Kwanzaa There are many holidays celebrated throughout the year in the United States, as well as in other parts of the world. One of these holidays is called Kwanzaa.
The name Kwanzaa comes from the Swahili phrase Matunda Ya Kwanzaa, which means first fruits of the harvest. The holiday was created in 1966 by Dr. Molana Kurenga. Dr. Kurenga was a professor and chairman of Black Studies at California State University in Long Beach, California.
Dr. Kurenga started this holiday because of some recent riots or fights that had broken out in a Los Angeles neighborhood. He wanted to find a way to bring African Americans together as a community. His goal was to create a holiday where African Americans could celebrate their culture and their history. Kwanza festivities are based on African harvest celebrations.
Those celebrations revolve around newly harvested or planted crops. Since it began in 1966, Kwanzaa has been celebrated by African Americans throughout the United States. It is a seven-day non-religious celebration that begins December 26th and ends January 1st. There are many traditions that are celebrated during the seven days of Kwanzaa, but at the heart of the Kwanzaa celebrations are seven symbols and seven principles. Here is a look at each of the seven symbols of Kwanzaa and what they represent. Kikumbe, Cha, Umoja means the Unity Cup. Drinking from this cup on the sixth day of Kwanzaa is meant to honor and remember African ancestors. It is also a sign of unity. Before drinking from the cup, each person says Harambe, meaning let's pull together. Kinara is the name of the candle holder. Can you say Kinara? Kinara. Right, it's a candle holder. The Kinara holds seven candles. The candles symbolize stalks of corn that branch off to form new stalks. This is symbolic of how the human family is created.
It also celebrates the idea that through children, future hopes of each family come to pass. Mazao is the name for crops. Fruits, nuts, and vegetables represent the crops and the work that went into growing them. During Kwanzaa, fruits, nuts, and vegetables are placed on a special mat as gifts for everyone to enjoy. These foods are a reminder to the people
celebrating Kwanzaa of the fruits that nourish the people of Africa. Is the name for the seven candles that sit on top of the Kinara. The seven candles represent the seven principles of Kwanzaa. The three colors of Kwanzaa are red, black, and green. They are important symbols in ancient Africa. Green symbolizes the fertile land of Africa and represents the future. Black is the color of the people.
And red represents the blood that was shed in the struggle out of slavery. Three red candles are placed on the right side of the Kinara. And three green candles are placed on the left side. One black candle, which symbolizes unity, is placed in the middle. One candle is lit during each day of Kwanzaa. We always start with the people first, and then we put the candle up, and we light a different candle each night.
So there are seven nights in the celebration. Mekeke means place mat. It is the base for the six symbols of Kwanzaa. This straw mat symbolizes a foundation.
Nothing can be built without having a foundation on which to sit. The mat is where the gifts of Kwanzaa are placed. Vibunzi means ear of corn. One ear of corn is placed on the mekeke for each child present. We lay it down, and then we have fruits and vegetables to represent people who work hard in the field. Zuwadi means gifts. On January 1st, the last day of Kwanzaa, handmade educational and cultural gifts are given. People celebrating Kwanzaa decorate with red, black, and green African styles.
fabrics, art, and clothing. For each of the seven nights, families gather and someone lights one of the special candles on the Kannara.
Usually, it is a child who gets to do this. Following the lighting of the candle, one of the seven principles is discussed among family and friends. The symbols of Kwanzaa are closely connected to the seven principles. Here is a list of the seven principles of Kwanzaa. Umoja means unity. This principle is about building a strong family, race, community, and nation. It encourages people to come together physically and ethically.
Umoja believes that when people come together, they are capable of anything. Kujijakulia means self-determination. An example of this principle is to speak up for yourself. You don't need to wait for someone else to define who you are.
You are the one that creates your own identity. Ujima means collective work and responsibility. This principle is about helping others within your community. It says that we best solve our problems when we do it together. Ujima means cooperative economics. This principle encourages African Americans to build and maintain their own stores and businesses, and suggests that the community will all profit from those stores and businesses. Nia means purpose. It encourages people to find their purpose as well as to protect their legacy. It also teaches African Americans to build up and develop their communities.
Kaumba means creativity. This principle talks about doing as much as you can to leave the community better and more beautiful for future generations. Mani means faith. It is about believing with all your heart in your people, parents, teachers, and leaders, and the righteousness and victory of their struggle. It teaches that without faith in your community, your community cannot survive. The tradition of the Seven Symbols and the Seven Principles of Kwanzaa are values of African culture.
They contribute to building and reinforcing community among African Americans. On December 31st, there is a feast held as part of the Kwanzaa holiday called the Great Feast of Karamu. The three colors of Kwanzaa, red, black, and green, are especially important during this feast. The feast is held at a home, church, or community center that is decorated in an African motif.
