Kwanza: December 26 -January 1

History
Only a quarter of a century old Kwanza is a young, growing tradition among African Americana and others interested in bringing diversity to their family celebrations.
Created in 1966 by Maulana Karenga, now a professor at California State University, Kwanza is an outgrowth of the black pride movement of the 1960's. It provides African American families with many positive images and rituals from their African heritage.
But celebrants stress that Kwanza is not just for African Americans. Its universal message has appeal to all who wish to strengthen their connection to the world community with new and diverse cultural traditions. Although Kwanza uses Swahili terms, the celebration includes rituals and traditions from across the African continent.

Meaning
Kwanza is a word meaning "first", in this case it signifies First Fruits. At this time of year, people in Africa celebrate the harvest of the first crops. They give thanks not only for the harvest but also the blessing of living and working together in community. These celebrations of life are joyous, with much singing, dancing and eating.

Symbols of Kwanza
Mkeba (Mikeka): The Mkeba is a straw mat on which all other items for celebration are placed. It symbolizes tradition as the foundation on which all else rests.
Kinara (Vinara): The Kinara is a seven-candle candleabra which represents the First Born, the symbolic first stalk of corn from which all life has come. The ever-producing and reproducing stalk of corn symbolizes a people without end.
Mshumaa (Mishumaa): The Mshumaa are seven candles,representing the Seven
Principles for living in society.
The Seven Principles are:
1. Umoja - Unity
2. Kujichagulia -Self Determination
3. Ujima-Collective Work and Responsibility
4. Ujamaa - Co-operative Economics
5. Nia -Purpose
6. Kuumba - Creativity
7. Imani -Faith

Muhindi (Mihindi): Mushindi is an ear of corn, representing the offspring or produce of the stalk. Families may use as many ears of corn as then are children, signifying the potential of the children to become stalk producers themselves.

Colors: The Kwanza colors are red, black and green. Red stands for the blood of our ancestors, black for skin color and green for youth.

Procedures
In preparation for the holiday week, decorations of red, green and black are put up around the house. Napkins, tablecloths, dishes and crepe paper are some of the ways people decorate with these colors. The Mkeba is set up on the floor or a low table with the Kinara in the center and the Muhindi around or on the sides. The Mishumaa should all be placed at the far right of everything else to be later placed in the Kinara.
At dinner each night the Kinara is brought to the table, which traditionally has a basket of mixed tropical fruits and vegetables as a centerpiece. The eldest child places the first Mishumaa in the Kinara and lights it while naming the First Principle. The children are then encouraged to describe what the principle means to them and how it relates to their lives. This procedure is followed each night, lighting two candles the second night, three the third and so on, with discussion of each new Principle following the lighting of Mishumaa. Each night, after dinner, the Kinara is returned to the Mkeba and the Mishumaa blown out until the following night.

On the seventh day, the Karamu, or Feast is held. If a community is participating in
the holiday, all members decide together (by the Third Principle - Collective Work and Responsiblity) who was going to prepare the different parts of the feast. Traditional African food (sweet potatoes, black-eyed peas, greens, rice and okra), music and dance are all part of the happy celebration. Small gifts, usually hand-made items or food, are shared.

Kwanza can be a quiet celebration for a single family or a joyful, noisy celebration of a whole community. Happy Kwanza!

Holiday Readings from Singing the Living Tradition

WE GIVE THANKS THIS DAY

For the expanding grandeur of Creation, worlds known and unknown, galaxies beyond galaxies, filling us with awe and challenging our imaginations:

We give thanks this day.

For this fragile planet earth, its times and tides, its sunBeta and ineasonB:

We give thanks this day.

For the joy of human life, its wonders and surprises, its hopes and achievements:

We give thank. this day.

For our human community, our common past and future hope, our oneness transcending all separation, our capacity ot work for pen and justice in the midst of hostility and oppression:

We give thank. this day.

For high hope. and noble causes, for faith without fanaticism, for understanding of views not shared:

We give thank. this day.

For all who have labored and suffered for a fairer world, who have lived so that others might live in dignity and freedom:

We give thanks this day.

For human liberty and sacred rites; for opportunitites to change and grow, to affirm and choose:

We give thank. this day. We pray that we may live not by our fears but by our hopes, not by our words but by our deeds.

O. Eugene Pickett

THE FEAST OF LIGHTS

Kindle the taper like the steadfast star

Ablaze on evening'. forehead o'er the earth,
And add each night a lustre till afar
An eightfold splendor shine above they hearth
Clash, Israel, the cymbals, touch the lyre,
Blow the brass trumpet and the hank-tongued horn;

Chant psalms of victory till the heart take fire,
The Maccabean spirit leap new-born

Emma Iezarua

HARBINGERS OF FROST

Autumn, we know,
Is life enroute to death.
The asters are but harbingers of frost.
The trees, flaunting their colors at the sky,
In other times will follow where the leaves
have fallen,
And so shall we.

Yet other lives will come.
So may we know, accept, embrace,
The mystery of life we hold a while

Nor mourn that it outgrows each separate self,
but still rejoice that we may have our day.

Lift high our colors to the sky!

and give,
In our time, fresh glory to the earth.

Robert T. Weston

CLF Home
Church of the Larger Fellowship (CLF), 25 Beacon Street, Boston, MA 02108-2823
Phone: (617) 948-6166 · Fax: (617) 523-4123 · Email: clf@uua.org

Address of this page: http://www.uua.org/clf/connections/winter/kwanzaa.html
Last updated August 11, 2002 by clf@uua.org