Kwanzaa

Kwanzaa is an African American celebration of family, culture, and community lasting seven days beginning on December 26^th.  Each day is dedicated to a particular principle and each day one of the candles on a seven-branched candelabrum is lighted. The celebration also includes the giving of gifts (especially educational and cultural gifts to children).

I must interject here that without doing my own research, I deprived myself of the full understanding and meaning of Kwanzaa.  In my research, I learned that Kwanzaa is a non-denominational celebration, certainly not meant to replace Christmas rather the key concepts are to focus on honoring the values of ancient African cultures and inspiring African Americans to move forward and progress as well as providing an opportunity to strengthen and renew family values and togetherness and build our community.

The Seven Principles are as follows:

umoja (oo-MOH-ja)
Meaning: unity
Action: building a community that holds together

kujichagulia (koo-jee-cha-goo-LEE-yah)
Meaning: self-determination
Action: speaking for yourself and making choices that benefit the community

ujima (oo-JEE-mah)
Meaning: collective work and responsibility
Action: helping others within the community

ujamaa (oo-JAH-ma)
Meaning: cooperative economics
Action: supporting businesses that care about the community

nia (nee-AH)
Meaning: a sense of purpose
Action: setting goals that benefit the community

kuumba (koo-OOM-bah)
Meaning: creativity
Action: making the community better and more beautiful

imani (ee-MAH-nee)

Meaning: faith
Action: believing that a better world can be created for communities now and in the future

The Seven Symbols are as follows:

kikombe cha umoja
Meaning: the unity cup
Action: Celebrants drink from this cup in honor of their African ancestors. Before drinking, each person says "harambee," or "let's pull together."

kinara
Meaning: the candleholder, which holds seven candles
Action: It said to symbolize stalks of corn that branch off to form new stalks, much as the human family is created.

mazao
Meaning: fruits, nuts, and vegetables
Action: These remind celebrants of the harvest fruits that nourished the people of Africa.

mishumaa saba
Meaning: the seven candles that represent the seven principles
Action: A different candle is lit each day. Three candles on the left are green; three on the right are red; and in the middle is a black candle.

mkeka
Meaning: mat
Action: The symbols of Kwanzaa are arranged on the mkeka, which may be made of straw or African cloth. It symbolizes the foundation upon which communities are built.

vibunzi (plural, muhindi)
Meaning: ear of corn
Action: Traditionally, one ear of corn is placed on the mkeka for each child present.

zawadi
Meaning: gifts
Action: Traditionally, educational and cultural gifts are given to children on January 1, the last day of Kwanzaa.

I hope this educational moment has been both encouraging and enlightening.

SharB~TTSD

#TakeTheScaffoldingDown