End the year on a sweet note with Kwanzaa. Kwanzaa or the 'first-fruits' feast is celebrated by African Americans (African people who settled in the United States) to honor their African roots and culture. The celebration is based on the ancient African 'first-fruits' feast. It is a seven-day celebration that begins on December 26 and culminates in a grand finale on January 1 with a feast. Unlike Thanksgiving or Christmas, Kwanzaa is not an official holiday. However, it coincides with Christmas vacation when schools are usually closed. Kwanzaa celebrations first began in the United States. It has now however gained popularity in Canada and some parts of Europe too.
Kwanzaa was established by Dr.Maulana Karenga in 1966. He based this festival on seven key guiding beliefs and hence the seven days of celebration. As part of the festivities, seven candles are lit in a candle holder called a Kinara to represent the seven days and seven guiding values. There is one black candle that represents the people and is lit on the first day followed by three each of red and green candles on each consecutive day. The red candles denote the struggles of the people while the green candles represent hope for the future.
Besides the guiding principles and 7-day observance, one of the most important aspects of the celebration is to include several things associated with African heritage. The tables are decorated with colorful African cloths, baskets and other knick knacks that include African art and culture. Black, red and green are the traditional Kwanzaa colors. Much like Diwali and Christmas, Kwanzaa also includes gift giving, but it is mostly reserved for children.
The last day of Kwanzaa is a time for reflection and meditation. It is a time to stop and think about one self. Everyone is encouraged to reflect on his/her life. It is a time for self-assessment. The culmination also includes traditional African dishes that are made from peanuts, yams, sesame seeds, and black-eyed peas.
To all those lucky folks out there who celebrate Kwanzaa and Christmas, it sure must be a blast to be in a party mode all week long. Perhaps we in India could come up with an interesting celebration that pays homage to special ethnic groups. That would be cool!
