Kwanzaa is a week-long celebration honoring African American culture and heritage. Created by Dr. Maulana Karenga in 1966, Kwanzaa brings families and communities together to celebrate shared values and traditions. Each day focuses on one of the seven core principles.
KINARA - CANDLE LIGHTING ORDER
Each principle is represented by an Adinkra symbol - traditional West African symbols that convey cultural values
THE CANDLES (MISHUMAA SABA)
The seven candles represent the seven principles. Each night, a candle is lit on the Kinara (candleholder). The candles are: one black candle (symbolizing the people) in the center, three red candles (symbolizing the struggle) placed to the left, and three green candles (symbolizing hope and the future) placed to the right.
THE SEVEN PRINCIPLES (NGUZO SABA)
To strive for and maintain unity in the family, community, nation, and race.
To define ourselves, name ourselves, create for ourselves, and speak for ourselves.
To build and maintain our community together and make our brothers' and sisters' problems our problems and solve them together.
To build and maintain our own stores, shops, and other businesses and profit from them together.
To make our collective vocation the building and developing of our community to restore our people to their traditional greatness.
To do always as much as we can, in the way we can, to leave our community more beautiful and beneficial than we inherited it.
To believe with all our hearts in our people, our parents, our teachers, our leaders, and the righteousness and victory of our struggle.
THE SEVEN SYMBOLS
Symbolizes the foundation of African heritage upon which we build. Made of straw or cloth, it represents tradition and history.
Holds the seven candles and represents our ancestors - the original stalk from which we came.
Represent the Seven Principles. Three red (struggle), one black (the people), and three green (hope and the future). One candle is lit each day of Kwanzaa.
Represents children and the future. One ear is placed on the mkeka for each child in the family.
Used to pour tambiko (libation) to honor ancestors. Family members drink from it to promote unity.
Represents the fruits of labor of parents and the rewards of seeds sown by children. Gifts are given to encourage growth and achievement.
Symbolizes the harvest and the rewards of productive collective labor.
