Do you and your students know about December's youngest holiday? Started in 1966 by Dr. Maulana Karenga, professor and chair of
the Department of Black Studies at California State University
Long Beach,
Kwanzaa is celebrated now by over 18 million people.
This African-American cultural celebration gets its name from a
Swahili phrase, matunda ya kwanza (mah-TOON-da yah QUAN-za),
which means the first fruits. It is a harvest festival similar
to Thanksgiving or Oktoberfest, but based on African tradition.
African communities come together to thank God for the good in
life. This includes rejoicing in abundant crops and the relationships
within the community.
The Kwanzaa holiday covers a seven-day period from December 26
to January 1. It's primary focus is on the Nguzo Saba (n-GOOH-zo
SAH-ba) or Seven Fundamental Principles:
Unity
Self-determination
Collective work and responsibility
Cooperative economics
Purpose
Creativity
Faith
Each day a different principle is celebrated,
discussed and affirmed. Karenga based these principles on African
cultural values and declared
that they were the "minimum set of values African Americans
needed to...sustain an Afrocentric family, community, and culture."
Seven items, customarily referred to by their
Swahili names, symbolize these important values:
Crops A symbol of the earth's bounty
A Straw Mat representing history and tradition
A Candle Holder signifying the genealogical link that African Americans
have with Africa. It holds seven candles - three green candles
to
represent prosperity, three red candles symbolizing the struggle
for equality, and one black candle for racial unity. Each day a
new candle is lit until all seven principles have been celebrated.
Corn Symbolizing children. One ear of corn is placed on the mat for
each child in the family
The Unity Cup A symbol of the connection between ancestors and the present generation.
Gift-giving When gift-giving occurs (it is optional), it revolves primarily
around children. Most gifts are non-commercial and hand-made.
The last day of Kwanzaa is especially rich
in celebration as it contains a feast where larger groups gather
in the spirit of the
holiday, which is Harambee!--"Let's pull together."
(To request a full copy of this article and receive a list of
resources available about KWANZAA please send a self-addressed
stamped envelope to CEAI.)