Share in the celebration of Kwanzaa

As always at this time of year, I like to teach my pre-schoolers about holidays celebrated by other religions and cultures, as well as traditional Christmas customs from around the world. After we had learned about the African-Canadian/American holiday of Kwanzaa, one of the children’s mothers asked me about the holiday, as she had never heard of it before.

I realized that since this holiday has only been around for 30 years, most parents have never had the opportunity to learn about it. I lent some books on Kwanzaa to the interested parent and thought I would share some of the Kwanzaa traditions with you today.

An African-American man by the name of Dr. Maulana Karenga created Kwanzaa in 1966. He started the holiday so people could learn about their African history, roots and customs. I

t’s celebrated Dec. 26 and runs for seven days. Kwanzaa honours African culture and is celebrated in Canada, the United States and other countries around the world.

The word Kwanzaa is from the Swahili language and it means “fruits of the harvest�. Kwanzaa is a time to celebrate with friends and family and to learn about Africa and African traditions. Like Christmas, families exchange gifts and enjoy a feast together.

There are seven principles for Kwanzaa, which explain why the holiday means so much to African Canadian/American people. In Swahili, these seven principles are called Nguzo Saba, and they represent values to live by all year. These are:

Principle #1- Umoja - Unity

Principle #2 - Kujichagulia - Self-Determination

Principle #3 - Ujima - Collective Work and Responsibility

Principle #4 - Ujamaa - Cooperative Economics

Principle #5 - Nia - Purpose

Principle #6- Kuumba - Creativity

Principle #7 - Imani - Faith

Children decorate their homes, make crafts and prepare for Kwanzaa in much the same way as children get ready for Christmas, with great anticipation and excitement.

A flag, called a “bendera�, was created especially for Kwanzaa, with black, to represent the people; red, for their continuing struggle; and green for the lush, rolling hills of the motherland, Africa.

The holiday feast is done with great care and preparation. A “mkeka�, or woven straw mat, is placed on the table, representing the past. On the mkeka is a candleholder, or “kinara�, with seven holders, which stands for all black people, past and present. A black candle is placed in the centre of the kinara, with three red and green candles on each side. The seven candles represent each of the seven principles of Kwanzaa that teach people how to live.

A basket of “mazoa�, or crops, is placed on the table as a symbol for the African harvest, and corn, or “vibunzi� represents the number of children in the family. Gifts are exchanged and the family enjoys many meals together, eating traditional foods such as collard greens, black-eyed peas and buttermilk cornbread. The greens are for prosperity and the peas for good luck. Fried chicken or catfish might be served and, for dessert, there’s rice pudding, sweet potato pie or carrot cake.

Music plays a major role in African culture and in Kwanzaa celebrations. Families dress in traditional African clothing, which is usually bright and colourful. Beads and braids add to the spirit of Kwanzaa.

“Harambee!� This a Swahili word that means, “Let’s all pull together!� It’s fun to teach your children about other cultures, and Kwanzaa is a great place to start.



Lila Hope-Simpson is the Director of the Home and Heart Nursery School in Wolfville