December 26 – Kwanzaa

Kwanzaa Starts Today!

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HOW TO CELEBRATE KWANZAA STEP-BY-STEP

•  Light the Kinara (candle holder) each day of the week’s celebration.
•  Decorate for Kwanzaa!
•  Learn the 7 Principles of Kwanzaa.
•  Listen to 10 hours of Kwanzaa music.
•  Prepare an African feast.
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Kwanzaa is a vibrant and unique week-long celebration that celebrates African American culture, ancestry and heritage. The celebration occurs annually in the United States between December 26th and January 1st – although it can be celebrated year-round! During Kwanzaa, each night families gather for an event called a Kukaranga or Karenga, which involve reflection on African culture and important core values such as the “three principles of Umoja (Unity), Kujichagulia (Self-Determination) and Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility).”

HISTORY OF KWANZAA

Kwanzaa was created in 1966 by Dr. Maulana Karenga, a professor of Africana studies, as a way to honor African American culture and to provide an alternative to the commercialism of the Christmas season. Dr. Karenga established Kwanzaa during a time of social upheaval and change in the United States, specifically during the Black Power Movement. He sought to reinforce and promote African cultural practices and values among African Americans, drawing inspiration from various African harvest festivals.

The name “Kwanzaa” is derived from the Swahili phrase “matunda ya kwanza,” which means “first fruits of the harvest.” The holiday emphasizes the importance of community, family, and culture through seven core principles known as the Nguzo Saba:

1. Umoja (Unity): Striving for and maintaining unity in the family, community, nation, and race.
2. Kujichagulia (Self-Determination): Defining, naming, creating, and speaking for oneself.
3. Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility): Building and maintaining the community together and solving communal problems.
4. Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics): Building and maintaining African American businesses and economic strength.
5. Nia (Purpose): Making the collective vocation the building and developing of the community to restore its people to their traditional greatness.
6. Kuumba (Creativity): Doing everything possible to leave the community more beautiful and beneficial than when it was inherited.
7. Imani (Faith): Believing with all the heart in the people, the parents, the teachers, the leaders, and the righteousness and victory of the struggle.

Kwanzaa is celebrated with various activities, including the lighting of the kinara (a seven-branched candleholder), which symbolizes the seven principles. Each day of Kwanzaa is dedicated to one of these principles. The celebration also includes storytelling, African drumming, song, dance, and a feast called Karamu, held on December 31.

