What do you know about the African American celebration called Kwanzaa?

I have heard of it Nyota, but have never been sure of what it really stood for...but if it is spiritual then that is good!!

Noyta, I wrote an article about one night of my Kwanzaa experience. See the following link:

http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.jsp?memberId=451045&articleId=281474977546576&nav=MyGather

I have heard of it, but never really knew in details of what it was.

Hi and the very best to you for the New Year
Sorry but I do not know about Kwanzaa, except what I read in your posting.
I may have heard it via CBS3 or NBC10 in Philly, but I do not remember.
Take good care.

Not very much!

I saw a cooking show dedicated to it. It's a focus on the family - and telling family stories.

(that's what they said, anyway)

I have known only what we were given in information for preschoolers. I have heard more and read some more on Gather, and think it is very interesting.

I love Kwanza because it gives me an opportunity to share my creative work, Rovella Starr and What Happened to Suzy with my family. I wrote both books and long-term keepsakes that my family will be able to maintain forever.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZAfzbu-SE0

Check out the above video I created for my mother - who bought Rovella Starr
and What Happened to Suzy as gift items in the spirit of Kwanza.

Thank you for starting this discussion. Kwanzaa is one of the few Holidays that
honors creativity and the spirit of giving from the heart. What is more benevolent that that concept?

I love Kwanza and all that it offers.

Interesting

I think it's interesting that you say that you don't have to be African-American to participate, since the purpose of the holiday was, as I understand it, to acquaint African-Americans with principles based on traditional African beliefs and to give them pride in their culture. I love the eight principles, but Kwanzaa is not like St. Patrick's Day, where everyone is welcome to be Irish for the day. It has, at least around here in Georgia, remained almost exclusively black.

I would be very pleased to find out that it was becoming less ethnocentric, so if I'm wrong, I'm glad.

Thanks for your participation!

Michael, I wrote an article last year on Kwanzaa. I think it's gone now. I will check yours and Carol's out.

You're almost there, Peter.

Brian--tell us more!

I would like for all of you to check back and see how much knowledge is shared. There's an official website where you may learn a lot.
I'll come back and post the link.

I don't know too much but I do know that each day celebrates a different virtue.

Okay, here's the Wiki version:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kwanzaa

Rhetta, you have a point. I guess it would depend on where you were and how your desire to participate would be construed.

The man who is credited with inventing the concept is not always thought of in a positive light, due to some behaviors in his past. However, the idea of the celebration has taken on a life of its own. I would give him positive credit for having done so.

I wrote about a celebration in The Magic Pencil. I'd post it but my carry-around disk is not working properly in my sister's computer. I am in Pittsburgh, so I can't use another method.

You are right, Kylee!

I just realized I used the word 'celebration' three times in my article ([;p)] !

Thank you for sharing the Wiki link, Nyota.

I'd be interested in photos of Kwanzaa decorations and/or clothing. I suspect they are a lot more interesting than traditional Christmas decorations.

The first time I heard about Kwanzaa was through reading Michael's very interesting and informative article, and I see he has provided the link for that above. My understanding is that Kwanzaa is a time for spiritual celebration ~ a time for African Americans to get together and look at their cultural roots and focus on family and community. I wasn't sure if anyone could participate. I'm over in Australia so there is no Kwanzaa. I'm very interested however since my children are part-African and I have travelled in Africa and somehow felt quite at home there.

Excellent post. I love the principles.

I felt at home when I was in Africa too, Sue! You have a lot of knowledge already about the subject. However, some African folk scoff at Kwanzaa because it is not an African celebration. It is the desire of some African Americans to feel closer to their roots and to strive toward using the seven principles in their lives year-round.

The Official Kwanzaa website tells all and has photos, Ann.

Thanks for sharing!


MySpace Graphics & MySpace Layouts

The 7 principles of Kwanzaa that Michael wrote about are wonderful.

The seven principles Kwanzaa celebrates are: Faith, Unity, Cooperative Economics, Collective Work and Responsibility, Creativity, Self-Determination, and Purpose.

One of the things I like about the holiday is the emphasis on cooperation and collective responsibility. Building a true inter-dependent society would have a positive effect on corporate responsiblity, poverty issues, health care, and many other current social ills.

Nyota, first I want to thank you for e-mailing to let us know you had written this. I have a hard time keeping up, but it's easier to keep up with e-mail then everyone's articles. I know a little about Kwanzaa as you and I had discussed. Growing up in African-American communities I have had friends who celebrated it. I understand about the seven (Is that right?) candles being for different positive qualities. The candles are green and red to symbolize the land and I think blood (not sure about that one). As a Jew most (if not all) of our holidays serve to gather us closer to one another as a religious group and as a cultural group (and of course closer to G-D). I think that Kwanzaa does the same type of thing, and that is very beautiful. Now I am going to read Michael's article. Thanks Nyota!

Happy New Year Nyota.

