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What is the celebration of Kwanzaa?

What is Kwanzaa, why is it celebrated, who founded it, what is needed to keep the celebration on all the year?

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    What is Kwanzaa? Kwanzaa is an American festival based upon the celebration of seven principles or beliefs called the Nguzo Saba. There are seven days in Kwanzaa, one principle for each day. Kwanzaa is celebrated once a year, but the principles of Nguzo Saba are important for every day. Kwanzaa was created by Dr. Maulana Karenga, an important participant in the civil rights movement. Kwanzaa means first fruits in Swahili, a language spoken in much of Africa. Dr. Karenga chose Swahili words for Kwanzaa so that African Americans would remember that all of Africa is their ancestral land, not just one country. How is Kwanzaa celebrated? During the week of Kwanzaa, people gather in the evenings to light the candles of the kinara and share thoughts on the Nguzo Saba of the day. There are seven candles, mishumaa saba, with three red candles to the right, three green candles to the left, and one black candle in the center of the kinara. The red is for the blood of the African people, the green is for the hope of new life, and the black is for the face of the African people. The table is set with straw mats called mkeka, reminders of traditions and starting places, and mazao and muhundi, fruits and vegetables, representing the rewards of unity. Muhundi are ears of corn, and there is one ear for each child. Children are the center of the Kwanzaa celebration. There is also a unity cup, or kikombe cha umoja, from which all will sip. During each night of Kwanzaa, one might stay at home with family or join other people out in the community. On the evening of Kuumba, there is a celebration called Karamu. This is the great feast of Kwanzaa, a celebration of African American heritage. There are folktales, songs, stories of the lives of famous African Americans, and plenty of food to enjoy! This is the night when people exchange gifts, too. It is a feast of the past, present, and dreams for the future.

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The official website link is below. The celebration is only once a year. But you can follow the principles all year. The Nguzo Saba - The Seven Principles of Kwanzaa NGUZO SABA (The Seven Principles) Kwanzaa Symbol - Umoja (unity) Umoja (Unity) To strive for and maintain unity in the family, community, nation and race. Kwanzaa symbol- Kujichagulia (self-determination Kujichagulia (Self-Determination) To define ourselves, name ourselves, create for ourselves and speak for ourselves. Kwanzaa Symbol - Ujima (collective work and responsibility) Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility) To build and maintain our community together and make our brother's and sister's problems our problems and to solve them together. Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics) To build and maintain our own stores, shops and other businesses and to profit from them together. Kwanzaa symbols - Nia (purpose) Nia (Purpose) To make our collective vocation the building and developing of our community in order to restore our people to their traditional greatness. Kwanzaa symbol - Kuumba (Creativity) Kuumba (Creativity) To do always as much as we can, in the way we can, in order to leave our community more beautiful and beneficial than we inherited it. Kwanzaa symbol - Imani (faith) Imani (Faith) To believe with all our heart in our people, our parents, our teachers, our leaders and the righteousness and victory of our struggle. ****People are going to say that it's segregation. However, how many whites do you know who live in communities with other minorities.

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