100 WAYS TO CELEBRATE KWANZAA

1. Light the Kinara: Each night, light a candle on the kinara to honor one of the seven principles of Kwanzaa.
2. Kwanzaa Storytelling: Share traditional African tales or stories about African American history and heritage.
3. Community Service: Participate in a community service project to embody the principle of Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility).
4. Kwanzaa Feast (Karamu): Host a festive meal on December 31, featuring traditional African and African American dishes.
5. Make Mkeka Mats: Create mkeka mats from straw or cloth to use as a base for the Kwanzaa table setting.
6. African Drumming: Engage in African drumming sessions to celebrate cultural music and rhythm.
7. Craft Zawadi (Gifts): Make homemade gifts to exchange, emphasizing creativity and personal meaning.
8. Kwanzaa Dance: Learn and perform traditional African dances as part of the celebration.
9. Unity Cup Ceremony: Use the Kikombe cha Umoja (Unity Cup) to pour libations and honor ancestors.
10. Cultural Workshops: Attend or organize workshops on African arts, crafts, and traditions.
11. Decorate with African Art: Adorn your home with African art, fabrics, and symbols to create a festive atmosphere.
12. Kwanzaa Poetry Reading: Write and recite poetry that reflects the principles and spirit of Kwanzaa.
13. Educational Programs: Participate in or host educational events about African history and culture.
14. Create a Vision Board: Make a vision board that reflects your goals and aspirations for the coming year based on the principles of Kwanzaa.
15. Sing Kwanzaa Songs: Learn and sing songs that celebrate African heritage and Kwanzaa principles.
16. Visit African American Museums: Explore museums or cultural centers to learn more about African American history and contributions.
17. Host a Kwanzaa Parade: Organize a local parade celebrating African culture and Kwanzaa traditions.
18. Kwanzaa Cooking Class: Take a cooking class to learn how to prepare traditional African and African American dishes.
19. Read Books on African Heritage: Read and share books that highlight African culture and history.
20. Plant a Community Garden: Start or contribute to a community garden to promote sustainability and cooperative economics (Ujamaa).
21. Create African Jewelry: Make traditional African jewelry using beads, leather, and other materials.
22. Display the Bendera (Flag): Hang or display the Kwanzaa flag, featuring red, black, and green colors.
23. Attend Kwanzaa Festivals: Participate in local Kwanzaa festivals and events that celebrate African heritage.
24. Watch African Films: Screen films that showcase African culture, history, and storytelling.
25. Reflect on the Seven Principles: Spend time each day reflecting on the principle of the day and how it can be applied to your life.
26. Kwanzaa Trivia: Test your knowledge of Kwanzaa history, principles, and traditions with a fun trivia game.
27. African Bingo: Play a bingo game featuring African symbols, cultural icons, and Kwanzaa-related images.
28. Kente Cloth Relay Race: Divide into teams and race while wearing or carrying pieces of colorful Kente cloth.
29. Kwanzaa Word Search: Challenge your friends and family to find Kwanzaa-related words hidden in a word search puzzle.
30. African Drum Circle: Gather around and participate in a drum circle, creating rhythmic music together.
31. Kwanzaa Memory Match: Test your memory by matching pairs of cards featuring Kwanzaa symbols and principles.
32. African Dance-off: Have a friendly dance competition featuring traditional African dances or freestyle moves.
33. Kwanzaa Charades: Act out Kwanzaa-related words and phrases while others guess what you’re portraying.
34. Harvest Fruit Relay: Race to fill baskets with harvest fruits, symbolizing the agricultural roots of Kwanzaa.
35. Kwanzaa Puzzle Challenge: Work together to solve puzzles featuring images related to Kwanzaa and African culture.
36. African Animal Trivia: Learn about African wildlife with a trivia game focused on animals native to the continent.
37. Kwanzaa Crafts Contest: Have a crafting competition where participants make Kwanzaa-themed crafts like masks, jewelry, or ornaments.
38. Drum Call-and-Response: Practice call-and-response drumming patterns, a traditional African musical technique.
39. Kwanzaa Scavenger Hunt: Search for items around the house or neighborhood that represent the principles of Kwanzaa.
40. African Proverbs Game: Guess the meanings of African proverbs and discuss their relevance to Kwanzaa principles.
41. Kwanzaa Storytelling Relay: Take turns telling stories related to Kwanzaa themes, passing the storytelling baton from person to person.
42. African Flag Relay Race: Race while carrying flags representing different African countries, learning about each country along the way.
43. Kwanzaa Cultural Dress-Up: Dress up in traditional African attire and have a fashion show to celebrate African heritage.
44. African Geography Challenge: Test your knowledge of African geography with a quiz or map-based game.
45. Kwanzaa Musical Chairs: Play a musical chairs game with Kwanzaa-themed music and decorations.
46. African Language Game: Learn and practice basic phrases in African languages, such as Swahili, Yoruba, or Amharic.
47. Kwanzaa Relay of the Principles: Relay race where each participant runs to pick up a card representing a Kwanzaa principle, then passes it to the next teammate.
48. African Art Guessing Game: Guess the artists or origins of African artworks and sculptures.
49. Kwanzaa Symbol Charades: Act out symbols associated with Kwanzaa, such as the Kinara, Mkeka, or Mazao.
50. African Folktales Theater: Dramatize traditional African folktales, sharing stories of wisdom, courage, and community.
51. Kwanzaa Unity Cup: Decorate a plain cup or goblet with symbols representing unity and community.
52. African Mask Making: Create colorful masks inspired by traditional African designs using paper mache or clay.
53. Kente Cloth Woven Bracelets: Weave bracelets using colorful yarn or thread to mimic the patterns of Kente cloth.
