Do you know about Kwanzaa? It is celebrated to honor the first fruits of Harvest and happens this week, December 26th – January 1st as a festival of African-American culture, beauty and unity. I didn’t know about this beautiful festival until just a few years ago, though it was begun in America in 1966 by black studies professor, Maulana Karenga.
Below is a primer from BeliefNet.com to enjoy. There is a space between the early December holy days of Hanukkah and Solstice, this year on the 21st, then between Solstice and Christmas on the 25th and Christmas and New Year’s on January 1st. Kwanzaa wonderfully carries on the holy days festival calendar with its timeless Seven Principles.
This year, I am taking as a personal motto and charge:
Principle of Ujima: Collective Work and Responsibility
You might say 2010 is the Year of Ujima for all conscious people to rise and together, swing this world away from destruction the prophets of doom predict and slew our collective Bliss Compass around so the wind’s at our backs this time ~ towards a kind land where Presence, equanimity and good faith exist among all.
For a start.
Check out what else Kwanzaa means and follow the links back to BeliefNet for more info:
| KWANZAA: The First Fruits of the Harvest |
| When It Falls |
Kwanzaa is an annual festival that lasts seven days, from December 26 to January 1. |
| Meaning |
The word Kwanzaa comes from the phrase, ‘matunda ya kwanza,’ which means ‘first fruits of the harvest’ in Swahili. Kwanzaa is modeled on the first fruit celebrations of ancient Africa. It is now a celebration of African-American family, community, and self-improvement. |
| History |
Kwanzaa was created as a cultural festival in 1966 by Maulana Karenga, now a black studies professor. The festival was created to encourage African-Americans to think about their African roots and develop a higher African-American consciousness. |
| Seven Principles (Nguzo Saba) |
Umoja — Unity
Kujichagulia — Self-Determination
Ujima — Collective Work and Responsibility
Ujamaa — Cooperative Economics
Nia — Purpose
Kuumba — Creativity
Imani — Faith
|
| Ritual Objects & Symbols |
Mkeka — straw table mat, on which all other objects are placed
Mazao — crops, symbols of the fruits of collective labor
Muhindi — one ear of corn for each child, symbolizing fertility
Kikombe cha umoja — the unity cup, used to perform the libation ritual
Zawadi — gifts, traditional items that encourage success
Kinara — candleholder, a symbol of ancestry
Mishumaa saba — seven candles, one for each of the seven Kwanzaa principles
|
| Customs |
Each night, the family gathers to light the candles of the kinara, adding one candle for each day of the holiday. A traditional feast is held on the night of December 31. |
| Gifts |
Gifts are usually opened on the last day of Kwanzaa, January 1. Gifts are considered part of the “kuumba,” or creativity, principle and are encouraged. Traditional presents are books and heritage symbols. |
| Traditional Greeting |
“Habari gani?”, to which one replies with the Kwanzaa principle of the day. |
| Traditional Meal |
Most celebrants have a feast, called a karamu, on December 31. |
| Suggested Reading |
Kwanzaa: A Celebration of Family, Community and Culture
By Maulana Karenga
Kwanzaa: An African-American Celebration of Culture and Cooking
By Eric V. Copage |
|
HOW MUCH DID YOU LEARN? TAKE THE KWANZAA QUIZ TO FIND OUT.
.jpg)
