Kwanzaa:
A Celebration of First Fruits
If the commercialism of some of the other winter holidays has you longing for a more
meaningful celebration, Kwanzaa might be just for you. If so, you’ll be in good company.
Currently, 18 million Americans observe Kwanzaa, a seven-day, non-religious celebration of
African-American heritage, history, culture and life principles. Promoting unity and values, the
celebration takes place from December 26 through January 1 and focuses on traditional African
values of family, community responsibility, commerce and self-improvement. A highlight of the
festival is the Kwanzaa feast.
But, before we look at the feast, which happens near the end of the week-long celebration, it
will be important to discuss the history, symbols and principles of Kwanzaa. Gaining a better
understanding of the holiday will aid in planning an appropriate gathering for family and friends.
A brief history of Kwanzaa
Unlike other holidays, Kwanzaa has only been around for about 40
years. It was created by Dr. Maulana Karenga of California in 1966.
Born out of a time when many African Americans were struggling
for civil rights, it was, and still is, a way for African-Americans to
bond collectively and celebrate their ancestors, their history and
their culture. Inspired by the "first fruit" or harvest festivals that are
celebrated throughout Africa, Dr. Karenga named this uniquely
African-American festival “Kwanzaa” from a Swahili phrase "matunda ya kwanza," which means
"first fruits of the harvest."
Traditionally, during the African celebration, people celebrate their crops, give thanks to their
Creator for a good harvest and life and take time to remember their ancestors. It is also a time
of recommitment to their community. With these ideas in mind, the Seven Principles of
Kwanzaa were established.
Symbols of Kwanzaa
Colors
Inspired by the African-American Unity flag and
Pan Africanism, the use of green, red and black
are the three colors of Kwanzaa. Black
represents the people; red exemplifies their
struggle, and green symbolizes hope for the
future. They can be seen in the decorations,
symbols and attire and make a bold statement of
unity and strength.
Mazao (The Crops)
Symbolic of African harvest celebrations and of the rewards of productive and collective labor,
fresh fruits and vegetables remind us to work together and enjoy to fruits of our labor.
Mkeka (The Mat)
Because the Kwanzaa symbols are placed on the mat, it is seen as the foundation on which we
build and represents our tradition and history. It is typically made of wood or bamboo.
Kinara (The Candle Holder)
Holding the seven candles of Kwanzaa, the candle holder is symbolic of our African roots,
unifying African Americans with their heritage.
Muhindi (The Corn)
Ears of corn represent our children and the hope for the future, which they embody. The
Kwanzaa display includes an ear of corn for each child in the household.
Mishumaa Saba (The Seven Candles)
Probably the most recognizable symbols are the seven candles which represent the Nguzo Saba
or the Seven Principles, which focus on various time-honored values within the African
community.
Kikombe cha Umoja (The Unity Cup)
Because one of the central underlying themes of the Kwanzaa celebration is unity, the cup is
symbolic of that foundational principle, acknowledging that the practice of unity makes all else
possible.
Zawadi (The Gifts)
Sharing the gifts of history, tradition and values, the items presented to the children are
symbolic of the labor and love of parents and the commitments made and kept by the children.
Bendera (The Flag)
Displaying the colors of Kwanzaa with pride, the flag is
based on the colors given by the Hon. Marcus Garvey as
national colors for African people throughout the
world.
Nguzo Saba (The Seven Principles)
Encompassing a wide range of values and ideals, each
life principle guides the daily discussion for a
meaningful seven-day celebration. Shifting the focus
from frivolity to family and from parties to purpose,
these principles urge everyone to reflect and reexamine their life, family, community involvement and
foundation of faith to improve their life and the lives of those around them.
The Seven Principles
Umoja (unity)—To strive for and
maintain unity in the family,
community, nation, and race.
Kujichagulia (self-determination)—
To define ourselves, name ourselves,
create for ourselves, and speak for
ourselves.
Ujima (collective work and
responsibility)—To build and
maintain our community together
and make our brother's and sister's
problems our problems and to solve
them together.
Ujamaa (cooperative economics)—
To build and maintain our own stores,
shops, and other businesses and to
profit from them together.
Nia (purpose)—To make our
collective vocation the building and
development of our community in
order to restore our people to their
traditional greatness.
Kuumba (creativity)—To do always as much as we can, in the way we can, in order to
leave our community more beautiful and beneficial than we inherited it.
