How Do People Celebrate Kwanzaa? (2024)

FAQs

How can we celebrate Kwanzaa? ›

Each day they light a candle to highlight the principle of that day and to breathe meaning into the principles with various activities, such as reciting the sayings or writings of great black thinkers and writers, reciting original poetry, African drumming, and sharing a meal of African diaspora-inspired foods.

Catfish, collards, and macaroni and cheese all began showing up on Kwanzaa tables, as did jerk chicken, gumbo, accras (Caribbean fritters) and feijoada — foods of the Atlantic rim expressive of the geography of the African diaspora. Kwanzaa food, at its simplest, is any dish people cook for Kwanzaa.

Kwanzaa is celebrated over seven nights, with one candle being lit each night. Begin with the black candle in the center, and then alternate lighting a red and green candle each evening to represent each of Kwanzaa's seven principles. Discuss the principle it symbolizes and how it can apply to your family's life.

On each night, a candle is lit to observe the nguzo saba, the seven principles of Kwanzaa. The principles of Kwanzaa are: Umoja (unity), Kujichagulia (self-determination), Ujima (collective work and responsibility), Ujamaa (cooperative economics), Nia (purpose), Kuumba (creativity) and Imani (faith).

Non-African Americans also celebrate Kwanzaa. "Joyous Kwanzaa" may be used as a greeting during the holiday.

If you celebrate Kwanzaa, a stinger is the co*cktail for you. Invented in the early 1900s by African-American Tom Bullock, it's a great way to pay tribute to the unity of African-American culture in the states. The recipe is simple – blend a two to one ratio of brandy and creme de menthe, shake well, and serve over ice.

Kwanzaa meals might include Jollof Rice, a traditional West African dish, jerk meats from the Caribbean, and black beans that are popular in Caribbean and South American dishes. During Kwanzaa, some people abstain from eating meat or fast until the Kwanzaa feast. This decision is a personal choice.

Arrange your “first fruits" around the kinara. Fresh pears are a lovely addition to the Kwanzaa table. You will also want to include one ear of corn (a symbol of fertility) for every child in the family. If you don't have kids, you'll still include one ear for the idea of social parenthood.

The two foods that are almost essential to a Kwanzaa celebration are black-eyed peas and collard greens. Stewed collard greens are symbolic of good fortune, while black-eyed peas are symbolic of good luck — so it's no surprise that these two foods are important parts of the Kwanzaa Feast spread, notes Modern Farmer.

Kwanzaa is a strictly secular holiday. Although its seven-pronged kinara bears a resemblance to the eight-pronged Jewish menorah, it has no connection to Judaism. And although Kwanzaa is celebrated immediately after Christmas, it is neither related to nor intended to supplant the Christian holiday.

Do people put up lights for Kwanzaa? ›

The black candle is lit first on the first day of the celebration. And the remaining candles are lit afterwards from left to right on the following days. This procedure is to indicate that the people come first, then the struggle and then the hope that comes from the struggle.

Christmas and Hanukkah aren't the only December holidays that call for celebration. Kwanzaa, the Pan-African holiday that emerged in 1996, highlights African-American culture and heritage in the U.S. from December 26 to January 1. Along with enjoying a feast with loved ones, it also involves giving gifts!

If you don't practice Kwanzaa but want to greet a friend, coworker or family member who does, “happy Kwanzaa" is an appropriate greeting. When two people who celebrate the holiday greet each other during the Kwanzaa, one may say “habari gani,” while the other responds with the the day of the holiday, such as umoja.

Celebrations include family feasts with traditional African food, dancing, and singing among the family. An essential element of Kwanzaa is the candle, which is lit for every event during the seven days of celebration.