History+kwanzaa


 * This holiday was created by Maulana Karenga.
 * It was first celebrated in 1966.
 * Kwanzaa begins December 26th and lasts till January 1st.
 * Kwanzaa comes from the phrase mutant ya kwanza which means "first fruits in Swahili.
 * Every family can celebrate the holiday in their own way. The celebrations include songs, dances, African drums, storytelling, poetry reading and a big traditional meal.
 * There is a candle lighting ceremony every evening which is the opportunity to get together and talk about Kwanzaa's meaning.
 * On each of the seven nights, the family gathers and a child lights one of the candles on the candleholder aka Kinara.
 * There are seven principles called the Nguzo saba which are the values of African culture which contribute to building and reinforcing community among African Americans.
 * There is an African feast that is held on December 31st and it is called Karamu.
 * The first night, the black candle in the center is lit. After that, each night for the seven nights one candle is lit each evening. At the same time the appropriate principle is talked about.
 * Each day of Kwanzaa represents a different principle.




 * Seven Principles And Their Meanings**
 * 1) Umoja in Swahili means unity- it means to strive for and maintain unity in the family, community, nation and race.
 * 2) Kuja Chagulia means self-determination- to define ourselves, name ourselves, create for ourselves and speak for ourselves.
 * 3) Collective Work and Responsibility which means Ujima- to build and maintain our community together and to make our brother's and sister's problems and solve them together.
 * 4) Ujamaa means cooperative Economics- to build and maintain our own stores, shops, and other businesses and to profit from them together.
 * 5) Nia which means purpose- to make our collective vocation the building and developing of our community in order to restore our people to their traditional greatness.
 * 6) Kuumba which means creativity- to do always as much as we can in the way we can, in order to leave our community more beautiful and beneficial than we inherited it.
 * 7) Imani which means faith- to believe with all our heart in our people, our parents, our teachers, our leaders and the righteousness and victory of our struggle.


 * Seven Symbols of Kwanzaa And Their Meanings**
 * 1) Mazao, the crops (fruits, nuts, and veggies) it symbolizes work and the basis of the holiday. It represents the historical foundation for Kwanzaa, the gathering of the people that is patterned after African harvest festivals in which joy, sharing, unity and thanksgiving are the fruits of collective planning and work
 * 2) Mkeka which means place mat. It is made from straw or cloth and it comes directly from Africa and expresses history, culture and tradition. It symbolizes the historical and traditional foundation for us to stand on and build our lives because today stands on our yesterdays, just as the other symbols stand on the mkeka.
 * 3) Vibunzi which means ear of corn. It is the stalk of corn which represents fertility and symbolizes that through the reproduction of children the future hopes of the family are brought to life.
 * 4) Mishumaa Saba which mean the seven candles. Candles are ceremonial objects with two primary purposes: to recreate symbolically the sun's power and to provide light.
 * 5) Kinara which means the candleholder. Its the center of the Kwanzaa setting and represents the original stalk from which we came: our ancestry.
 * 6) Kikombe Cha which means Umoja. It is the Unity cup which is a special cup that is used to perform the libation ritual during the karma feast on the sixth day of Kwanzaa.
 * 7) Zawadi which means gifts. When they celebrate Imani on the seventh day of Kwanzaa they give meaningful Zawadi (gifts) to encourage growth, self-determination, achievement, and success.