Kwanzaa: The Meaning Behind the Celebration
Hearing the greeting “Joyous Kwanzaa” in late December is becoming more and more common in the United States. A holiday celebrated mostly, but not exclusively, by the African American population, Kwanzaa has been enjoyed for over 40 years although many do not understand the “reason for the season”.
African Americans were brought to the United States in the early 1600’s after being captured from their native land and enslaved into service. Over the centuries, descendants of these slaves became more and more Americanized, losing over time their customs and heritage. In 1966, a black activist by the name of Maulana Kalenga had the inspiration to reinstate the African pride and heritage by initiating a holiday that would belong solely to those of African descent, thus beginning the celebration of Kwanzaa.
Rather than reinvent the African harvest festivals from which Kwanzaa was tailored, Dr. Kalenga instead focused upon the family unity that was a large part of the African culture when designing the festivity. Certain principles were adopted into the concept of Kwanzaa that would exemplify African American family values, becoming the seven guiding principles:
| Umoja | meaning unity and togetherness of family and community |
| Kujichagulia |
meaning self-determination |
| Ujima | meaning Collective Work and Responsibility |
| Ujamaa | meaning to emphasize collective economic strength and meeting common needs through mutual support. |
| Nia | meaning the setting of personal goals so as to benefit the community |
| Kuumba | Meaning the focus on creativity |
| Imani | meaning the focus on faith to better tradition, self and humanity |
These seven principles are emphasized by appointing a day for each through the holiday, creating a seven day celebration of Kwanzaa, beginning December 26th and ending January 1st of each year. This bridging of the old year and the new year, in African culture, is called “the time when the edges of the year meet”.
Seven is a prominent feature throughout; seven days in length, seven principles of Kwanzaa, and seven symbols (crops, mat, Kinara, seven candles, ears of corn, gifts and unity cup). Children of the community are represented by the ears of corn. The Kinara and the seven candles are a mainstay of the holiday; exemplifying the blend of history and future of black culture. Gifts are generally given to children, although the giving of gifts is not limited or mandatory. Drinking from the unity cup is considered to reinforce togetherness and family. The seven symbols are collected together and placed upon a straw mat which becomes a focal point in the home through Kwanzaa.
During the seven days of Kwanzaa, it is traditional for celebrants to use a Kinara; a candle holder with seven candles; one that is black, three red, and three green. Black symbolizes the black people, red represents their struggles through history, while green emphasizes the hope and future that develops from the struggles. One candle is lit on each of the seven days, beginning with the black candle on the first day of Kwanzaa. The second day, the black candle is relit, along with a red candle. One of the green candles is lit the third day, joined by the relighting of the black and red from the previous days. This pattern continues through to the seventh day, when all candles are finally lit. The significance of the pattern is to first represent the black people (the black candle), then their struggles (the red candle) and finally the future and hope from the struggles (the green candle).
Kwanzaa is a holiday full of symbolism. Although the holiday was originally created as a way to reaffirm the roots of African culture, it has been embraced to represent more the bond of family and community; not just of African Americans, but of every individual of every race.
Author: Melissa Nykorchuk
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