The Festival of Kwanzaa
(the information in this writing was taken from the website www.holidays.net/kwanzaa.htm)
Kwanzaa is a 7 day festival celebrating the African American people, their culture and their history. It is a time of celebration, community gathering, and reflection. It is a time of endings and beginnings. Kwanzaa begins on December 26th, the day after Christmas, and continues until New Years Day, January 1st.
What most don’t understand is that the holiday of Kwanzaa is 43 years old and was created by Dr. Maulana Karenga in 1966. It was during the period in US history when African Americans were involved in struggles for their most deserved civil rights. This was the period of Martin Luther King, the Civil Rights movement, and Black Power.
Dr. Karenga wanted to create a holiday that would bring African Americans together in celebration of their black culture which was lost due to their ancestors being enslaved and then because of assimilation into society. He was inspired by the "first fruit" or harvest festivals that were celebrated throughout Africa.
In fact the name he gave to the holiday, "Kwanzaa," comes from the Kiswahili or Swahili phrase for "first fruit" - matunda ya kwanza. Also, most don’t know that Kiswahili, or Swahili, is the largest spoken language on the African continent and thus the language of Kwanzaa. When Dr. Karenga chose the word "kwanza" for the name of his festival he added the extra "a" at the end to give the word greater significance.
Dr. Karenga used these first fruit festivals as his model for Kwanzaa because they shared characteristics which he felt were important. These characteristics were:
1. The people gathered together to celebrate their crops and harvest
2. The people would give thanks to their Creator for a good harvest and life.
3. They would remember and celebrate their ancestors and the past.
4. They allowed the people to recommit themselves to their community.
5. They celebrated their history, culture, Creator, and the promise of the next year.
It was these characteristics that inspired Dr. Karenga when he developed the Nguzo Saba, or Seven Principles, of Kwanzaa. (Nguzo Saba is Kiswahili for "Seven Principles") These principles are unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity, and faith. These are the foundation of Kwanzaa.
The dates of the celebration, December 26 - January 1, were chosen to correspond to the end of the year celebrations in America. Kwanzaa begins the day after Christmas. It is to bypass the commercial buying period but to take advantage of the seasonal holiday spirit.
What most don’t understand is that the holiday of Kwanzaa is 43 years old and was created by Dr. Maulana Karenga in 1966. It was during the period in US history when African Americans were involved in struggles for their most deserved civil rights. This was the period of Martin Luther King, the Civil Rights movement, and Black Power.
Dr. Karenga wanted to create a holiday that would bring African Americans together in celebration of their black culture which was lost due to their ancestors being enslaved and then because of assimilation into society. He was inspired by the "first fruit" or harvest festivals that were celebrated throughout Africa.
In fact the name he gave to the holiday, "Kwanzaa," comes from the Kiswahili or Swahili phrase for "first fruit" - matunda ya kwanza. Also, most don’t know that Kiswahili, or Swahili, is the largest spoken language on the African continent and thus the language of Kwanzaa. When Dr. Karenga chose the word "kwanza" for the name of his festival he added the extra "a" at the end to give the word greater significance.
Dr. Karenga used these first fruit festivals as his model for Kwanzaa because they shared characteristics which he felt were important. These characteristics were:
1. The people gathered together to celebrate their crops and harvest
2. The people would give thanks to their Creator for a good harvest and life.
3. They would remember and celebrate their ancestors and the past.
4. They allowed the people to recommit themselves to their community.
5. They celebrated their history, culture, Creator, and the promise of the next year.
It was these characteristics that inspired Dr. Karenga when he developed the Nguzo Saba, or Seven Principles, of Kwanzaa. (Nguzo Saba is Kiswahili for "Seven Principles") These principles are unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity, and faith. These are the foundation of Kwanzaa.
The dates of the celebration, December 26 - January 1, were chosen to correspond to the end of the year celebrations in America. Kwanzaa begins the day after Christmas. It is to bypass the commercial buying period but to take advantage of the seasonal holiday spirit.
The Seven Principles of Kwanzaa
The foundation of Kwanzaa are the Seven Principles, or Nguzo Saba. When Dr. Karenga created the celebration of Kwanzaa he wanted to reflect the best qualities and characteristics of the "first fruit" or harvest festivals that were celebrated throughout Africa. It was these qualities that established the Nguzo Saba, or Seven Principles of Kwanzaa. (Nguzo Saba is Kiswahili for Seven Principles).
The Seven Principles (Nguzo Saba) of Kwanzaa are:
• Umoja (oo-MOH-jah): Unity
Success starts with Unity. Unity of family, community, nation and race.
Success starts with Unity. Unity of family, community, nation and race.