Imani (faith)—To believe with all our heart in our people, our parents, our teachers, our
leaders, and the righteousness and victory of our struggle.
Beginning with the black candle in the center of the kinara, a candle is lit by a family member
each evening. Afterwards, the principle for that day is discussed. Sometimes, a poem or
passage from a book is read about the topic, and guests have the opportunity to share how this
principle applies to their life. This can be done by the youngest child, oldest person or by a
different family member each night.
At the end of the discussion, the Umoja or unity cup with fruit juice, water, wine or some other
beverage is shared with everyone after a small amount is poured in the four corners of the room
to honor their ancestors. Each person takes a sip from the unity cup then raises it and says,
"Harambee," which means, "Let's all pull together." (Note: In recent years, some families have
opted to pour the libation from the unity cup into separate cups for each person to enjoy.)
The candles are then extinguished until the next day, when all the previous candles are lit and
then the new candle for that day’s principle. Alternating red then green, the candles are lit in
this order:
Day 1:
Day 2:
Day 3:
Day 4:
Day 5:
Day 6:
Day 7:
Center black candle
Red candle farthest to the left
Green candle farthest to the right
Next red candle to the left
Next green candle to the right
Last red candle next to the center candle
Last green candle next to the center candle
On the sixth day, which falls on New Years Eve, family and
friends gather for a large feast, celebrating their history,
culture, and the New Year.
Hosting the Karamu (Kwanzaa Feast)
Although Kwanzaa is primarily a private celebration of family at home, there is one day where
family and friends can gather together. It’s called the Karamu or or Kwanzaa Feast. Celebrating
with skits, poems, readings, dance, and of course food, the sixth day of the festival is preserved
for fellowship. If you’re planning to host a Kwanzaa feast, here are some tips for decorations,
food, activities and crafts that will make your event special.
Tip: Because karamu falls on December 31st, plan on starting the festivities early if you also
want to celebrate a traditional New Year’s Eve.
Decorations
The centerpiece of your decorations will be the Kwanzaa display. Cover your table with a green
or black cloth before placing your mat in the center. The kinara (candle holder) is placed on top
of the Mkeka (mat). Insert the Mishumaa Saba (seven candles) with the black one in the center,
the three red candles on the left and the three green candles on the right. Place fruits and
vegetables (oranges, grapes, bananas, squash, etc.) in a bowl or basket to the right side of the
candle holder. One ear of Muhindi (corn) is placed on the mat for each child in the family.
However, if there are no children, then one ear of corn is added to symbolize the children in the
community. The Kikombe cha Umoja (unity cup) is added to the left of the kinara. Finally,
books, videos or other educational materials are added as the Zawadi or gifts.
Once the Kwanzaa display is complete, enhance the table with symbols of African heritage, such
as sculptures, musical instruments, candles or artwork. Here are some suggested decorations:
-
Drape red, green and black fabric over the doorways, across the furniture, etc.
Accent lamps, candles and even door knobs with red, green and black bows.
Place baskets filled with fruits and vegetables around the room as centerpieces and
table décor.
Burn incense and fragrant candles.
Showcase African-inspired artwork, masks, sculptures and other artifacts in the room.
Add a festive touch to corners, nooks and crannies with stacks of books draped in
African print fabric.
-
Set a beautiful table with wooden bowls, African-inspired napkin rings and wooden
elephant favors at each place setting.
Hang pictures that your family has created on the wall. Making decorations and gifts
yourself is an excellent way to reinforce the sixth principle, Kuumba (creativity).
Create a fruit broom (see activities and crafts section for instructions)
Hang a Kwanzaa banner on the door to greet guests when they arrive.
Place decorative votives and pillar candles around the room.
Zawadi Gifts
Giving gifts or Zawadi are an integral part of the Kwanzaa
experience. Focusing on educational resources and items that
will inspire and uplift, parents are
encouraged to give their children books,
videos, jewelry, some type of artwork or
a “heritage” gift. Whenever possible,
gifts should be made. A family photo
journal is an excellent idea that you can
make yourself. These gifts exchanged
amongst family are typically done on the
last day of Kwanzaa, which is January 1st.
However, gifts for family and friends can be given at any time throughout the week-long
celebration. Typically, a meaningful, African-inspired gift or party favor is given to guests during
the Karamu feast. Some suggested items include:
-
Necklaces and bracelets made with African
beads
Crochet or knitted items, like scarves
Natural products, like woven mats, bamboo
coasters, napkin rings, etc.
