Kwanzaa
Kwanzaa is commonly recognized as a cultural holiday that is observed from December 26th to January 1st each year; however, there is much more to it than that. Kwanzaa represents a set of principals and morals to live by daily. Similar to a way of life.
Each principal encourages oneself to grow, maintain themselves, their families, and the community as a collective. These principals help consciously manifest tradition and culture, which is essential for any group of people regardless of race, but is especially necessary for our melanated family’s and heritage.
Kwanzaa provides the space to honor our ancestors, heritage, and lineage as melanated people.
The week-long celebration at the end of the year is the time to gather, celebrate and acknowledge the efforts that were practiced throughout the year and to be a reminder to continue into the next year.
Kwanzaa created and introduced by Dr. Maulana Karenga to create the opportunity to re-practice the culture that was lost/ taken away from the African diaspora / melanated people of the planet. Re-implementing these lost practices and acts is known as Sankofa (to go back and get it).
Seven Principles
are referred to as the Nguzo Saba.
Umoja (oo-MOH-ja) - Unity
- To strive for and maintain unity within the family, community, nation,and race.
- Being united or joined as a whole
- To define ourselves, name ourselves, create for ourselves, and speak for ourselves, instead of being defined, named, created for, and spoken for by others.
- To build and maintain our communities together and to make our sisters’ and brothers’ problems our problems and to solve them together.
- To build and maintain our own stores, shops, and other businesses together and to profit from them together.
- To make as our collective vocation the building and developing of our communities in order to restore our communities to their traditional greatness.
- To do always as much as we can in the way that we can in order to leave our communities more beautiful and beneficial than when we inherited it.
- To believe with all our hearts in our parents, teachers, leaders, and people and in the righteousness and victory of our struggle.
Seven Symbols
- Mkeka - place mat: symbolizes the foundation of our tradition, history, and culture.
- Kinara - Candle holder: symbolizes the roots of our ancestry.
- Mishumaa Saba - Seven Candles: represents the 7 principles
- Muhindi - Ear of Corn: symbolizes the children and the future generations.
- Kikombe Cha Umoja - Unity Cup: Represents the ritual and spiritual unification and remembrance of our history and culture.
- Mazao - Fruit: symbolizes the fruits of our labor, efforts, achievement, and accomplishments.
- Zawadi - Gifts: gifts are given to encourage growth, achievement, and success.