• Kujichagulia (koo-jee-chah-goo-LEE-ah): Self-Determination
To be responsible for ourselves. To create your own destiny.
To be responsible for ourselves. To create your own destiny.
• Ujima (oo-JEE-mah): Collective Work and Responsibility
To build and maintain your community together.
To work together to help one another within your community.
• Ujamaa (oo-jah-MAH): Collective Economics
To build, maintain, and support our own stores, establishments, and businesses.
To build, maintain, and support our own stores, establishments, and businesses.
• Nia (NEE-ah): Purpose
To restore African American people to their traditional greatness. To be responsible to Those Who Came Before (our ancestors) and to Those Who Will Follow (our descendants).
To restore African American people to their traditional greatness. To be responsible to Those Who Came Before (our ancestors) and to Those Who Will Follow (our descendants).
• Kuumba (koo-OOM-bah): Creativity
Using creativity and imagination to make your communities better than what you inherited.
Using creativity and imagination to make your communities better than what you inherited.
• Imani (ee-MAH-nee): Faith
Believing in our people, our families, our educators, our leaders, and
Believing in our people, our families, our educators, our leaders, and
the righteousness of the African American struggle.
Seven Days of Kwanzaa Celebration
Each of the seven days of Kwanzaa represents a different Principle of the Nguzo Saba (Seven Principles). When a new candle is lit each day it represents one of these principles. Each evening a family member is given the honor of lighting the candles; usually to the youngest child , some to the eldest family member. Others might have a different family member lighting the candles each night. The candles are placed in a special candleholder (kinara) and those who light the candles discusses one of the seven principles of Kwanzaa. On the sixth day, which falls on New Years Eve, family and friends get together to enjoy a large feast and to celebrate their history, culture, and the upcoming New Year.
The First Day of Kwanzaa (December 26)
On the first day of Kwanzaa the black candle is lit in the Kinara. The black candle represents the First Principle of Kwanzaa - Umoja (oo-MOH-jah): Unity. The person who lights the candle might make a statement about the first principle and its meaning. Sometimes a passage or poem is read relating to what the principle means and how it relates to their life.
Then the Umoja (Unity Cup) might be filled with fruit juice and shared among those gathered. Each takes a drink and passes to the next. Some families prefer to use a Unity cup for each member, or the cup can just be left in the center of the Kwanzaa table.
After the sharing of the Unity cup the candles are extinguished till the next day.
The Second Day of Kwanzaa (December 27)
On the second day the black candle is again lit, as well as the farthest red candle on the left. This represents the Second Principle of Kwanzaa which is Kujichagulia (koo-jee-chah-goo-LEE-ah): Self-determination. A statement about the Second Principle and its meaning is made. Or possibly a passage or poem is spoken or read which relates to what the principle means and how it relates to their life. The family shares the Unity cup and the candles are extinguished.
The Third Day of Kwanzaa (December 28)
On the third day the black candle is lit, then the farthest left red, and then the farthest right green candle. This represents the Third Principle of Kwanzaa - Ujima (oo-JEE-mah): Collective work and responsibility. The Third Principle is discussed. The family shares the Unity cup and the candles are extinguished.
The Fourth Day of Kwanzaa (December 29)
On the fourth day the black candle is lit, then the farthest left red, the farthest right green. And then the next red candle on the left. This represents the Fourth Principle of Kwanzaa - Ujamaa (oo-jah-MAH): Collective economics. The Fourth Principle is discussed. The family shares the Unity cup and the candles are extinguished.
The Fifth Day of Kwanzaa (December 30)
On the fifth day the black candle is lit, then the farthest left red, the farthest right green, the next red and then the next green candle. This represents the Fifth Principle of Kwanzaa - Nia (NEE-ah): Purpose. The Fifth Principle is discussed. The family shares the Unity cup and the candles are extinguished.
The Sixth Day of Kwanzaa (December 31)
On the sixth day the black candle is lit, then the farthest left red, the farthest right green, the next red, the next green and then the final red candle. This represents the Sixth Principle of Kwanzaa – Kuumba (koo-OOM-bah): Creativity. The sixth day, which occurs on New Years Eve, is a special day. This is the day of the Kwanzaa Karamu or Kwanzaa Feast. In the spirit of celebration many families invite their friends and family to join in the festivities.
On this special day we remember our ancestors when the Unity cup is shared. After everyone has taken a drink the candles are extinguished.
But before the Karamu is over, the eldest member of those present will read the Tamshi La Tutaonana (TAM-shi la Tu-ta-u-NA-na). The Tamshi La Tutaonana was written by Dr. Karenga, the creator of Kwanzaa, as a farewell statement to the feast and the year.
