Happy Kwanzaa 2023! What is the meaning of the holiday and when is it celebrated?

Chris Sims, Peoria Journal Star
·2 min read

Kwanzaa is rapidly approaching and while the holiday hit peak popularity in the 1980s and 1990s, millions of Black Americans continue to celebrate each year.

The relatively new holiday is primarily celebrated in Canada, the Caribbean and the United States and focuses on African family and social values.

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Here's what you need to know about Kwanzaa:

When is Kwanzaa 2023?

Kwanzaa runs from Tuesday, Dec. 26, 2023, through Monday, Jan. 1, 2024.

What is Kwanzaa and why is it celebrated?

Seven candles are lit on a kinara to celebrate Kwanzaa.
Seven candles are lit on a kinara to celebrate Kwanzaa.

Kwanzaa is a seven-day annual holiday celebration that affirms African family and social values that began in 1966, according to britannica.com.

A professor of African studies at California State University in Long Beach — Maulana Karenga, who is also an important figure in Afrocentrism — borrowed the word kwanza, meaning “first,” from the Swahili phrase "matunda ya kwanza". Adding an extra "a" made the word long enough to represent each of the seven children present at an early celebration, according to website.

While the name Kwanzaa is not an actual Swahili word, the concept of Kwanzaa draws on Southern African first-fruits celebrations.

Each day of Kwanzaa celebrates one of seven principles.

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What are the 7 principles of Kwanzaa?

There are 7 principles of Kwanzaa, according to britannica.com:

  • Unity (umoja)

  • Self-determination (kujichagulia)

  • Collective responsibility (ujima)

  • Cooperative economics (ujamaa)

  • Purpose (nia)

  • Creativity (kuumba)

  • Faith (imani)

What are the 7 symbols of Kwanzaa?

There are also 7 symbols of Kwanzaa, according to britannica.com:

  • fruits, vegetables, and nuts

  • a straw mat

  • a candleholder or kinara

  • ears of corn or maize

  • gifts

  • a communal cup

  • 7 candles in red, green, and black that are lit one at a time.

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What is karamu during Kwanzaa?

Karamu is a community feast held at the end of the week on Dec. 31. Multiple families join together to celebrate, as some will wear traditional African clothing for the celebration, according to brittanica.com.

What religion is tied to Kwanzaa?

There is no specific religion associated with Kwanzaa, and it is strictly a secular holiday, according to brittanica.com. The holiday is a celebration of African culture.

Chris Sims is a digital producer for the Journal Star. Follow him on Twitter: @ChrisFSims.

This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Kwanzaa 2023: What is the holiday and why is it celebrated?