A neighbor invited me to a Kwanzaa celebration this coming Thursday.
Kwanzaa is practiced for 7 days and Thursday is the 5th day. Day 5 is dedicated to Nia (meaning purpose). What a perfect day for me attend, as I’m feeling very purpose driven these days.
In case you don’t know the Kwanzaa basics
here they are
Kwanzaa starts on December 26th and ends on Dec 31st
Kwanzaa: pronounced (kwahn-ZAH) meaning; First fruits in Swahili, is an African American social tradition, practiced by people of African decent to celebrate black identity and a reinforcement of community.
The tradition of Kwanzaa is relatively new and started after the Watts riots in 1966. Dr. Maulana Karenga, professor and chairman of Black Studies at Cal State Long Beach was the creator. Kwanzaa is a combination of several different African harvest celebrations such as those of the Ashanti & the Zulu.
There are many ways to celebrate Kwanzaa but usually families gather together each evening and a child will light one of the 7 candles on the kinara (candleholder). The black center candle is lit on the first night and one of the seven principles is discussed. The principles are around values of the African culture which contribute to building and reinforcing the values in the African American community. Each night thereafter a candle is lit and the corresponding principal is discussed.
Seven Symbols of
2 comments:
I love that this celebration is a positive action and a building of family and tradition. All customs start with some kind of remembrance building on a shared meaning of community. We are one world, with many languages and customs, but Kwanzaa can teach us all something about ourselves and each other. It might be too late to participate in a virtual Kwanzaa celebration this year, but perhaps next. Lets do it!
Great idea. Let's!
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