Across the globe, the winter season brings people
together for various holidays, celebrations, and
observances. These events may be cultural or
religious, big or small, of ancient origin or fairly
new, but they all serve the same purposes:
establishing or strengthening social communion,
highlighting family values, and enjoying some fun
time and companionship.
Year after year, during all seasons, people
reconnect not only to observe important events,
but to acknowledge each other, and to celebrate
humanity in its endless aspects.
Bright days, merry days, happy, happy holidays!
This annual event is observed primarily in the
United States from December 26 to January 1,
culminating in a communal feast called Karamu,
usually on the sixth day. The ideas and concepts of
Kwanzaa are expressed in the Swahili language,
one of the most widely spoken languages in Africa.
The Kwanzaa candles, also known as the Mishumaa
Saba, are seven candles—one black, three red, and
three green—arranged on a kinara. The colors
symbolize the African struggle and people (black),
the efforts and bloodshed of their struggle (red),
and the future and hope that emerge from that
struggle (green).
The black candle is lit first on the first day of
Kwanzaa. The candles are then lit each day,
alternating between red and green, to represent
the seven principles of Kwanzaa: black for Umoja
(Unity), the red candles for Kujichagulia (Self-
Determination), Ujima (Collective Work and
Responsibility), and Ujamaa (Cooperative
Economics), and the green candles for Nia
(Purpose), Kuumba (Creativity), and Imani (Faith).
Even though it was created by and for Black
Americans to preserve, revitalize, and promote
African American culture, folks of different races
and ethnicities can also embrace Kwanzaa, similar
to how people other than Mexicans sometimes
observe Cinco de Mayo. Other countries where
Kwanzaa is celebrated include Jamaica, France,
Canada, and Brazil.
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