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What Is Kwanzaa?

Kwanzaa is a week-long holiday celebration of African-American culture held annually from December 26 to January 1, culminating in a communal feast.

This is not a religious holiday but a cultural celebration based on African harvest festival traditions and is a way to celebrate African heritage and legacy, much like other cultural celebrations. 

Fundamentally, Kwanzaa celebrates family, culture, community, and the harvest during the dark days of winter.  The word “Kwanzaa” itself comes from the Kiswahili phrase matunda ya kwanza, meaning “first fruits [of the harvest].” 

The seven-day festival focuses on seven essential principles, known as the Nguzo Saba, each represented by one day of the seven-day celebration. These principles are:

1. unity (umoja), 
2. self-determination (kujichagulia), 
3. collective work and responsibility (ujima), 
4. cooperative economics (ujamaa), 
5. purpose (nia), 
6. creativity (kuumba), and 
7. faith (imani).

Despite the fact that it is often thought of as a substitute for Christmas or Hanukkah, Kwanzaa is not a religious holiday, and families who celebrate Kwanzaa often celebrate it in addition to Christmas, Hanukkah, or another religious holiday.

History of Kwanzaa

You may be surprised to learn that the modern holiday of Kwanzaa is a relatively new creation, though it has its roots in traditions that go back generations. 

First celebrated in 1966, —an African-American author, professor, and activist—to nurture the community and cultural spirit of African Americans. 

While created with the traditional African harvest festivals in mind, Kwanzaa itself is uniquely North American, being celebrated mainly in the United States, Canada, and the Caribbean. 

While the holiday is focused on the African-American community, all people are invited to celebrate and learn about the values of Kwanzaa and African-American culture.

When Is Kwanzaa?

Kwanzaa is an annual holiday that begins on December 26 and lasts through January 1. In 2024, it will begin on Thursday, December 26.

Celebrating Kwanzaa

During Kwanzaa, people traditionally decorate their homes with straw mats, ears of corn, and a candleholder called a kinara, which is adorned with red, green, and black candles. 

• Red is said to represent ancestry and unity; 
• black, the people; 
• and green, the fertile land (Africa). 

A candle is lit for each day of Kwanzaa, and celebrants may also exchange gifts.

The entire celebration is capped with a feast on December 31, which is usually held at a community center and features traditional music and dancing.

Do you plan to celebrate with a feast? Perhaps try including this curried Kwanzaa stew.

The Kiswahili phrase Habari gani—meaning “What is the news?”—is used as a greeting among family and friends. (The response to this phrase should be whichever of the seven principles is associated with the current day.)

If you observe Kwanzaa, please share your traditions below!