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By
CNN,
1996
As its creator Maulana Karenga says, "Kwanzaa is celebrated
through rituals, dialogue, narratives, poetry, dancing,
singing, drumming and other music, and feasting." Such activities
might demonstrate Kwanzaaa's seven principles, known by
the Swahili phrase "Nguzo Saba." They are: |
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umoja (unity)
kujichagulia (self-determination)
ujima (collective work and responsibility)
ujamaa (cooperative economics)
nia (purpose)
kuumba (creativity)
imani (faith) |
Some readings during Kwanzaa might include Martin Luther
King Jr.'s Christmas sermon on peace, W.E.B. DuBois' Prayers
for Dark People, and the poetry of Lanston Hughes, according
to Paula Woods and Felix Liddell, who have written a book
about Kwanzaa, "Merry Christmas Baby."
One major ritual of Kwanzaa is lighting a candle on each
day its seven days. The candles, called "mishumaa,"
are the colors of the Black Liberation Flag; there are three
red candles, three green and one black.
After the candle lighting, celebrants might drink from a
unity cup in a toast to their ancestors with the exclamation,
"Harambee!" which means "let's all pull together."
The candles, in a candelabra called a "kinara,"
and the unity cup sit atop a straw mat, the "mkeka,"
that also holds fresh fruit to represent African harvest
festivals. The mkeka is central to Kwanzaa's culminating
feast on December 31.
Kwanzaa also includes gift-giving, generally to children.
They might receive three traditional gifts: a book to further
a goal or highlight black achievement, a heritage symbol,
and a toy or other present. The gifts are displayed on the
mkeka and given on January 1.
Sources: Associated Press, Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune,
United Press International, San Francisco Chronicle, Encarta
96 Encyclopedia
For more information on Kwanzaa, go to:
http://www.officialkwanzaawebsite.org/
http://www.holidays.net/kwanzaa/
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