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Kwanzaa is celebrated by some African-Americans in the United States of America.

The colors, black, red, and green, represent the candles and seven principles of the long lasting "Christmas and New Years" get together celebration.

Kwanzaa is a non-religious African American holiday which celebrates family, community, and culture. It is celebrated for seven days: December 26 - January 1.

The name Kwanzaa is derived from the phrase "matunda ya kwanza" which means "first fruits" in Swahili. The kinara is the center of the Kwanzaa setting and represents the original stalk from which we came: our ancestry.

Kwanzaa, which will be celebrated for the 44th time in 2009. It was established by Dr Maulana Karenga.

  • Decorating the home with the colors of the African flag (bendera): black for the people, red for their struggle, and green for the future and hope that comes from their struggle.
  • Laying out a straw or cloth mat (mkeka) in a place of honor in the home. Upon it are placed: a candleholder (kinara) with one central black candle, three red candles to its left and three green candles to its right; crops (mazao), including bananas, plantains, mangoes or whatever the family favorites are; ears of corn (muhindi), representing the children; and a unity cup filled with water, Grape Juice or wine (kikombe cha umoja). Other objects of African heritage may be added.
  • Lighting the kinara: the black candle on the first night, the black one plus the leftmost red one on the next night, those two plus the rightmost green one on the next, etc. Each candle represents one of Kwanzaa's seven principles (nguzo saba).
  • Pouring libations from the unity cup in the corners of the room to honor the African ancestors, then passing it around for all to sip.
  • Holding a communal feast (karamu) on December 31, with food and an educational program.
  • Exchanging enriching and culturally significant gifts (zawadi).

The traditional Kwanzaa greeting is "Habari gani?" The answer is the principle for that day: umoja (unity), kujichagulia (self-determination), ujima (collective work and responsibility), ujamaa (cooperative economics), nia (purpose), kuumba (creativity), and imani(faith).

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7y ago

Kwanzaa is celebrated by some African-Americans in the United States of America.

The colors, black, red, and green, represent the candles and seven principles of the long lasting "Christmas and New Years" get together celebration.

Kwanzaa is a non-religious African American holiday which celebrates family, community, and culture. It is celebrated for seven days: December 26 - January 1.

The name Kwanzaa is derived from the phrase "matunda ya kwanza" which means "first fruits" in Swahili. The kinara is the center of the Kwanzaa setting and represents the original stalk from which we came: our ancestry.

Kwanzaa, which will be celebrated for the 44th time in 2009. It was established by Dr Maulana Karenga.

  • Decorating the home with the colors of the African flag (bendera): black for the people, red for their struggle, and green for the future and hope that comes from their struggle.
  • Laying out a straw or cloth mat (mkeka) in a place of honor in the home. Upon it are placed: a candleholder (kinara) with one central black candle, three red candles to its left and three green candles to its right; crops (mazao), including bananas, plantains, mangoes or whatever the family favorites are; ears of corn (muhindi), representing the children; and a unity cup filled with water, Grape Juice or wine (kikombe cha umoja). Other objects of African heritage may be added.
  • Lighting the kinara: the black candle on the first night, the black one plus the leftmost red one on the next night, those two plus the rightmost green one on the next, etc. Each candle represents one of Kwanzaa's seven principles (nguzo saba).
  • Pouring libations from the unity cup in the corners of the room to honor the African ancestors, then passing it around for all to sip.
  • Holding a communal feast (karamu) on December 31, with food and an educational program.
  • Exchanging enriching and culturally significant gifts (zawadi).

The traditional Kwanzaa greeting is "Habari gani?" The answer is the principle for that day: umoja (unity), kujichagulia (self-determination), ujima (collective work and responsibility), ujamaa (cooperative economics), nia (purpose), kuumba (creativity), and imani(faith).

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Related questions

What is the Kwanzaa word for feast?

Kwanzaa.


What is a sentence for Kwanzaa?

My cousin celebrates Kwanzaa


When is Kwanzaa in 2008?

Kwanzaa begins December 26


How do you say Kwanzaa in spanish?

the correct way to say Kwanzaa in spanish is "Kwanzaa"...


In what year was Kwanzaa founded?

Kwanzaa was founded in 1966 by Donny


How are kwanzaa and Thanksgiving alike?

kwanzaa and thanksgiving have similar foods


What is the menorah called for Kwanzaa?

For Kwanzaa, kinara is the word for menorah.


What are the traditions of kwanzaa?

The traditional colors of Kwanzaa are black, red and green. Kwanzaa is the holiday for ancient Africa for their celebration of Christmas.


What are some Kwanzaa songs?

go to playlist.com and search Kwanzaa and it should get a good songs. Or there is a song called beautiful Kwanzaa, Kwanzaa lights, African joy. Beautiful songs. very beautiful


What countries celebrated Kwanzaa?

Kwanzaa was created in the U.S. for African-American pride. About 98% of the people who celebrate Kwanzaa are from the US And Are Black.


What are the traditional colors of Kwanzaa?

The traditional colors of Kwanzaa are black, red and green. Kwanzaa is the holiday for ancient Africa for their celebration of Christmas.


When is Kwanzaa in 2009?

Kwanzaa in 2008 is December 26th to January 1st