Kwanzaa is a seven-day celebration each year from December 26th to January 1st. “Kwanzaa” means “first fruits” in Swahili, and honors the bountiful Ashanti and Zulu harvests that fed generations of Africans.
Dr. Maulana Karenga created Kwanzaa in 1966 after searching for ways our African roots could empower Black American families. He believed we needed a culturally empowering holiday. Dr. Karenga was later embroiled in controversy. But the founder’s actions don’t have to erase the power of the holiday.
Each night culminates in a candle-lighting ceremony followed by a discussion of one of the seven Kwanzaa principles: unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity, and faith.
On the seventh day, families exchange handmade gifts. Receiving a gift is an honor and cements the relationship between the giver and receiver. When someone accepts a gift, they promise to honor their commitments to their family and practice the seven principles throughout the year.
Kwanzaa is steeped in African customs, promotes intergenerational conversations, and centers community instead of gifts. This holiday and its powerful customs could be what we need to remind us we are always connected to Africa – and each other.