Kwanzaa

The holiday of Kwanzaa which is celebrated from December 26 to January 1 is, according to its founder Dr. Maulana Karenga, "a celebration of family, community, and culture." It is a holiday which began as a way for African Americans to celebrate their heritage and has become a holiday celebrated by African people. The word Kwanzaa is from the Swahili language meaning "first fruits of the harvest."

There are seven principles of Kwanzaa:

• Umoja (Unity)
• Kujichagulia (Self-Determination)
• Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility)
• Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics)
• Nia (Purpose)
• Kuumba (Creativity)
• Imani (Faith)

There are seven basic symbols plus two others which represent the values of African culture. An important symbol of the holiday is the seven candles which are lit in sequence as each of the seven principles of Kwanzaa are discussed.

For a more authoritative source of information on Kwanzaa, visit the official Kwanzaa web site.