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Hello Sweet Readers!
For the last month you have been seeing Kwanzaa stuff everywhere; on the television, in magazines, in the stores, even in your games you play on facebook and myspace, but what is Kwanzaa anyway?
Some people are under the impression that it is some ancient African holiday that was brought over to America by slaves or something, that is not true. Kwanzaa was created by a gentleman named Dr. Maulana Karenga, Professor of Africana Studies at California State University- Long Beach in 1966. Don't get me wrong, Kwanzaa has roots in ancient celebrations and takes its principals from those celebrations and combines them into one. Many of the ancient principals and traditions have been included but are not a religious based celebration like Hanakkah or Christmas, it is a cultural celebration so that people of all religious beliefs can come together and celebrate their heritage and become unified.
Kwanzaa is a holiday that celebrates family, community, and culture and is celebrated from December 26th thru January 1st and has its roots in the African celebration of the first harvest. Kwanzaa gets its name from a Swahili phrase "matunda ya kwanza" which means "first fruits". It was created to introduce something called The Nguzo Saba which means the Seven Principles or Values. One of each of these Principles is celebrated each night and addresses a different subject.
There are several symbols of Kwanzaa, seven basic ones and two supplemental ones. They are:
MAZAO (the crops) These are symbolic of African harvest celebrations and of the rewards of productive and collective labor.
MKEKA (the mat) This is the symbol of tradition and history and is used as the foundation on which the others are placed. It is usually made of natural fibers.
KINARA ( the candle holder) The holder itself represents the roots or parents of the people- the continent of Africa. The meanings of the seven candles will be discussed a little bit later.
MUHINDI (the corn) This is a symbol of the children and the future they embody. There is an ear of corn for each child in the family placed on the mat.
MISHUMAA SABA (the seven candles) These symbolize the Nguzo Saba or Seven Principles that all people are urged to live by in order to rescue and reconstruct their lives.
KIKOMBE CHA UMOJA (the unity cup) This is the symbol of unity which makes all else possible and is drank from on the last night of Kwanzaa by every member of the family to bind them in unity for the coming year.
ZAWADI (the gifts) These are given mostly to the children in the household and are a symbol of the labor and love of the parents for their children and their future.
The two supplemental symbols are:
BENDERA (the flag) As no surprise the colors of the flag are black, red, and green; but each color holds a meaning of its own. Black stands for the people, red for the struggle of the past, and green for the future and the hope it holds.
NGUZO SABA POSTER (Poster of The Seven Principles) A display of the Seven Principles that is used to teach the children the meaning of Kwanzaa.
During Kwanzaa there are seven nights of feasting and celebrating and unity within the community. Children are showered with gifts and taught their heritage and history. Among the gifts is always a book of African history and a symbol of the child's family heritage, some object that stands for their family and where they came from.
Just like we have decorations for any holiday celebration, Kwanzaa is no different only the decorations might seem strange to us. Rather than elaborate decorations and lights and store bought things, most Kwanzaa decorations are in the form of art work, baskets, cloth, pottery, fruits and vegetables, and many times hand made items made by the children.
One each of the seven days of Kwanzaa, much like the eight days of Hanukkah or the four Sundays of Advent, a candle is lit. Each candle has a name and a meaning and is lit in a certain order. The candle holder is called a Kinara and holds the seven candles, a black one in the center, three red ones to its left and three green ones on its right. The candles must be lit in a certain order and each night holds a different celebration.
Night 1: The black center candle is lit and it stands for the Principle of Umoja (oo-MOH-jah) Unity: Success starts with unity. The unity of family, community, nation, and race. Isn't it interesting that the first thing that the children are taught and the first thing celebrated is Unity. The place where everything should start.
Night 2: The black center candle is lit again and then the farthest red candle, it stands for the Principle of Kujichagulia (koo-jee-chah-goo-LEE-ah) Self-determination: to be responsible for yourself, to create your own destiny, and to decide who you want to be in life.
Night 3: The candles from the first two nights are lit and the farthest green candle is added, it stands for the principle of Ujima (oo-JEE-mah) Collective work and responsibility: to build and maintain your community together, to work together to help one another within the community.
Night 4: The first three candles are lit and another red candle is added, it stands for the principle of Ujamaa (oo-jah-MAH) Collective economics: to build, maintain, and support our own stores, establishments, and businesses.
Night 5: The candles from the first four nights are lit and another green candle is added, it stands for the priciple of Nia (NEE-ah) Purpose: encouraging people to work together to build, develop, and defend their community, to save your culture and history, and to add to the good and beauty in the world.
Night 6: The candles from the first five nights are lit and the last red candle is added, it stands for the principle of Kuumba (Koo-OOM-bah) Creativity: encouraging people to use their creativity to make the community where they live, and the world around them, a more beautiful and helpful place than it was when they were born into it.
Night 7: All candles are lit, the last candle represents the principle of Imani (ee-MAH-nee) Faith: having faith in all people, in your parents, teachers, and leaders and believing that the struggle to regain greatness is right and will be successful.
On each of the seven nights of Kwanzaa, the elder member of the family performs a ceremony called Tambiko (tahm-BEE-koh), it is a celebration to honor your ancestors. The elder member of the family pours water or juice from the unity cup into a bowl containing lettuce or other greens. They pour the liquid from each of the four directions, north, south, east, and west. As the liquid is poured a blessing is said in honor of the ancestors, calling some of them by name in recognition.
SACRED DUTY (A Poem for Ujamaa)
by Sami Bentil
The sound
of an ancient horn echoes
from our past, the call to the
sacred duty
of true nation building.
Arise and unite,
you well minded
able bodied children
of Mother Africa scattered
all over the world,
use the divine gifts of
talent so bountifully bestowed
upon you to help all our people
create communities
where genuine freedom
and justice reign supreme.
Go Forth.
Be fruitful
in every
positive way
to fill each
and every corner
of our beautiful planet
with abundent life,
love,
beauty,
and everlasting joy.
After the elder has taken a sip from the unity cup during the tambiko ritual the whole group joins in shouting "Harambee!" (hah-RAHM-bay), an African word meaning "Let's all pull together!" and is usually shouted seven times- once for each of the seven principles of Kwanzaa. As they shout, people hold their right arms high with the hand open and then pull downward, making a fist.
On December 31st a statement is read called the farewell statement or tamshi la tutuaonana (TOM-shee lah tootoo-ah-oh-NAH-nah) written by Kwanzaa founder Maulana Karenga. It is used to close the year and to renew commitment to the Seven Principles:
Strive for discipline, dedication and achievement in all you do. Dare to struggle and sacrifice and gain the strength that comes from this. Build where you are and dare to leave a legacy that will last as long as the sun shines and the water flows. Practice daily Umoja, Kujichagulia, Ujima, Ujamaa, Nia Kuumba, and Imani. May the wisdom of the ancestors always walk with us. May the year's end meet us laughing and stronger. May our children honor us by following our example in love and struggle. At the end of next year, may we sit again together, in larger numbers, with greater achievement and closer to liveration and a higher level of human life.
January 1st, the last day of Kwanzaa, it is called Day of Assessment or Day of Meditation and is a day for reflection of the past year and to think about where we want our life to go in the coming year. To decide what can be done to make the family and community better.
Hopefully this new year brings you all happiness, good health, and financial stability.
Until Next Week, Dear Ones, Love & Many Hugz! Leeza