Kwanzaa is a weeklong holiday celebration of African American culture held annually from December 26 to January 1, culminating in a communal feast.

This is not a religious holiday but a cultural celebration based on African harvest festival traditions and is a way to celebrate African heritage and legacy, much like other cultural celebrations.

Fundamentally, Kwanzaa celebrates family, culture, community, and the harvest during the dark days of winter. The word Kwanzaa comes from the Kiswahili phrase matunda ya kwanza, meaning “first fruits [of the harvest].”

The 7-day festival focuses on seven essential principles, known as the Nguzo Saba, each represented by 1 day of the 7-day celebration. These principles are:

1. unity (umoja),
2. self-determination (kujichagulia),
3. collective work and responsibility (ujima),
4. cooperative economics (ujamaa),
5. purpose (nia),
6. creativity (kuumba), and
7. faith (imani).

Despite the fact that it is often thought of as a substitute for Christmas or Hanukkah, Kwanzaa is not a religious holiday, and families who celebrate Kwanzaa often celebrate it in addition to Christmas, Hanukkah, or another religious holiday.

To read more of Catherine Boeckmann’s article, The Origins, Meaning, and Traditions of Kwanzaa, click here.