54. Mkeka Placemats: Design and decorate placemats using fabric paint or markers on woven mats to represent the Kwanzaa foundation.
55. African Drum Craft: Make mini drums using recycled materials like tin cans, cardboard, and fabric to mimic traditional African drums.
56. Adinkra Symbol Wall Art: Paint or draw Adinkra symbols on canvas or paper to create meaningful wall art.
57. Kwanzaa Kinara Centerpiece: Construct a miniature Kinara using cardboard tubes, paint, and candles for a festive centerpiece.
58. African Fabric Pouches: Sew pouches or bags using vibrant African fabrics to hold Kwanzaa gifts or treats.
59. African Jewelry Making: Craft necklaces, bracelets, or earrings using colorful beads inspired by African jewelry designs.
60. Kwanzaa Unity Necklace: String beads in the colors of the Kwanzaa flag (red, black, and green) onto a necklace to symbolize unity.
61. Kwanzaa Banner: Create a decorative banner with the word “Kwanzaa” or the Nguzo Saba principles using fabric, paint, or felt.
62. African Print Table Runner: Sew a table runner using African print fabric to add a touch of culture to your Kwanzaa table setting.
63. Kwanzaa Corn Husk Dolls: Make dolls using corn husks and fabric scraps, decorating them with Kwanzaa-inspired clothing.
64. African Mask Wall Hanging: Design and paint a wooden or paper mache mask to hang on the wall as a decorative piece.
65. Kwanzaa Candle Holders: Decorate candle holders with Adinkra symbols, Kwanzaa colors, or African patterns.
66. African-Inspired Paper Lanterns: Make paper lanterns using colored paper and African-inspired patterns to illuminate your space.
67. Kwanzaa Memory Book: Create a scrapbook or memory book documenting past Kwanzaa celebrations with photos, stories, and mementos.
68. African-Inspired Fabric Coasters: Sew fabric coasters using African print fabric and felt to protect surfaces during Kwanzaa gatherings.
69. Kwanzaa Wreath: Craft a wreath using Kwanzaa colors and symbols such as corn, candles, and unity beads.
70. African Drum Ornaments: Make ornaments shaped like African drums using clay or wood, painted with colorful designs.
71. Kwanzaa Unity Quilt: Sew together fabric squares decorated by family members to create a quilt symbolizing unity and community.
72. African-Inspired Paper Bead Jewelry: Roll paper strips into beads and string them to create unique jewelry pieces inspired by African traditions.
73. Kwanzaa Family Tree: Create a family tree using paper cutouts or drawings, incorporating symbols of unity and heritage.
74. African-Inspired Dreamcatchers: Make dreamcatchers using hoops, feathers, and beads, incorporating African patterns and colors.
75. Kwanzaa Drum Table: Repurpose a drum or drum-like object into a side table by adding a flat surface to the top. Decorate with Kwanzaa motifs and colors.
76. Jollof Rice: A flavorful West African rice dish cooked with tomatoes, onions, and spices.
77. Fried Plantains: Ripe plantains sliced and fried until golden and caramelized, a sweet and savory side dish.
78. Peanut Soup: A creamy and hearty soup made with groundnuts (peanuts), vegetables, and spices, popular in many African countries.
79. Fufu: A staple food in many African countries, fufu is made from boiled and mashed starchy ingredients like cassava, plantains, or yams.
80. Samosas: Triangular pastry pockets filled with spiced meats, vegetables, or lentils, commonly enjoyed in East Africa.
81. Grilled Fish with Spicy Sauce: Whole fish marinated in herbs and spices, then grilled and served with a fiery chili sauce.
82. Pounded Yam and Egusi Soup: Pounded yam is a smooth and stretchy dough made from yams, served with egusi soup made from ground melon seeds and vegetables.
83. Doro Wat: A spicy Ethiopian chicken stew simmered with onions, berbere spice blend, and Ethiopian butter, served with injera bread.
84. Jerk Chicken: Chicken marinated in a spicy and flavorful jerk seasoning, then grilled or roasted until tender and juicy.
85. Okra Stew: A thick and hearty stew made with okra, tomatoes, onions, and various meats or seafood, popular in West Africa.
86. Chapati: Soft and flaky flatbread popular in East Africa, made from flour, water, and sometimes oil, and cooked on a griddle.
87. Pap and Boerewors: Pap is a South African porridge made from maize meal, served with boerewors, a coiled sausage seasoned with spices.
88. Fried Yam: Slices of yam fried until crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, served as a snack or side dish.
89. Moin Moin: A Nigerian steamed bean pudding made from blended black-eyed peas, onions, peppers, and spices.
90. Piri Piri Chicken: Chicken marinated in a spicy piri piri sauce made from African bird’s eye chili peppers, garlic, and citrus.
91. Moroccan Couscous: Fluffy couscous grains steamed and served with a stew of vegetables, meats, and aromatic spices.
92. Bobotie: A South African dish with spiced minced meat baked with an egg-based topping, served with rice or bread.
93. Dibi: Senegalese grilled lamb chops or skewers seasoned with mustard, garlic, and herbs, served with grilled vegetables.
94. Braaied Snoek: A South African dish of grilled snoek fish seasoned with spices and lemon juice, often served with apricot jam.
95. Attiéké with Grilled Fish: Attiéké is a fermented cassava couscous popular in Ivory Coast, served with grilled fish and spicy sauce.
96. Sukuma Wiki: A Kenyan dish of sautéed collard greens or kale with onions, tomatoes, and spices, served with ugali or rice.
97. Bunny Chow: A South African dish consisting of a hollowed-out loaf of bread filled with curry, often made with chicken or lamb.
98. Piri Piri Prawns: Prawns marinated in spicy piri piri sauce and grilled or roasted until tender and flavorful.
99. Maasor Dal: A lentil stew cooked with spices and vegetables, commonly eaten in Indian communities in Africa.
100. Bunny Chow: A South African dish consisting of a hollowed-out loaf of bread filled with curry, often made with chicken or lamb.

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Do you have any ideas about how to celebrate Kwanzaa?  Please share them!