Such as sesame seeds, peanuts, sweet potatoes, collard greens, and spicy sauces. The foods are placed on and around a large mkeka, and a program is given as part of the festivities. Like all special holidays, every family celebrates Kwanzaa in its own way. Most celebrations include song and dances, African drums, storytelling, poetry, and a large traditional meal. Millions of people every year celebrate Kwanzaa. It is a special week honoring the values of African culture while inspiring African Americans throughout the United States.
Kwanzaa Wishes
- Sending you some Kwanzaa blessing from my family to yours. May you get blessed each of the seven days with your favorite company. May Lord bless you and brings a smile on your face.
- Wish you a harvest full of smile, love and dine filled with family and friend and abundance of happiness. I wish you a joyous Kwanzaa, my dear. May Lord bless you.
- In the name of Lord, I wish that this Kwanzaa brings you joy, hope, good vibes and prosperity in your life. Have a feast on this Kwanzaa. Stay safe and have fun.
- May you enter the New Year with all the promises the Nguzo Saba holds! Have a great time at this festival of celebration. May God bless you, my dear.
- In this auspicious festive, hope Kwanzaa brings you light and brightness in your life and make it better in its own way. May you feel the love and warmth. Wishing you a happy Kwanzaa.
- I hope you enjoy this week-long celebration with your dear and near ones. Many blissful greetings for the Kwanzaa. May Lord bless you and your family.
- This week-long celebration may get fulfill not only your belly but also your heart. May it bring happiness and your dear ones closer to your heart. Happy Kwanzaa.
- Wishing you warmth and togetherness this Kwanzaa.
- I hope your Kwanzaa is filled with joy and prosperity.
- Celebrating the proud heritage of a beautiful family.
- May peace, love, and unity bring a happy Kwanzaa to you.
- I hope you enjoy each of the seven days of Kwanzaa.
Kwanzaa Greetings Messages
- Let the light of Kwanzaa bring happiness to your home.
- From Umoja to Imani, may all the blessings of Kwanzaa be yours.
- Standing with you in your struggle and your celebration.
- Kwanzaa is a reminder that good things happen around a table.
- Hoping your Kwanzaa celebration leaves you with lots of sweet memories to look back in the future. Have a grand feast with your family and have lots of fun. Happy Kwanzaa!
- Take pride in each other and give thanks for this beautiful Kwanzaa.
- May these Kwanzaa candles bring you new rays of hope and brightness in your life, gives you all the courage and good vibes to conquer the world in your own terms. Happy Kwanzaa.
- I feel so lucky to have you in my life, dear. I hope you have a delightful Kwanza vacation. Enjoy your life to the fullest. May Lord bless you with lots of chocolate cake on this Kwanzaa.
- I am blessed to have so many great things in my life – family, friends, and God. All will be in my thoughts daily. I wish your Kwanza celebration sparkle upon all the other festive this year.
- During Kwanzaa, we remember those we love. I love the true meaning of this holiday and I am so glad I can share it with you.
- You have been with me since I was little and have shown me throughout my life the true meaning of Kwanzaa. Remembering you today and sharing our love as I wish you a Happy Kwanzaa to the one who showed me what it stands for and for what it’s all about.
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The greatest happiness is family happiness. I’m happy about being here with you. Giving you all my warmest regards for a very happy Kwanzaa, my dear.
Kwanzaa Wishes For Everyone
Throughout Kwanzaa, family and friends alternate messages of hope, dedication to excellence, perception in chance, the fantastic thing about aspiration, the significance of equality and the inevitability of success.
- You have been with me since I was little and have shown me throughout my life the true meaning of Kwanzaa. Remembering you today and sharing our love as I wish you a Happy Kwanzaa to the one who showed me what it stands for and for what it’s all about.
- Having you as a friend and sharing in the same traditions as I am something that I have valued for all the time that we have been friends. Happy Kwanzaa to you and your family. Thinking of you from a distance.
- Not being with you is hard for all the times we shared in the traditions of Kwanzaa, but I want you to know that I’m thinking of you on this great holiday.
- You lead us and inspire us. You open us to new ideas. Though we might not call the season the same thing, I wanted to wish you and your family a very happy Kwanzaa.
- Others might be saying Merry Christmas to you, but I will choose to say Happy Kwanzaa. It’s great working with someone who has a unique tradition. May you have a great holiday.
- Happy Kwanzaa brings to you and your family harvest of blessings joys and prosperity. Happy Kwanzaa.
- Hope seven principles of Kwanzaa… Always keep ringing in your heart and brighten up your life with joy, prosperity and good fortune.