Handmade greeting cards
Candles
Bookmarks
Handmade food gifts, such as cookies,
candies, nuts, chocolates, etc.
Kwanzaa Recipes
Of course, most guests would consider the fabulous food the best gift of all. Make your
celebration memorable with traditional African-American dishes, such as collard greens and red
beans and rice, and spice things up with a few dishes from Africa. The fusion of both cultures
will be delightfully delicious. Here are a few recipes you can try.
Jollof Rice with Pork
Prep: 20 minutes
Cook: 45 minutes
Ingredients
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon curry powder
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1 1-1/2-pound boneless pork shoulder
roast, cut into 1-inch cubes
1/4 cup cooking oil
2 cups chopped onion
1 to 2 hot peppers, such as jalapeno or serrano, finely chopped*
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 14-1/2-ounce cans diced tomatoes with herbs
2 14-1/2-ounce cans vegetable or chicken broth
1 6-ounce can tomato paste
1 cup chopped carrots
1 cup chopped green sweet pepper
2 teaspoon dried thyme, crushed
1 bay leaf
1-1/4 cups long grain rice
Directions
1. In a 1-quart self-sealing plastic bag combine flour, curry powder, salt, and pepper. Add half
the pork cubes. Seal bag; shake to coat pork. Repeat with remaining pork cubes.
2. In a 4- to 6-quart stock pot or Dutch oven brown pork cubes, half at a time, in hot oil until
lightly browned; remove and set aside. Add onions, hot peppers, and garlic to oil in pan. Cook,
stirring occasionally, until lightly browned. Add undrained tomatoes, broth, and tomato paste,
stirring well. Bring to boiling. Add meat, carrots, sweet peppers, thyme, and bay leaf. Return to
boiling; reduce heat. Cover and simmer over low heat for 25 minutes. Stir in rice; cover and
continue cooking over low heat about 25 minutes more or until rice and meat are tender and
most of the liquid is absorbed, stirring occasionally. Discard bay leaf. Makes 8 to 10 servings.
*Note: Because chili peppers contain very pungent oils, be sure to protect your hands when
preparing them. Put gloves or sandwich bags over your hands so your skin doesn't come in
contact with the peppers. Always wash your hands and nails thoroughly in hot soapy water after
handling chili peppers.
Oven-Style Jerk Chicken
Prep: 20 min.
Marinate: 24 hours
Bake: 45 min.
Ingredients
1/4 cup soy sauce
2 tablespoons rum
3 tablespoons cooking oil
1/2 cup chopped onion
2 cloves garlic
2 whole cloves
1 teaspoon dried thyme, crushed
1 teaspoon ground allspice
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 teaspoon black peppercorns
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 2-1/2- to 3-pound broiler-fryer chicken, cut up
Directions
1. In a blender container combine all ingredients except chicken. Cover and process on high
speed until blended. Place chicken in a heavy duty resealable plastic bag; add marinade. Seal
bag. Marinate in refrigerator 4 to 24 hours, turning bag occasionally.
2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Remove chicken from marinade. Arrange chicken in a 3-quart
rectangular baking dish. Bake, uncovered, for 45 to 55 minutes or until chicken is tender and no
longer pink (180 degrees F). Makes 4 servings.
Thanks to Better Homes and Gardens for these two Kwanzaa recipes.
Kwanzaa Benne Cakes
Originating in West Africa, benne cakes (they’re actually
more like cookies) are made from sesame seeds, which are
also called Benne seeds. A symbol of good luck, your guests
will enjoy these delicious and simple cakes.
Time involved: One to two hours
Ingredients:
1/4 cup butter or margarine, softened
1 cup finely packed brown sugar
1 egg, beaten
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
1/2 cup flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup toasted sesame seeds
Vegetable oil
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 325°F. Lightly oil a cookie sheet.
2. Mix together butter and brown sugar in a mixer or food processor and beat until
creamy.
3. Mix in egg, vanilla, and lemon juice. Add flour, baking powder, salt, and sesame seeds.
Mix together.
4. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto cookie sheets about 2 inches apart. Bake at 325°F for 15
minutes or until lightly browned. Remove the cookies from the cookie sheets and allow
them to cool on cooling racks.
Microwaveable Sweet Potato Pie
A twist on an old favorite, this sweet potato pie
can be prepared in your microwave!