Thank you Nyota, for the email focusing on Kwanza. I don't know anything about it except, I thought it was an african American celebration. My interest is peaked now & I will certainly follow the wiki's & michaels links above to find out more. Happy Kwanza. ( is that correct ? :)

Happy New Year everyone! Thanks Nyota for a great discussion. My family and I are still learning more about Kwanzaa each year. We pretty much PRACTICE the 7 principles EVERYDAY in running our family business www.HBCUkidz.com

I did use a video series this year to provide more background to the munchkins and I think many people might find them useful.

http://www.monkeysee.com/play/12343-how-to-celebrate-kwanzaa
http://www.monkeysee.com/play/12344-the-seven-principles-and-days-of-kwanzaa
http://www.monkeysee.com/play/12345-preparation-for-kwanzaa
THIS IS ANOTHER MUST SEE VIDEO THAT WAS AIRED RECENTLY ON CBS!

http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=4685676n

I agree Sue!

Thanks for listing the principles, Debra.

You're welcome, Chana.

HNY to you, Janet!

Yes, Leora. Happy Kwanzaa!

One of the cool things about Kwanzaa is the gift giving. Participants are encouraged to give handcrafts, cultural items and educational things. However, some folk are making gifts a little more commercial--which may defeat the traditional sentiment.

Thanks Joan!

I love all the Nia's showing up! That's the name of the girl pictured in my icon from The Magic Pencil!

The greatest invention black people have made and given to the world with purpose and meaning all rolled up into one. So, if you missed Christmas and the rest of the marked days of holiday celebrations that comes with the end of the year. Don't be frustrated because you don't have the money to spend, or you're late in getting out your holiday cards, or maybe you want to catch the post Christmas sales, or you're secular in your belife, just do what I do.
Well for me I tell everybody, don't worry be happy and celebrate Kwanzza it gives you 6 more days to get your shit together and remember those family and friends who have touch your life throughout the past year. A special occasion that everyone can be apart of or just another way to celebrate the human family that we all can share.
Because sharing is what its all about. Therefore let me say, Peace and Happeness to all mankind and of course women, children, cats, dogs, birds, bees, polar-bears, tigers, lions, fish in the sea and all the creatures that called earth their home.

Ah'ght, Richard!

i don't know much about kwanzza.......thank you for the link.... i will check it out

Kwanzaa has become a tradition in my family!

Thanks for the article Nyota. I don't know much about Kwanzaa, but from what I have heard, it's a lot like Chanukah in the way it is celebrated. Food and family.

I think this is the way to have true equality...To honor everyone's right to celebrate the way they feel most comfortable. Thanks for helping to make that happen!

I had the good fortune to actually decorate a client's home for Kwanzaa for several years.
Kinte cloth, fruits and vegetables, green, black and red, the special candle holder, the seven principles, Swahili; it was fun, educational and a boon to my creativity.

That's just what the article is for, Solskin Iam!

That's great, Amy!

I agree with you, Terry! Kwanzaa has a heavy emphasis on improving oneself and one's community.

Wonderful, Curt!

Thanks everyone for telling me about Kwanzaa. In Jamaica, the day after Christmas is called "Boxing Day", and is a public holiday. Not sure of the origin; there are more than one stories. It is used as a Family day.

Dennis--that's what it's called in England; I think.

I think Kwanzaa is a celebration more in tune with the spirit of togetherness and authentic joy, more so than Christmas, although I am aware there are many who celebrate Christmas with the same sense of spirit and togetherness that folks celebrate Kwanzaa. Perhaps it's because Kwanzaa hasn't been usurped by marketing, consumerism and the marketing hype that has made Christmas into a kind of joke in this country. I also have to agree with Rhetta that it appears to be celebrated overwhelmingly by African Americans, with the exception of a few other ethnic folks who for many reasons I'm sure, choose to celebrate the season in this way as a preference to their ethnic tradition.

I personally don't identify with Kwanzaa as a celebratory ritual. Then again, neither do I identify with Christmas. But I'm glad Kwanzaa offers a sense of togetherness and love for those who do identify with it.

Thanks, Nyota. I enjoyed reading about Kwanzaa.

Boxing Day is celebrated in several countries with historical ties to the UK. It's a day that is traditionally associated with gift-giving (or boxing) to service industry workers.

Also, today is Twelfth Night, the namesake of the Shakespeare play, which precedes Twelfth Day, the day that the wise men received the "epiphany" that Jesus was divine.

Just an FYI.

Nicely put, Perry.

I'm glad, Ann!

Thanks Brian.

Thanks Quila! You're knowledge about the practice is wonderfully exhibited!

Nyota, without going to check out any of the links, I wanted to comment, first, on your method of getting conversations going! Wow...you go girl!

I am one of the ones who is ignorant, other than to know that it is celebrated! However, I wanted to share that, without knowing what the background is, I have already noted in my own life that African Americans, as a group, seem to be much more nurturing and supportive to each other than in many races, including mine! I think Jews may have the same connectiveness, but I have not known individuals personally to make that anything more than intuitive.

Thanks for initiating an interesting conversation!