Kwanzaa is not a religious or a
political holiday. Kwanzaa is a reflective holiday,
introduced in the mid-1960's in the U.S. during the Civil Rights
Movement. It is a time when African-Americans celebrate their African
heritage.
Kwanzaa
was created by a teacher, Maulana Karenga, Ph.D., chair and professor of
African-American Studies at the California State University at Long Beach.
He created this holiday in an effort
to pull the African-American community together in pride and unity.
The reflective nature of Kwanzaa is based on ideas borrowed from an
ancient Swahili seven-day-long harvest celebration. Dr. Karenga took some
old ideas, and added some new ideas, and came up with the incredibly neat
celebration called Kwanzaa.
Kwanzaa
begins each year on December 26 and lasts through the first day in January. The symbols of Kwanzaa are
African harvest symbols, like ears of dried corn and colorfully woven
tablecloths. People decorate their homes for Kwanzaa. An important
symbol is the wooden candlestick. This candlestick holds 7 candles in a row.
The center candle is black, to signify unity. There are 3 red candles on one side, and 3 green candles on the other.
Day
One: The black candle is lit. This is a day of togetherness, sharing
feelings.
The family gathers and shares how they feel about things happening in their
lives, and their feelings about each other. Many problems are cleared up
during this day, simply by talking about them. The black candle
signifies unity.
Day
Two: A red candle is lit. This is a day
of togetherness, sharing traditions.
Some people teach others how to braid hair. Other might teach how to play an
African drum. Still others might share an African recipe.
Day
Three: A green candle is lit. This is day of
togetherness, sharing a common goal.
Everyone in the family works together to
get a chore done - perhaps paint a fence or clean out the
garage. What's important is that everyone works together to get the job
done.
Day
Four: A red candle is lit. This is a day of
togetherness, sharing a family gift.
All year long, people save their pennies. At Kwanzaa, they buy one gift that
the whole family can enjoy. In years to come, every time any in the family sees this item, they
will remember the family Kwanzaa. It can be anything, from a new
staircase to a tiny cookie cutter.
Day
Five: A green candle is lit. This is a day of
togetherness, sharing dreams and hopes. This is an especially good day to ask your children, "What do wish to
accomplish in the new year?"
Day
Six: A red candle is lit. This is a day of
togetherness, sharing creativity.
First, everyone in the family creates something - a poem, a story, a dance,
a painting. In the early evening, the family gathers. Each family member
shares what they have created.
Day
Seven: A green candle is lit. This is a day
of togetherness, sharing a feast.
Baked ham, roasted yams, collard greens, thick bread - it is a wonderful
feast.
And
that is Kwanzaa. You can see why it is such a popular holiday!