Ingredients:
2 cups sweet potatoes, drained
4 tablespoons margarine, melted
3 eggs
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon grated nutmeg
3/4 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 9" pie shell, baked
1/4 cup chopped pecans
Directions:
1. Use a food processor or fork to mash sweet potatoes together with the melted
margarine. Blend in eggs, sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Add milk and vanilla.
2. Pour mixture into baked pie shell.
3. Microwave on 70% (medium high) 7 minutes.
4. Sprinkle pecans over surface of pie.
5. Rotating midway through cooking, microwave on 70%, 6-8 minutes or until center no
longer jiggles.
Tip: If you prefer, you can bake it in the oven at 375 degrees for about 35-45 minutes.
Thanks to http://fun.familyeducation.com/kwanzaa/cooking for these two delicious recipes.
Garlic Cheese Grits
Ingredients
1 cup quick-cooking grits
1-1/2 cups shredded cheddar
cheese (6 ounces)
1/4 cup butter or margarine
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder or 2 to
3 cloves garlic, minced
Dash ground red pepper
2 eggs, beaten
Snipped fresh parsley
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Prepare grits according to package directions. Add 1 cup of
the cheese, the butter, salt, garlic powder or garlic, and ground red pepper; stir until cheese and
butter are melted. Gradually stir 1/2 cup of hot mixture into beaten eggs. Stir egg mixture into
remaining grits. Pour into a greased 2-quart casserole. Top with remaining cheese.
2. Bake for 50 to 60 minutes or until set. Let stand 10 minutes before serving. Sprinkle with
parsley. Makes 6 to 8 servings.
Thanks to Better Homes and Gardens for this recipe.
Activities and Crafts
Giving you plenty of opportunities to put your creativity or kuumba to work, these fun craft
projects can be used to decorate for the holiday or as a fun activity for the children.
Kwanzaa Fruit Broom
Representing the harvest of first fruits, this gorgeous fruit
broom can be symbolic of celebrating a bountiful or
prosperous harvest. Because there are only three easy
steps, it is a quick craft project that will look wonderful as a
part of your decorations.
What You Need:
24-inch decorative broom (available at crafts or
discount stores)
Assorted artificial fruit, such as grapes, cherries, and
half apples and pears
3 yards of decorative ribbon
Hot glue gun
Crafts wire and wire cutters
1-2-3 Instructions:
1. Attach fruit. Arrange the artificial fruit on the front of the broom near the handle. Be sure to
allow some to cascade down the broom. Adding greenery and small flowers are nice
enhancements. Glue each piece in place.
2. Add ribbon. Completely cover the handle by wrapping the decorative ribbon around the
broom handle. Begin at the base and work your way up the handle. Use the glue gun to secure
the ribbon to the handle in several places.
3. Make bow. Make a large ribbon bow, and wire it to the broom above the fruit. (Optional:
Form a loop to hang the broom with the excess wire on the back.)
Now, let’s look at a few crafts for the children. There are dozens of ways to get the children
involved in the Kwanzaa celebration. Here are a few:
Egg Carton Kinara:
What you'll need:
Egg carton
Jumbo craft sticks (7)
Yellow and orange construction paper
Acrylic paint: green, red, black, and brown
Glue
Scissors
Paint brush
Hot glue gun
How to make it:
1. Remove the top of the carton by cutting at the fold line and then cut the bottom of the
egg carton down the middle to create two lengths of six cups. Cut one of those lengths
in half, creating two lengths of three cups each. Cut one egg cup from the other length
of 6. You will need the 2 sets of 3 and the single cup, set aside the other cups for
another project.
2. Trim the egg cup edges with scissors to clean them up and so that they will stand evenly,
cup opening pointed down. Hot glue the single egg cup between the two three piece
egg cups to create one long 7 cup piece. Use a pair of scissors to carefully poke a slit into
the top of each egg cup.
3. Paint the egg cups brown, and let them dry.
4. For the craft sticks, paint one black, three green and three red. Paint both sides and add
another coat if you prefer. Let dry.
5. Cut out simple flame shapes from yellow construction paper, large enough to fit at the
top of each craft stick. Cut out smaller versions from orange construction paper. You will
need 14 of each color.
6. Glue the yellow flames to the tops of the craft stick candles, one on each side so that
the project can be viewed on both sides. Glue the orange flames to the yellow flames.
