Today is the first day of Kwanzaa and the beginning of a week-long celebration that ends with a feast. If you don’t know what Kwanzaa is all about or how it’s celebrated, read on as we take you through the basics:
• Kwanzaa is a worldwide celebration of life for people of African descent that lasts from December 26th to January 1st every year. • The word “Kwanzaa” is Swahili for “first” and refers to the first harvest of the year. The holiday is based on traditional African harvest festivals and food plays a part in this celebration. • Kwanzaa was started by a professor and activist named Maulana Karenga in 1966 as a way to celebrate family and social values. • It’s not meant to replace Christmas and some celebrate both Christmas and Kwanzaa. • Each of the seven days of Kwanzaa are dedicated to a different principle. Those include unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity, and faith. • Colors used to celebrate Kwanzaa are red, green, and black. • On December 31st, there is a celebratory feast called Karamu that usually includes lots of fresh produce.
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