What does the black candle represent in Kwanzaa?

What does the black candle represent in Kwanzaa?

The Candle-Lighting Ceremony On the first night of Kwanzaa, the black candle, signifying Umoja or unity, is the first to be lit. Three green candles representing Nia, Kuumba and Imani and three red candles representing Ujima, Kujichagulia and Ujamaa are lit on their respective days.

What is the first day of Kwanzaa represent?

The First Day of Kwanzaa, December 26 (Umoja means Unity) It marks the commencement of the festive season. The person who takes the responsibility to light the candle makes a statement about the first principle i.e. Umoja (oo-MOH-jah) or unity.

What order do you light the Kwanzaa candles?

According to the Official Kwanzaa Website, the proper order of lighting the Kinara is to: First day: Light the black candle on the first day of Kwanzaa. Second day: You’ll light the black candle and the far left red candle. Third day: You’ll light the black candle and the two far left red candles.

What is the Swahili word for the 7 principles?

Nguzo Saba

What colors do families use to decorate for Kwanzaa?

Make Kwanzaa decorations using the colors of red, green and black. Get the children involved with crafts, such as making and decorating hats or paper chain garland. Create an afternoon of fun with the family or start a new family holiday tradition with your children creating their own decorations each year.

What time do you light Kwanzaa candles?

Wait until after sundown. Kwanzaa is celebrated each night from December 26th to January 1st, so you’ll need to wait until after sundown to get started. You don’t have to light the candles at a precise time, but you should try to light them around the same time each night. Gather around the kinara.

What color candle do you light first for Kwanzaa?

black candle

What do you do on each day of Kwanzaa?

Each day a different principle is discussed, and each day a candle is lit on the kinara (candleholder). On the first night, the center black candle is lit, and the principle of umoja, or unity is discussed. On the final day of Kwanzaa, families enjoy an African feast, called karamu.

What do you cook for Kwanzaa?

Catfish, collards, and macaroni and cheese all began showing up on Kwanzaa tables, as did jerk chicken, gumbo, accras (Caribbean fritters) and feijoada — foods of the Atlantic rim expressive of the geography of the African diaspora. Kwanzaa food, at its simplest, is any dish people cook for Kwanzaa.

What does each day of Kwanzaa mean?

Each day of Kwanzaa emphasizes a new principle, and the evening candle-lighting ceremony provides an opportunity to discuss the principle and its meaning. The first night the black candle in the center is lit and the principle of Umoja (Unity) is discussed.

Are gifts given during Kwanzaa?

Zawadi: Gifts – Gifts given to children during Kwanzaa are normally educational, such as a book, dvd or game. There’s also a gift reminding them of their African heritage.

What type of gifts do you give on Kwanzaa?

Along with the book and heritage symbol, other handmade or artistic gifts like beaded jewelry, baskets and textiles are common during Kwanzaa as they reflect Kuumba and Nia, creativity and purpose. Also popular are gifts purchased at Black-owned and -operated businesses as they promote Ujamaa, cooperative economics.

When gifts are given during Kwanzaa What must they include?

Karenga states that Kwanzaa gifts should include two items: a book and a heritage symbol, and that those gifts should never serve as a substitution for love, attention, and involvement with a child. Zawadi can also be given to family members. The sixth principle is Kuumba, meaning creativity.

What are the gifts given on the last day of Kwanzaa called?

Kuumba

What’s the difference between Kwanzaa and Christmas?

Unlike Christmas and Hanukkah, Kwanzaa is not a religious holiday, but a cultural one. The holiday encourages the celebration of African heritage, gatherings between family and friends, and the reflection on seven African values (called the Seven Principles, or the Nguza Saba).

What is the third day of Kwanzaa called?

Ujima

What do you do on Day 3 of Kwanzaa?

Call: Habari Gani?! (What’s going on?) Today is the third day of Kwanzaa. The principle celebrated is ujima or collective work and responsibility. That means to build and maintain our community together and make our brother’s and sister’s problems our problems and to solve them together.

What is the fifth principle of Kwanzaa?

Nia, which means “purpose,” is the fifth principle of Kwanzaa. It can mean purpose for your own future, the financial purpose of your family, or the collective purpose of your economic community.

What is the fourth principle of Kwanzaa?

The fourth principle of Kwanzaa, Ujamaa, means cooperative economics. It’s the foundation of what we’ve seen brought to life on social media with the popularity of the #BankBlack, #BuyBlack and #ShopBlack Movement.