7. Insert the craft stick candles into the egg cup slits that were made in step two. The black
candle goes in the middle, the red candles on one side and the green on the other.
Tips:
For smaller children, instead of making the flames from two colors of construction
paper, simply use yellow and let them draw on the orange part with crayons or markers.
During each day of Kwanzaa, a new candle is lit. Children can insert one of these kinara
candles as their parents light the real kinara.
Craft foam is a great substitute for construction paper if you are running low.
You can find more craft projects like these at
http://crafts.kaboose.com/holidays/kwanzaa/kwanzaa-crafts.html
Kwanzaa Trivet
This useful craft project from Fun.FamilyEducation.com
shows how to make easy functional trivets, which make
excellent Kwanzaa gifts.
Present Pointers
If you choose square mosaic pieces for a project, you
might want to break them for effect. Place several of
the same color pieces in a zipper bag. Lay the bag on a
flat, hard surface such as cement. Sort the tiles out in a
single layer in the bag. Hit each piece with a hammer,
using a quick light blow. The tiles should split into two
to four pieces. Repeat the process until all the tiles are broken.
Time frame: Two to three hours plus two days to dry
Level: Moderately difficult
What you need:
One pound bag or box of white grout (can be found in craft stores)
Disposable plastic bowl or cup
Water
Mosaic trivet mold
Popsicle stick or old spatula
Bag of red, green, and black tiles
Sponge
Soft cloth
Can of mosaic sealer isolant
Paintbrush
1. Place about 1⁄2 cup of grout in the bowl or cup. Mix with water according to the
directions on the package of grout (usually about three parts grout to one part water).
Stir the mixture well until it is a thick, smooth consistency.
2. Fill the mold with grout almost to the top of the mold. Use a Popsicle stick or spatula to
smooth over the top.
3. Lay the tiles on top of the grout in the pattern you desire or use the pattern shown.
Apply a small amount of grout on top of the design and push it into the crevices.
4. Once the grout has set, approximately 10 to 15 minutes, wipe off the excess grout with
a damp sponge. Continue this process until all grout is removed from the top of the
tiles. Allow this to dry overnight.
5. Carefully apply pressure to the back of the mold to remove the trivet. Polish the tiles
with a soft cloth, and apply a coat of mosaic sealer isolant. Allow this to dry overnight.
African Shakers
Another fun and easy craft is mini music makers. You will need to get two empty small plastic
canisters with lids (the ones that hold a roll of film are perfect for this project), two craft sticks,
colored tape, black marker or paint, rice, beans or beads and scissors.
Instructions:
1. Paint the craft sticks black. Then decorate the sticks and the containers with the colored
tape.
2. Cut a slit in the bottom of the container so that the craft sticks will be secure and won’t
come out during use.
3. Put some rice, beans or beads into the containers. Fill them until they are half full.
4. Put the lid top back on and then push the craft sticks into the bottom.
Simply shake, rattle and roll your way to some Kwanzaa fun!
Kwanzaa Trivia
Test everyone’s Kwanzaa knowledge with a holiday trivia game from UCTangerine.com. A fun
activity for adults and children, it also teaches them about the celebration.
1. The holiday of Kwanzaa was introduced in what year?
1981
1966
1865
2005
2. This color candle symbolizes the future:
Red
Black
Green
Blue
3. This color candle symbolizes the people:
Red
Blue
Green
Black
4. This color candle symbolizes the struggle out of slavery:
Red
Black
Blue
Green
5. What day of the year does Kwanzaa begin?
December 25
December 26
The fourth Wednesday in December
January 1
6. How many days are in Kwanzaa's holiday?
10
7
6
5
7. What does Kwanzaa mean in Swahili?
first life
first fruits
new fruits
yearly fruits
8. What is the name of the candle holder lit every night of Kwanzaa
Menorah
Kinara
Umoja
Wreath
9. Who founded Kwanzaa?
Ron Karenga
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Al-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz
President Lyndon B. Johnson
10. Although traditionally celebrated by African-Americans, Kwanzaa can be celebrated by
whom?
Mexicans
Chinese
Senior Citizens
Everyone
Answer Key: 1966; green; black; red; December 26; seven; first fruits; kinara; Ron Karenga;
everyone.
As the last question indicates, Kwanzaa is a celebration that can be enjoyed by everyone. You
don’t have to be of African descent to appreciate strong family values, community involvement
and unity. Celebrate your past and your future with Kwanzaa.