Celebrating Kwanzaa

Kwanzaa is a time of learning, family and celebration.

During the week of Kwanzaa, families and communities come together to share a feast, to honor the ancestors, affirm the bonds between them, and to celebrate African and African American culture. Each day they light a candle to highlight the principle of that day and to breathe meaning into the principles with various activities, such as reciting the sayings or writings of great black thinkers and writers, reciting original poetry, African drumming, and sharing a meal of African diaspora-inspired foods. The table is decorated with the essential symbols of Kwanzaa, such as the Kinara (Candle Holder), Mkeka (Mat), Muhindi (corn to represent the children), Mazao (fruit to represent the harvest), and Zawadi (gifts). One might also see the colors of the Pan-African flag, red (the struggle), black (the people), and green (the future), represented throughout the space and in the clothing worn by participants. These colors were first proclaimed to be the colors for all people of the African diaspora by Marcus Garvey.

Today's Project: 

• paper plate
• popsicle sticks 7)
• markers
• yellow paper 
• glue  and scissors 

Take your plain paper plate and decorate around edges with markers .  

Fold the plate in half so that “Happy Kwanzaa” is on one side and the other is blank. 

Cut seven small slits on the fold. Color Seven popsicle sticks and make flame out of yellow paper. Glue flames too sticks and slide into slits.  And enjoy! 

The seven symbols of those values are Fruits, Nuts, & Vegetables for the crops (Mazao), the Place Mat (Mkeka), an Ear of Corn (Vibunzi). The Seven Candles (Mishumaa Saba), The Unity Cup (Kikombe Cha Umoja), Gifts (Zawadi), and The Candleholder (Kinara).

1. Unity (Umoja),
2. Collective Work & Responsibility (Ujima),
3. Self-determination (Kujichagulia),
4. Purpose (Nia),
5. Cooperative Economics (Ujamaa),
6. Faith (Imani), and
7. Creativity (Kuumba).