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What is Kwanzaa?
Find out how the holiday
started and what it's all about
* How Does it Work?
Discover how Kwanzaa
is celebrated
* What are the 7 Principles?
Read about the seven
things that are most
important at Kwanzaa
* Symbols of Kwanzaa
Find out how the holiday
started and what it's all about
* Recipes
Yummy treats!
* Kwanzaa Words
Learn new words and
how they are pronounced
* Card Making Ideas!
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KWANZAA -- "FIRST FRUITS OF
HARVEST"
Kwanzaa was created by Dr. Maulana Karenga in 1966.
Kwanzaa was developed from elements of the African
heritage. The African celebration of Kwanzaa was a
ceremony of appreciation for the "first fruits of
harvest". The four elements that made up the
original African meaning of Kwanzaa were unity, awareness
of ancestry and heritage, recommitment to traditional
values, and reverence for creator and the creation.
Kwanzaa is a seven day celebration. It begins on
December 26, the day after Christmas, and lasts
until January 1, the first day of the new year.
The celebration is focused around seven very
important Principles, called nguzo saba. Though
these principles are important all year long,
they are thought about a great deal during this
holiday.
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Each night, people gather together to light the
candles of the kinara and to share their thoughts
on the special Principle of that day.
On the sixth day,
which falls on December 31, there is a great
feast called the karamu. This is a joyous
celebration of food, music, happiness, folktales,
song, and dance.
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