Skip to main content

What are some of the traditional ways to celebrate Kwanzaa?

Kwanzaa is traditionally celebrated after Christmas; it lasts from December 26 to January 1. Created by Maulana Karenga, a black activist, Kwanzaa is a festival derived from the civil rights movement, and it pays homage to the global African community. Kwanzaa is a composite of several African harvest traditions, and it celebrates seven principles (or Nguzo Saba): Umoja (Unity), Kuji-chagulia (Self-determination), Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility), Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics), Nia (Purpose), Kuumba (Creativity), and Imani (Faith).


The above principles are celebrated in order during the seven-day festival. On each day, one of seven candles or Mishumaa Saba is lighted. Mishumaa Saba consists of three green candles, three red candles, and one black candle. On the first day of Kwanzaa (December 26), the black candle (symbolizing Umoja or unity) is lighted. As a rule, the Mishumaa Saba (seven candles) are placed in the kinara (candle holder), and the kinara is then placed on a mkeka (mat) that rests on top of an African tablecloth. The black candle is always placed in the center of the kinara.


On the right of the black candle, three green candles representing Ujima, Nia, and Imani are placed. On the left of the black candle, three red candles representing Kujichagulia, Ujamaa, and Kuumba are placed. The three colors are derived from the black nationalist flag that Marcus Garvey created. The kinara symbolizes the deep respect African families have for their ancestors. During Kwanzaa, some people visit nursing homes, elderly family members, or elderly friends to show their appreciation for the aged. Ears of corn or mihindi are also placed on the mkeka to represent fertility and the number of children in the family.


On the sixth day of Kwanzaa, many celebrants enjoy a karamu or feast. Many wear traditional African clothing to attend the karamu. During the feast, a Unity cup or kikombe cha umoja is used to perform a libation ritual. The libation (or tambiko) is usually juice, water, or wine; each person drinks from the cup as a sign of unity. After everyone has drunk, the last portion of the tambiko is poured out in the direction of the four winds to honor the ancestors. The dishes that are shared during the feast varies. Some families choose to enjoy Caribbean, South American, or traditional African diaspora dishes.


Menus can include Jollof rice, collard greens, Yassa chicken, beef and groundnut stew, and sweet potato biscuits. Here's an example of a Kwanzaa karamu menu: Kwanzaa feast.


On the seventh and last day of Kwanzaa, celebrants traditionally give gifts or zawadi to their friends and family members. Some gifts are homemade, in honor of the Kwanzaa principles of creativity, accomplishment, and self-determinism. Children are also given gifts to reward accomplishments and to promote future successes. In all, these are some of the traditional ways to celebrate Kwanzaa.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

etymology - Origin of the greeting "Sweet dreams".

Does anybody know the etymology of the phrase "sweet dreams"? I tried googling but did not find anything satisfying. Is this a relatively new phrase of the modern world or has this been in use for some time? I think it's the latter one. Answer The OED has the interjection as "a farewell to someone going to bed" from the 20th century: 1908 Sears Roebuck Catal. 198/1 Tenor Solos..Good Bye, Sweet Dreams, Good Bye. But it goes back until at least the 19th and possibly 18th centuries. John Wolcot, writing under the pseudonym of Peter Pindar, used it in his poem "Orson and Ellen; A Legendary Tale" published in 1801: Also from 1801 in The infernal Quixote (Page 287) by Charles Lucas: In the March 1776 of The Universal Magazine was published "The Serenade. A Pastoral Tale. From the German of Gesner" , where the shepherd Daphnis watches over his beloved as she sleeps and sings: The same tale appears in 1776's as Idyl XI, " Daphnis ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Is there a word/phrase for "unperformant"?

As a software engineer, I need to sometimes describe a piece of code as something that lacks performance or was not written with performance in mind. Example: This kind of coding style leads to unmaintainable and unperformant code. Based on my Google searches, this isn't a real word. What is the correct way to describe this? EDIT My usage of "performance" here is in regard to speed and efficiency. For example, the better the performance of code the faster the application runs. My question and example target the negative definition, which is in reference to preventing inefficient coding practices. Answer This kind of coding style leads to unmaintainable and unperformant code. In my opinion, reads more easily as: This coding style leads to unmaintainable and poorly performing code. The key to well-written documentation and reports lies in ease of understanding. Adding poorly understood words such as performant decreases that ease. In addressing the use of such a poorly ...
Post a Comment
Read more

What are the similarities between the relationships of the characters in The Outsiders and Romeo and Juliet?

At first glance, it might appear as if the characters in  The Outsiders  by S. E. Hinton and  Romeo and Juliet  by William Shakespeare do not have much in common; however, when one isolates the core of the conflicts, it becomes clear that the relationships in both stories are rooted in rivalry and secrecy.  In both  The Outsiders  and  Romeo and Juliet , an overarching theme is rivalry. While   socioeconomic status separates the greasers from the Socs in The Outsiders , last names separates the Montagues from the Capulets, who appear to be relatively equal in terms of socioeconomic status. Due to these rivalries, there are instances of deadly interactions in both stories. In  The Outsiders , Johnny kills Bob (whether his actions were justified or not is debatable). In  Romeo and Juliet , Romeo kills Tybalt and Paris, and Tybalt kills Mercutio. These deaths have profound effects on the main characters. In Ponyboy's case, the Johnny's death and other events in the novel inspire h...
Post a Comment
Read more