Celebrating Kwanzaa: The principles, traditions and everything else you need to know
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While Christmas is fast-approaching, another holiday is coming up right behind it: Kwanzaa. The day to celebrate all things Africa is almost upon us. We'll give you a crash course on what the holiday is—and how to celebrate.
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What is Kwanzaa?
First celebrated in 1966, Kwanzaa is a celebration of Black culture and African diasporic unity. Each day of Kwanzaa is dedicated to a principle that's supposed to be reflected on and celebrated. In order, the principles are Umoja (unity), Kujichagulia (self-determination), Ujima (collective work and responsibility), Ujamaa (cooperative economics), Nia (purpose), Kuumba (creativity) and Imani (faith).
What does Kwanzaa start?
Kwanzaa begins this year on Monday, December 26th and runs through Sunday, January 1.
How many days does Kwanzaa last?
Kwanzaa lasts seven days in total. It is a week-long celebration observed annually.
How to celebrate Kwanzaa
There's no set are many ways to celebrate Kwanzaa — you can celebrate the holiday with a small family gathering or in a larger, community setting. One can even celebrate Kwanzaa alone by quietly reflecting on each of the principles. Two notable principles to reflect on are Kuumba (creativity) and Imani (faith). Kuumba is usually expressed by having various people show off their creative talents through music, art and poetry. Imani is a call for deep reflection of what an individual believes in.
Kwanzaa celebrations typically open each day with honoring ancestors and acknowledging their struggles. Ancestors honored can be from the distant past, such as those who died during the Middle Passage, or more recent relatives, like grandparents. Many often use the time to honor celebrities or community leaders who have passed, as well.
A big part of Kwanzaa is the food, and many celebrate the richness of Pan-African cuisine by eating foods that come from various traditions from different parts of the diaspora. Options include various soul food, gumbo, okra, plantains and couscous. Kwanzaa can be a great time to try out a new recipe or make a favorite passed down through generations. These special feasts, or Karamu, can be held each day or on the sixth night of Kwanzaa.
Another aspect of Kwanzaa is gift-giving. Gifts are traditionally given on the seventh day of Kwanzaa and focus on handmade items intended for children.
What decorations are used for Kwanzaa?
There are a few things needed to celebrate Kwanzaa properly, including several centerpiece items to be placed on a table throughout the holiday.
Perhaps the most important set piece is the kinara candleholder. This candle holder has space for seven candles—one for each day of Kwanzaa.
A head of corn (either real or decorative) is also placed on a table and symbolizes fertility. Traditionally, there will be an ear of corn for each child.
An Umoja or unity cup is used to pour libations each day of Kwanzaa to honor those who’ve passed away.
Finally, a mkeka mat symbolizes tradition and is what all the centerpiece items are placed upon.
Additional items to consider using to symbolize unity are flags, such as the Pan-African flag, which signifies the importance of Pan-African unity and sports the colors most associated with Kwanzaa.
How many candles for Kwanzaa
A kinara holds seven candles in total, with one more candle lit each day, starting with the center candle and alternating red and green from the center each day. The colors of the candles hold significance. The central black color symbolizes the people, the three green candles symbolize land and the three red candles symbolize the blood or struggles of the people.
Do you give gifts for Kwanzaa?
While gift-giving isn't a central component of Kwanzaa, gifts still play a role. They are typically given on the final day of Kwanzaa. Traditionally, gifts are meant for children and are supposed to be handmade, though this certainly isn't a hard-and-fast rule. What's more important is trying to support Black entrepreneurs and Black-owned businesses. Doing so is a way of honoring several of Kwanzaa's principles at once.
Kwanzaa gift ideas
1. A Kwanzaa set
You don't need much to celebrate Kwanzaa, and with this beautiful set from the Kwanzaa Shop, you'll get nearly everything you need in one go. This set comes with a mat, a flag, a basket and a cup. Most stunningly, it comes with a beautiful wooden kinara and candles. You can choose among several beautiful Ghanaian symbols to put on the kinara or choose to have cowrie shells affixed to it. With this set, the only thing you'll be without is the corn.
2. A beautiful serving platter
With food being such an important part of Kwanzaa, if you’ll be having guests over to celebrate, you'll want a tray to make serving food easier. What better tray to use for the occasion than this beautiful, porcelain one from 54kibo, a Ghanian-founded interior design company that highlights African designs. This particular platter was lovingly handmade in Zimbabwe.
3. Brilliant or BS trivia game
Made by Jamaican-born TV producer Kimelia Weathers-Smith, Brilliant or BS is a unique, hilarious trivia game. Players answer a variety of multiple-choice trivia questions; the kicker is that a judge must then determine if they actually know their stuff or if they're bluffing. It's a game that awards being both knowledgeable and convincing. It'll be sure to light up any gathering, Kwanzaa or otherwise.
