How is kwanzaa celebrated

Though Kwanzaa became a mainstream holiday in the s, its traditions have faded in recent years. Kwanzaa was founded in , a year after a historic rebellion rocked the Watts neighborhood of Los Angeles, California.

Frustrated by years of abuse at the hands of police and crushed by poverty, the community protested and rioted. The unrest lasted a week and left 34 people dead and 1, injured.

In the weeks after the Watts rebellion, Maulanga Karenga—an activist and leader in the Black Power Movement— founded the Us Organization to rebuild the neighborhood and promote a Black cultural revolution that would inspire pride in Black history and achievements, long dismissed and suppressed by the dominant white culture. From the beginning, the plan was to create a holiday for African Americans to honor their African roots and reaffirm their cultural connections.

Kwanzaa was also envisioned as a secular alternative to the holiday juggernaut that is Christmas. To establish the traditions of the new holiday, Karenga drew upon a pan-African set of cultural symbols and practices. In particular, he believed that the annual harvest festivals—in which communities came together to celebrate the fruits of their collective labor—were an apt model for building family, community, and culture.

Celebrations begin the day after Christmas and last for seven days. Each day is steeped in symbolism and ceremony. Upon that mat, they place other meaningful items, including assorted fruits and vegetables to symbolize their collective labor at the harvest, ears of corn to represent their children, and a candle holder that stands for a shared African heritage. A black candle is placed in the center of the holder, flanked by three red candles to the left and three green candles to the right.

Families and communities gather each day to light a candle and reflect on one of the seven principles of Kwanzaa , or Nguzo Saba in Swahili.

On December 26, the holiday kicks off with a meditation on unity umoja , followed by the principles of self-determination kujichagulia , collective work and responsibility ujima , cooperative economics ujamaa , purpose nia , creativity kuumba , and faith imani.

On the first day, the black candle at the center of the holder is lit to represent all people of African descent. On the penultimate day of Kwanzaa—which falls on December 31—celebrants typically hold a banquet, or karamu.

Filled with music and dancing, this feast is a time to rejoice and renew commitments for personal growth in the year ahead. Families often give children small gifts on this day or on the last day of Kwanzaa. The holiday struggled for recognition in its early years, writes historian Elizabeth Pleck in the Journal of American Ethnic History. Although some urban communities adopted it, many Christians and Muslims viewed the secular holiday as antithetical to their beliefs.

Yet Kwanzaa continued to spread by word of mouth and, as it did so, the holiday became known as a celebration of Black family life. In the late s and early s, Kwanzaa broke into mainstream Black culture with features in influential magazines. Rather than replace Christmas, though, most people began to see Kwanzaa as a way to supercharge their holiday season.

Kwanzaa became widely recognized in the s and s. We come from a variety of backgrounds, but nearly every member of our New York City-based staff has extensive experience traveling, working, or living abroad. Career Training USA is a cultural exchange program that enables current university students and young professionals from all over the world to pursue internships in the U.

Read about the adventures others have had and get excited for yours. The History, Principles, and Symbols of Kwanzaa. A woman celebrates Kwanzaa by lighting candles on a kinara.

InterExchange Staff InterExchange is proud to have an experienced team that is dedicated to international cultural exchange. Tweet Share Email. Diversity Holidays Culture. Intern or Train in the U. Experience American culture and add international skills to your resume. Learn about life abroad Read about the adventures others have had and get excited for yours. Three Ways for U. Citizens to Work and Travel in Canada. How to Be an Au Pair in Spain.

How to Be an Au Pair in Australia. How to Be an Au Pair in the Netherlands. Tips for Becoming an Au Pair in France. Lea's Experience as an Architecture Intern in Chicago. Despite its relatively new history, Kwanzaa is observed by millions of Black Americans in the United States and spans from December 26 through January 1. Each day of the week represents one of the seven core principles of the holiday:.

There are seven candlesticks representing the principles that are lit on each day of observance. Here are a few ways you can celebrate Kwanzaa. One core tenet of Kwanzaa is giving gifts to loved ones, but why not get all DIY with it? I know your gift-giving skills have grown beyond a mixtape and a card. The classic Kwanzaa setup is a mkeka a woven mat with an ear of corn, fruits, and, of course, the kinara.

The ear of corn represents fertility and hope for the future through children, while the fruits are meant to symbolize both joy and the fruitful results of collective hard work. To top it off, add a unity cup to signify community. On the sixth day, the cup is filled with water, wine, or juice, and every family member takes a sip in remembrance of their ancestors and to symbolize togetherness. Kwanzaa is the perfect time to honor the many different cultures of the African diaspora through their customary dishes.

Man, does a lot of this food hit the spot.