Everyone stands as the elder reads:
The First Day of Kwanzaa (December 26)
On the first day of Kwanzaa the black candle is lit in the Kinara. The black candle represents the First Principle of Kwanzaa - Umoja (oo-MOH-jah): Unity. The person who lights the candle might make a statement about the first principle and its meaning. Sometimes a passage or poem is read relating to what the principle means and how it relates to their life.
Then the Umoja (Unity Cup) might be filled with fruit juice and shared among those gathered. Each takes a drink and passes to the next. Some families prefer to use a Unity cup for each member, or the cup can just be left in the center of the Kwanzaa table.
After the sharing of the Unity cup the candles are extinguished till the next day.
The Second Day of Kwanzaa (December 27)
On the second day the black candle is again lit, as well as the farthest red candle on the left. This represents the Second Principle of Kwanzaa which is Kujichagulia (koo-jee-chah-goo-LEE-ah): Self-determination. A statement about the Second Principle and its meaning is made. Or possibly a passage or poem is spoken or read which relates to what the principle means and how it relates to their life. The family shares the Unity cup and the candles are extinguished.
The Third Day of Kwanzaa (December 28)
On the third day the black candle is lit, then the farthest left red, and then the farthest right green candle. This represents the Third Principle of Kwanzaa - Ujima (oo-JEE-mah): Collective work and responsibility. The Third Principle is discussed. The family shares the Unity cup and the candles are extinguished.
The Fourth Day of Kwanzaa (December 29)
On the fourth day the black candle is lit, then the farthest left red, the farthest right green. And then the next red candle on the left. This represents the Fourth Principle of Kwanzaa - Ujamaa (oo-jah-MAH): Collective economics. The Fourth Principle is discussed. The family shares the Unity cup and the candles are extinguished.
The Fifth Day of Kwanzaa (December 30)
On the fifth day the black candle is lit, then the farthest left red, the farthest right green, the next red and then the next green candle. This represents the Fifth Principle of Kwanzaa - Nia (NEE-ah): Purpose. The Fifth Principle is discussed. The family shares the Unity cup and the candles are extinguished.
The Sixth Day of Kwanzaa (December 31)
On the sixth day the black candle is lit, then the farthest left red, the farthest right green, the next red, the next green and then the final red candle. This represents the Sixth Principle of Kwanzaa – Kuumba (koo-OOM-bah): Creativity. The sixth day, which occurs on New Years Eve, is a special day. This is the day of the Kwanzaa Karamu or Kwanzaa Feast. In the spirit of celebration many families invite their friends and family to join in the festivities.
On this special day we remember our ancestors when the Unity cup is shared. After everyone has taken a drink the candles are extinguished.
But before the Karamu is over, the eldest member of those present will read the Tamshi La Tutaonana (TAM-shi la Tu-ta-u-NA-na). The Tamshi La Tutaonana was written by Dr. Karenga, the creator of Kwanzaa, as a farewell statement to the feast and the year.
Everyone stands as the elder reads:
Strive for discipline, dedication, and achievement in all you do.
Dare struggle and sacrifice and gain the strength that comes from this.
Build where you are and dare leave a legacy that will last
as long as the sun shines and the water flows.
Practice daily Umoja, Kujichagulia, Ujima, Ujamaa, Nia, Kuumba, and Imani.
May the wisdom of the ancestors always walk with us.
May the year's end meet us laughing, and stronger.
May our children honor us by following our example in love and struggle.
At the end of next year, may we sit together again, in larger numbers, with greater achievement and closer to liberation and a higher level of life.
Then the elder leads the guests in the Harambee (ha-RAM-bee) salute. Each person raises their right fist about as high as their shoulder, then pulls down forcefully until the elbow is next to next to their torso, saying "Harambee!" This is done seven times in unison. This concludes the Karamu celebration.
The Seventh Day of Kwanzaa (January 1)
On the seventh day the black candle is lit, then the farthest left red, the farthest right green, the next red candle, the next green, the final red and then the final green candle. This represents the Seventh Principle of Kwanzaa – imani (ee-MAH-nee): Faith. The Seventh Principle is discussed. The family shares the Unity cup and all seven candles are extinguished. Kwanzaa is over.
The Festival of Kwanzaa, a new celebration in comparison to the centuries old celebrations, celebrates community and unity - faith, self-determination, and creativity all encompassing of what each of our holidays celebrates.
Isn't a wonderful place to live, the United States of America? We can experience it all! When each of us finally throws caution to the wind and instead of tolerating others beliefs, customs and traditions we actually learn and understand them will be the time we will live side by side in PEACE.
HAPPY KWANZAA! Wishing Everyone Peace, Harmony & Tranquility...
- accepting each other for whom they are 