How to Kwanzaa
Words by: Maggie Laubscher | Music by: Abby Yemm
Happy Kwanzaa, Nellies and friends. Today marks Day 1 of the seven-day holiday, with a symbolic candle lit each evening from the kinara to represent the seven principles of Kwanzaa.
Created in the 1960s following the murder of Malcolm X, Kwanzaa is a non-religious holiday that honors African heritage and culture. The holiday is steeped in symbolism, starting with its name: Kwanzaa itself means ‘first fruits.’
The symbolism continues with the nightly candle colors. The three colors represent the Pan-African flag:
Red represents the struggle for freedom
Black is hope
Green is the earth and all it gives
To celebrate Kwanzaa properly, focus on a different principle each day, starting with today:
Day One: UNITY (Umoja)
the middle black candle is lit to represent unity, family, and success. The unity cup is filled and shared.
Day 2: SELF-DETERMINATION (Kujichagulia)
the far-left red candle is lit and the theme of self-determination is discussed, before the unity cup is shared. This day is about how to define ourselves, name ourselves, create for ourselves, and speak for ourselves.
Day 3: COLLECTIVE WORK & RESPONSIBILITY (Ujima)
the far left green candle is lit to represent a commitment to community. This day is about making our loved ones’ problems our own and solving them together.
Day 4: COOPERATIVE ECONOMICS (Ujamaa)
the second red candle is lit, with the intention of supporting our community with our dollars. It means shopping small and building up one’s own stores and businesses.
Day 5: PURPOSE (Nia)
the second green candle is lit and the focus is on helping one another in finding a lifelong purpose. It’s searching to be great and to be ourselves.
Day 6: CREATIVITY (Kuumba)
the last red candle is lit and a promise is shared to do as much as we can, however we can, in order to leave our community more beautiful than we inherited it. It’s also a day to feast, called the karamu feast. As the unity cup is shared, ancestors are remembered and the eldest person pours the final sip in the direction of the four winds and asks for a blessing from ancestors.
Day 7: FAITH (Imani)
the final day, in which the last green candle is lit and gifts are shared. This final day is about faith: believing with all our heart in our people. The gifts given are meant to encourage the different principles: creativity, growth, success, etc.
A playlist by Abby Yemm, Nellie + teacher + artist + dj
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