Kwanzaa is a seven day African-American celebration of culture and tradition.
We offer a beautiful personalized print which gives a respectful, yet colorful treatment of this celebration. This print will be a topic of conversation around the home. If you are buying this unique print for your
own home or as a gift, it is sure to be a cherished possession.
This is a full color personalized 8-1/2" by 11" print that is suitable for framing.
As a free gift we will also enclose a cover letter explaining the history of the Kwanzaa tradition.
About Kwanzaa
Kwanzaa is a seven day African-American celebration of culture and tradition. It is a cultural, not religious, celebration that begins December 26th of each year. In 1966, Dr. Maulana Ron Karenga created the African-American celebration of Kwanzaa. Dr. Karenga was concerned that all African-Americans were facing a cultural crisis. He felt that any significant movements must have a strong cultural base to give them direction and identity. Dr. Karenga felt that there was no clear system of values and views that would give African-Americans both a moral and meaningful interpretation of their lives and culture. Kwanzaa was created to fill this void and create the basis for a strong, unified African-American movement.
Kwanzaa is based upon traditional African harvest celebrations. While Kwanza means first fruits in Swahili, Dr. Karenga added an extra A to the end of the word to indicate the newly created African-American Kwanzaa. It is important to note that Kwanzaa is not an African celebration, but an African-American celebration. It incorporates elements of both African and African-American life.
The Nguzo Saba, or Seven Principles of Kwanzaa, are the new social principles Dr. Karenga created to help African-Americans rebuild their history and culture. Each of the Seven Principles requires the participants to examine their own actions and place in the community of African-Americans.
Kwanzaa as an African-American holiday belongs to the most ancient tradition in the world, the African tradition. Drawing from and building on this rich and ancient tradition, Kwanzaa makes its own unique contribution to the enrichment and expansion of African tradition by reaffirming the importance of family, community, and culture.
African harvest celebrations have five basic aspects which KWANZAA also shares.
They are: 1) in gathering of the people; 2) special reverence for the Creator and creation, especially thanksgiving and commitment; 3) commemoration of the past, especially paying homage to the ancestors; 4) re-commitment to our highest ethical and cultural values, especially Nguzo Saba (The Seven Principles); and 5) celebration of the Good of life, especially family, community, and culture.
Kwanzaa is represented by seven symbols: Mazao (crops), Mkeka (mat), Kinara (candle holder), Mishumaa Saba (seven candles), Muhindi (ears of corn), Zawadi (gifts), and Kikombe Cha Umoja (unity cup). The candle holder has seven candles, one black, three red and three green. The colors are black for Black people, red for their struggle and green for the hope and future that come from the struggle.
Each ear of corn represents the children in the family and community. The gifts are primarily for the children, but other family members can also receive gifts. The gifts should include a book and a heritage symbol to stress the ancient and continuing stress on the value of education and reaffirm the importance of culture and tradition.
When preparing for this special evening, special items, or symbols, are necessary. There are seven symbols. These items should be displayed as part of the Kwanzaa Karamu:
1) Mazao (fruit and vegetables)
2) Mkeka (place mat)
3) Kinara (candle holder for seven candles)
4) Vibunzi (ears of corn reflective of the number of children in the home)
5) Zawadi (gifts - usually for the children)
6) Kikombe Cha Umoja (community cup)
7) Mishumaa Saba (the seven candles)
The unity cup is used to pour libation for the ancestors and it is drunk from as a ritual to reinforce unity in the family and community. All seven symbols are put on a Mkeka (straw mat). The Kwanzaa setting piece which includes the seven symbols is placed on a table or any other central location in the home.
The lighting of the candles begins on the first day of Kwanzaa, December 26th. The black candle is the first candle lighted. The second day of Kwanzaa, the black candle is relighted as well as the first candle to the left, a red candle, December 27th. Each day every candle which has been lighted is relighted along with the next candle of that day. Candles are lighted left to right alternately. The lighting practice is ordered to represent first the people (the black candle), then the struggle (the red candle), then the future and hope (the green candle) which comes from the struggle.
December 31st is the evening upon which the Kwanzaa Karamu (Feast) is held. This special evening is a time for feasting upon a variety of African-influenced meals as well as acknowledging the importance of history, culture, and family.
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