Kwanzaa was created for African Americans to celebrate life’s positives as the new year draws near, with significant historical and cultural ideas behind the holiday.

The name “Kwanzaa” is derived from the Swahili phrase “first fruits,” linking the holiday to harvest festival traditions. The week-long celebration honors these virtues: Umoja (unity), Kujichagulia (self-determination), Ujima (collective work and responsibility), Ujamaa (cooperative economics), Nia (purpose), Kuumba (creativity), and Imani (faith).

First observed in 1966 by Dr. Maulana Karenga, a distinguished professor at the University of California Long Beach, Kwanzaa starts on December 26 and lasts until January 1. Its seven principles “are for everyone” to enjoy and uphold as it is a time for introspection.

family lights kwanzaa candles

A family celebrates Kwanzaa – a cultural holiday focused on celebrating the good in life ( 

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Getty Images)

Over six decades old now, this rich African-American tradition signifies each family’s children with ears of corn and is marked by festive feasts and meaningful gifts.

Participants honor one of the seven guiding principles each day, reminding them to weave these values into their everyday lives.

Kwanzaa evenings include lighting candles on a Kinara, a special holder that fits seven candles. Starting with the black candle at the center, a new flame is kindled each night.

The black candle signifies the present, while the three red candles symbolize the past and the three green candles represent the future. Kwanzaa incorporates the Swahili language throughout its festivities.

Kwanzaa candles glowing for the holiday

Kwanzaa candles glowing for the holiday ( 

Image:

Getty Images)

Just as Kwanzaa aims to unite communities, Swahili serves as a unifying force for the people of Africa, originating from the Bantu inhabitants of Southeast Africa’s coast, specifically in Kenya, Tanzania, and Mozambique. The modern-day Swahili used in Kwanzaa celebrations is an African native language with Bantu roots that predates the arrival of Arabs in East Africa and has since blended with Arabic.

The prolonged interaction between Arabs and locals led to linguistic borrowing, primarily from Arabic to Swahili. Throughout the week, participants communicate in Swahili phrases to remain “connected to gratitude,” as stated on the official Kwanzaa website.

Kwanzaa also counters the consumerism of Christmas by promoting handmade or reused gifts, exchanged daily, as a “rooting practice” designed to bring people together regardless of their budget or background. The holiday’s founder, Karenga, shares a yearly message on the official site, and this year, he states, “We bring and send greetings of celebration, solidarity and continued struggle for an inclusive and shared good in the world.”

“Also, in the still-held-high tradition of our ancestors, we wish for African peoples and all the peoples of the world all the good that heaven grants… we wish, especially for our people and all the oppressed and struggling peoples of the world… freedom, justice and peace, deservedly achieved and enjoyed and passed on to future generations.”