Kwanzaa is a 7 day festival celebrating the African American people, their culture and their history. It is a time of celebration, community gathering, and reflection. A time of endings and beginnings. Kwanzaa begins on December 26th and continues until New Years Day, January 1st. Kwanzaa, a relatively new holiday that started in the 1960s and today is celebrated by 18 million Americans has gained in popularity. The Seven Principles of Kwanzaa inspire familes to use these principles are evoked in African American homes.
Read: 3 Gifts You Can Give To Help Returning Soldiers
Kwanzaa is derived from Swahili phrase “matunda ya kwanza,” meaning “first fruits of the harvest” During the holiday of Kwanzaa, many people exchange greetings in Swahili.
The official colors of Kwanzaa are black, red and green? These colors, represented in the candles lit each night, also are included in home decorations. Other decorations feature traditional African items, such as baskets, cloths, and harvest symbols.