4. Mancala set
You may have heard of mancala, but did you know the game has been played across Africa for centuries? Possible evidence of the game has been unearthed in Eritrea, Egypt and Ethiopia. Whatever its origins, the board game is enjoyed across many nations in Africa today, making it a great symbol of Pan-Africanism. If you'd like to try your hand at mancala, we recommend buying this beautiful, handcrafted board from Etsy.
5. Camille Rose
Camille Rose is another great Black-owned brand to support this Kwanzaa. Founder Janell Stephens started the brand to help treat her children's dermatitis and it quickly grew into a successful brand recognized for its products for various hair textures. For a taste of what this exciting brand has to offer, try its honey leave-in collection. Reviewers rave over how well it hydrates their hair. Plus, it smells great.
6. Uncle Nearest whiskey
Did you know that the famous Jack Daniel owed his whiskey-making expertise to the teachings of a Black, master distiller? Nathan "Uncle Nearest" Green was a former slave whose work as head stiller helped make the famous whiskey brand what it is today. His pivotal role in the company was lost for decades. Now, to honor him by making sure everyone knows the name "Uncle Nearest," Green's descendants and researchers are running a premium whiskey brand. Since its inception in 2016, Uncle Nearest has won numerous accolades for its smooth taste. If you're a fan of whiskey or are looking to try something new, give Uncle Nearest a shot this Kwanzaa.
7. Eu’Genia Shea Butter
Shea butter has long been a favorite beauty product of many, with women of color being particularly big fans of the extract. It's great at moisturizing, it smells delightful and it's all-natural. Perhaps the biggest drawback to shea butter is its texture—its thickness and hardness is a bit unwieldy if you're used to smoother creams. Fortunately, the Black-owned Eu’Genia Shea solves this by making a shea butter that's as buttery smooth as traditional creams. Daily use of Eu'Genia Shea is said to promote smooth, vibrant skin and anti-aging. We're not saying it's the fountain of youth, but it can't hurt to try, right? This variety pack comes with lavender, grapefruit and unscented shea butter.
8. Be Rooted journal
Be Rooted was founded with the purpose of helping women of color see themselves in places (and products) they haven't often been featured in, from calendars to planners to journals. Be Rooted is based around a simple, yet powerful affirmation: "You belong here." What better way to be affirmed than to write in a journal where your creativity can shine every day? Buyers love Be Rooted journals because they feel represented and inspired every time they open them.
9. Li Li’s Creations
Li Li's Creations is a small clothing store founded by New York native Malacia Anderson that combines eye-catching African-inspired designs with flowing, silky kimonos. She combines her expertise and love for all things vintage with her sense of culture to make clothing like no other. With golds, greens, oranges and blacks that invoke an ethereal forest, this sequin harusi kimono is just as perfect for weddings as it is for brunch.
10. Ami Colé makeup
Senegalese-American entrepreneur Diarrha N'Diaye-Mbaye felt that makeup options were limited for melanin-rich people, so she founded Ami Colé in 2018. Since then, this brand has made waves for its inclusive mission statement and great products. Ami Colé's lip treatments add moisture, color and shine without feeling sticky. The lip treatment trio comes with a rosy-brown shade, a subtle light pink and clear. Starting Friday, December 30, Ami Colé will be available at Sephora, but if you want to gift Ami Colé this holiday season, you can buy it directly from the brand's e-commerce site right now.
11. Royal Nation
Royal Nation founder Lauren Hayes said that identifying with characters is an important part of childhood development. That's why she created Royal Nation, where every piece of clothing is attached to colorful characters that kids will latch onto. For example, the character Lance, who teaches kids that it's okay to forge your own path to happiness, even if it's not always economically sensible to do so, wears a hoodie that can be bought for children. With an encouraging life quote on the back, this hoodie is more than a hoodie—it's an inspirational statement, which is the core of Kwanzaa gift-giving.
12. Afrikrea
Whether you're looking to gift more traditional African attire this Kwanzaa or just want to support native-born African creatives, Afrikrea should be on your radar. Afrikrea is a storefront that connects African business owners to consumers across the globe. Afrikrea's aim is to distribute African culture so that it becomes a mainstay on the global stage. Paulprooffashion is a Ghanan store with countless pieces of striking clothing. This traditional, two-piece men's outfit is simple yet eye-catching thanks to the pop of brown.
13. Health Roots Dolls
The toys we play with can have a fundamental impact on the way we view the world and ourselves. Many children love to play with dolls, but often those dolls don't reflect their appearance. Healthy Roots Dolls creates dolls that celebrate diversity, both in skin tone and hair. These dolls' curly hair can teach children how to care for and love their own hair. In addition to dolls, Healthy Roots Dolls sells a variety of accessories that kids will love, too.
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This article originally appeared on Reviewed: Guide to Kwanzaa 2022: What it is and how to celebrate
