Kwanzaa

A Magical and Meaningful Holiday

By Jennifer Newton Reents

Pages: 1 2 3 4 5

Kwanzaa is a seven-day holiday, he says, because it is modeled after first-fruits celebrations in ancient Africa, many of which have seven days. Another reason is to stress the seven principles.

During the seven days, celebrants decorate their homes in traditional African colors and many wear traditional clothing. Families meet together for seven nights, lighting a candle on the kinara each night, beginning with the center black candle. The other candles are red and green, the colors of the Kwanzaa flag. The second night, the black and a red candle are lit. On the third, a green candle is lit along with the red and the black. One more candle is lit each night until all seven are glowing.

Each night after the candles are lit someone in the family explains the idea or belief for the day and stories are told. On the sixth night there is a large feast called karamu. Traditional foods such as baked catfish, collard greens, black-eyed peas and sweet potato pie are eaten.

On the last night all seven candles are lit and children receive their gifts. Clebrants also assess themselves and consider their worthiness in their families, communities and culture on the final day.