What to Do for Kwanzaa

Find out how your family can add Kwanzaa to the holidays.

Kwanzaa - Kwanzaa begins on Dec. 26 every year and lasts for seven days. Although the holiday season may be winding down, check out some large and small ways you can incorporate Kwanzaa. — Naeesa Aziz  (Photo: Anthony DePrimo/Staten Island Advance/Landov)

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Kwanzaa - Kwanzaa begins on Dec. 26 every year and lasts for seven days. Although the holiday season may be winding down, check out some large and small ways you can incorporate Kwanzaa. — Naeesa Aziz (Photo: Anthony DePrimo/Staten Island Advance/Landov)

Nguzo Saba - The Seven Principles of Kwanzaa are called the Ngozo Saba in Swahili and each reinforces basic values of African culture. The principles are:1. Umoja (Unity) 2. Kujichagulia (Self-Determination) 3. Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility) 4. Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics) 5. Nia (Purpose) 6. Kuumba (Creativity) 7. Imani (Faith)(Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)

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Nguzo Saba - The Seven Principles of Kwanzaa are called the Ngozo Saba in Swahili and each reinforces basic values of African culture. The principles are:1. Umoja (Unity) 2. Kujichagulia (Self-Determination) 3. Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility) 4. Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics) 5. Nia (Purpose) 6. Kuumba (Creativity) 7. Imani (Faith)(Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)

Photo By Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images

Talk the Talk - During Kwanzaa, greet friends and family with the Swahili phrase “Habari Gani?”  (It means “What’s the news?”) Then respond with the day’s Kwanzaa principle. (Photo: Stephen Chernin/Getty Images)

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Talk the Talk - During Kwanzaa, greet friends and family with the Swahili phrase “Habari Gani?” (It means “What’s the news?”) Then respond with the day’s Kwanzaa principle. (Photo: Stephen Chernin/Getty Images)

Light a Candle - Kwanzaa’s colors are red, black and green. Pick up some colored candles and arrange them in a kinara (candle holder) or on their own. Start with the black candle, and light one candle (from left to right) each day while sharing the day’s Kwanzaa principle with your family. (Photo: Kurt Strazdins/MCT/Landov)

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Light a Candle - Kwanzaa’s colors are red, black and green. Pick up some colored candles and arrange them in a kinara (candle holder) or on their own. Start with the black candle, and light one candle (from left to right) each day while sharing the day’s Kwanzaa principle with your family. (Photo: Kurt Strazdins/MCT/Landov)

Get Set Up - In addition to the kinara and colored candles, set aside a place in your home that can serve as the focus point of your Kwanzaa activities. The traditional setup includes a woven mat, kinara and candles, fruits, an ear of dried corn, a unity cup and other symbolic objects. (Photo: Robert Abbott Sengstacke/Getty Images)

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Get Set Up - In addition to the kinara and colored candles, set aside a place in your home that can serve as the focus point of your Kwanzaa activities. The traditional setup includes a woven mat, kinara and candles, fruits, an ear of dried corn, a unity cup and other symbolic objects. (Photo: Robert Abbott Sengstacke/Getty Images)

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Try New Recipes From Around the Diaspora - While all the family is still around, try making a recipe from a different African culture each night during Kwanzaa and share information about its origin.(Photo: John Vanbeekum/Miami Herald/MCT/Landov)

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Try New Recipes From Around the Diaspora - While all the family is still around, try making a recipe from a different African culture each night during Kwanzaa and share information about its origin.(Photo: John Vanbeekum/Miami Herald/MCT/Landov)

Make Some Gifts - Each night during Kwanzaa, families exchange one modest gift. Grab some art supplies and challenge your family to make presents for one another that have special meaning. (Photo: Rod Lamkey Jr./The Washington Times/Landov)

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Make Some Gifts - Each night during Kwanzaa, families exchange one modest gift. Grab some art supplies and challenge your family to make presents for one another that have special meaning. (Photo: Rod Lamkey Jr./The Washington Times/Landov)

African - From traditional forms to contemporary styles like Azonto, African dance is an extremely aerobic class that also doubles as a fun music, culture and history course. If you're attending an intermediate class or higher, make sure to bring water and a towel for this high energy workout. You'll feel muscles you didn't even realize existed. (Photo: Stephen Chernin/Getty Images)

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Take It on the Road - Check out the schedule at your local public library or community center and attend a Kwanzaa event. New Yorkers can visit the Brooklyn Children's Museum for family events during Kwanzaa. (Photo: Stephen Chernin/Getty Images)

Kwanzaa’s Everywhere - Think there isn’t anything going on in your town? You’d be surprised. In Atlanta, Metro Atlanta Kwanzaa Association has events marking each night of the seven-day festival.(Photo: Rod Lamkey Jr./The Washington Times/Landov)

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Kwanzaa’s Everywhere - Think there isn’t anything going on in your town? You’d be surprised. In Atlanta, Metro Atlanta Kwanzaa Association has events marking each night of the seven-day festival.(Photo: Rod Lamkey Jr./The Washington Times/Landov)

Organize a Feast - New Year’s Day is already a time when many people get together with friends and family. This year, make your New Year’s feast Kwanzaa themed. The last day of the celebration is Jan. 1, and it’s a time for families to reflect on the past year and share goals for the year ahead.(Photo: John VanBeekum/Miami Herald/MCT/Landov)

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Organize a Feast - New Year’s Day is already a time when many people get together with friends and family. This year, make your New Year’s feast Kwanzaa themed. The last day of the celebration is Jan. 1, and it’s a time for families to reflect on the past year and share goals for the year ahead.(Photo: John VanBeekum/Miami Herald/MCT/Landov)

Ask Elders - Although many Kwanzaa activities center on youth, part of your own Kwanzaa celebration could be sitting down with grandparents and great-grandparents and asking them to share stories and lessons from their lives.(Photo: Rod Lamkey Jr./The Washington Times/Landov)

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Ask Elders - Although many Kwanzaa activities center on youth, part of your own Kwanzaa celebration could be sitting down with grandparents and great-grandparents and asking them to share stories and lessons from their lives.(Photo: Rod Lamkey Jr./The Washington Times/Landov)