Kwanzaa

I wanted to begin to celebrate Kwanzaa last year. I remember learning about it in grammar school and in a book a few years back. I researched about it last year and I felt inspired. 

I feel that the message is beautiful. I wonder why not many people celebrate it. I don't celebrate it because I feel that I am black and have to but because I believe in the principles it represents. 

I am going to give a general overview of Kwanzaa's seven principles which is celebrated each of the seven days of Kwanzaa. Also the lighting of the Kinara. There are many more traditions and customs associated with Kwanzaa. I am giving a basic and simple overview.

Day 1 is Umoja which stands for Unity. We strive for and maintain unity in the family, community, nation and race. 

Day 2 is Kujichagulia which stands for self determination. To define ourselves, name ourselves, create for ourselves and speak for ourselves. 

Day 3 is Ujima which stands for 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.

Day 4 is Ujamaa which stands for cooperative economics. To build and maintain our own stores, shops and other businesses and to profit from them together. 

Day 5 is Nia which stands for Purpose. To make our collective vocation the building and develop if our community in order to restore our people to their traditional greatness. 

Day 6 is Kuumba which stands for 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.

Day 7 Imani stands for faith. To believe with all our heart in our people, our parents, our teachers, our leaders and the righteousness and victory of our struggle. 


Each day of Kwanzaa you light the candles on the Kinara. You have 3 red candles, 3 green candles and one black candle which sits in the middle. 

You light the black candle on the 1st day

You light the black and first red candle on Day 2

You light the black candle, 1st red candle and 1st green candle on Day 3

You light the black candle, 1st & 2nd red candles and the 1st green candle on Day 4. 

You light the black candle, 1st & 2nd red candles, & the 1st & 2nd green candles on Day 5. 

You light the black candle, all the red candles and the 1st & 2nd green candles on Day 6. 

You light all the candles on Day 7.