- Yipee… It’s Kwanzaa time… Here hoping you join me real soon… to hang in the chords… N groove to the spirit for some cool fan!
- May your Kwanzaa be filled with a harvest of smiles…Love of friends and family…And an abundance of happiness! I wish you a joyous Kwanzaa!
- May the spirit of Kwanzaa bring joy to your heart & home …. Happy Kwanzaa!
Kwanzaa Quotes
- Cross the river in a crowd and the crocodile won’t eat you.” – African Proverb
- Umoja, Kujichagulia, Ujima, Nia, Cujamaa, Kuumba, Imani, Happy Kwanzaa.” – Unknown
- “Kwanzaa is a special time to remember the ancestors, the bridge builders, and the leaders.” – Dorothy Winbush Riley
- “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.”
- “Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics): To build and maintain our own stores, shops, and other businesses and to profit from them together.”
- “Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility): To build and maintain our community together and make our brothers’ and sisters’ problems our problems and to solve them together.”
- “Nia (Purpose): To make our collective vocation the building and developing of our community in order to restore our people to their traditional greatness.”
- “Imani (Faith): To believe with all our hearts in our people, our parents, our teachers, our leaders, and the righteousness and victory of our struggle.”
- “Return to old watering holes for more than water; friends and dreams are there to meet you.” – African proverb
- “There is no one who became rich because he broke a holiday, no one became fat because he broke a fast.” – Ethiopian Proverb
- “If you want to go quickly, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” – African Proverb
- “A family is like a forest when you are outside it is dense, when you are inside you see that each tree has its place.” – African Proverb
- “Each of us is a being in himself and a being in society, each of us needs to understand himself and understand others, take care of others and be taken care of himself.” – Haniel Long
- “A man is called selfish not for pursuing his own good, but for neglecting his neighbor’s.” -Richard Whately
Kwanzaa Messages
- “A man is called selfish not for pursuing his own good, but for neglecting his neighbor’s.” -Richard Whately
- Sending you my warm wishes to celebrate the pride & heritage we share, Happy Kwanzaa!
- Wishing you moments of light, peace, and happiness that last all through the coming year and more! Happy Kwanzaa from my heart to yours!
- Celebrate the spirit of Kwanzaa with your near and dear ones.
- Although we are miles apart on Kwanzaa… The miles fade away with every little warm thought of you….You are always in my heart…Happy kwanza, sweetheart!
- May all your wishes come true this Kwanzaa! Happy kwanza!
- Hope this Kwanzaa be… A harvest of lot more joy and love for us. Happy sweetheart!
- I hope the spirit of Kwanzaa… Brings happiness to you and your dear ones. I wish you a Joyous kwanza!
- Wishing you moments of lights, pace, and happiness that last all through the coming year and more! Happy Kwanzaa!
- As you celebrate Kwanzaa in its true spirit. Hope all your days be brightened up with joy, prosperity and good tidings. I wish you a bright and happy kwanza!
- May your kwanza be blessed with the glow of happiness, love of friends & family and harvest of smiles. Happy Kwanzaa!
- I hope your Kwanzaa is filled with…Lots of fun, yummy treats and surprises!
- Wishing a harvest of joy and prosperity… From our home to yours. Happy Kwanzaa!
- Kwanzaa is all about a harvest of smile, happiness, and togetherness. But for me, Kwanzaa is not joyous this time… Because you are not there to celebrate it with me. Missing you so much… Especially on Kwanzaa!
- An abundance of joy, the warmth of togetherness and love of near and dear ones… May kwanza bring these and many more blessings to last forever!
- This week-long celebration may get fulfill not only your belly but also your heart. May it bring happiness and your dear ones closer to your heart. Happy Kwanzaa.
- May you enter the New Year with all the promises the Nguzo Saba holds! Have a great time at this festival of celebration. May God bless you, my dear.
Happy Kwanzaa Quotes
- This week-long celebration may get fulfill not only your belly but also your heart. May it bring happiness and your dear ones closer to your heart. Happy Kwanzaa.
- Happy Kwanzaa brings to you and your family harvest of blessings joys and prosperity. Happy Kwanzaa.
- The moment we break faith with one another, the sea engulfs us and the light goes out. James A. Baldwin
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A wise man never knows all, only fools know everything.
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A clear conscience makes a soft pillow.
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Each of us is a being in himself and a being in society, each of us needs to understand himself and understand others, take care of others and be taken care of himself.
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There is no one who became rich because he broke a holiday, no one became fat because he broke a fast.
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A speaker of truth has no friends.
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One who loves you loves you with your dirt.
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A man is called selfish not for pursuing his own good, but for neglecting his neighbor’s.
