feast) on the sixth day (New Year's Eve). The Kwanzaa feast is a very special event that brings everyone closer to their African roots. It is traditionally held on December 31st and is a communal and cooperative effort. You need to decorate the place where the feast will be held in a red, green, and black scheme. A large Kwanzaa setting should dominate the room where the feast will be held. A large Mkeka should be placed in the center of the floor where the food is placed creatively and made accessible to all to serve themselves. Before and during the feast, an informative and entertaining program should be presented. Traditionally, the program should involve welcoming, remembering, reassessment, recommitment and rejoicing, concluded by a farewell statement and a call for greater unity.
   
5. Give out the gifts of Kuumba. Kuumba, meaning creativity, is highly encouraged and brings a sense of self-satisfaction. The gifts are usually exchanged between the parents and children and are given out traditionally on January 1st, the last day of Kwanzaa. Since the giving of gifts has very much to do with Kuumba, the gifts should of an educational or artistic nature.
   

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Tips

• Kwanzaa means "first fruits of the harvest" in the African language Kiswahili. Many of the phrases used in Kwanzaa, are in Swahili, which was the language chosen to represent African heritage.
  

Related wikiHows

• How to Celebrate Hanukkah
  
• How to Celebrate Christmas
  
• How to Celebrate Diwali
  
• How to Be Proud to Be Black
  

Sources and Citations

• http://www.tike.com/celeb-kw.htm
  
• http://dartreview.com/archives/2001/01/15/the_story_of_kwaanza.php
  
• http://www.melanet.com/kwanzaa/whatis.html
  
• http://www.history.com/minisites/kwanzaa/
  

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