Seven Days of Easy and Creative Kwanzaa Celebrations

Easy ways to acknowledge the seven principles of Kwanzaa.

Preparation - From Dec. 26 to Jan. 1, Kwanzaa observers will acknowledge the Nguzo Saba, seven principles that serve to reinforce the basic values of building family and community. Take a look at seven days of easy and creative Kwanzaa celebrations.– Natelege Whaley (@Natelege_)  There are traditional procedures to celebrate Kwanzaa. Set a table with African cloth and place a mkeka mat kinara (the candle holder), mishumaa saba (the seven candles), mazao (crops), muhindi (corn), kikombe cha umoja (the unity cup) and zawadi (the gifts) on it. On each day, a candle is lit to symbolize each principal.(Lee Ferinden / Correspondent) (Gainesville Sun /Landov)

1 / 7

Preparation - From Dec. 26 to Jan. 1, Kwanzaa observers will acknowledge the Nguzo Saba, seven principles that serve to reinforce the basic values of building family and community. Take a look at seven days of easy and creative Kwanzaa celebrations.– Natelege Whaley (@Natelege_) There are traditional procedures to celebrate Kwanzaa. Set a table with African cloth and place a mkeka mat kinara (the candle holder), mishumaa saba (the seven candles), mazao (crops), muhindi (corn), kikombe cha umoja (the unity cup) and zawadi (the gifts) on it. On each day, a candle is lit to symbolize each principal.(Lee Ferinden / Correspondent) (Gainesville Sun /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)

2 / 7

Day 1: Umoja - Umoja means unity. The principal calls to reinforce unity in the family, community, nation and race. To celebrate this principal, invite extended family and friends over for dinner to participate in a candle lighting on the first day of Kwanzaa.(Photo: 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)

3 / 7

Day 2: Kujichagulia - Kujichagulia is self-determination. The message is to “define ourselves, create for ourselves and speak for ourselves.” An easy way to acknowledge this principal is to have everyone you’re celebrating with share their favorite quotes from Blacks who have paved the way for the community.(Photo: The Washington Times/Landov)

Leadership Strategy - “I plan to lead from the people's will, not crony capitalism and big money and bring people with me from all walks of life, to inspire all Texans to rise higher and above and beyond where they are now and be a part of this economy. I am the only candidate with an anti-poverty agenda," Fristsch says. (Photo: Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

4 / 7

Day 3: Ujima - Ujima represents collective work and responsibility. The principal reminds us to be our brother and sister’s keeper and help solve problems other than our own. A great way to participate is by doing community service or donating to a cause that needs funds or items for those they serve.(Photo: Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

928_20_e1-04500v10pd

5 / 7

Day 4: Ujamaa - Through Ujamaa, which means cooperative economics, “we build and maintain our own stores, shops and other businesses and to profit from them together.” Make it a point to support Black-owned businesses on this day and purchase gifts from them. (Photo: Education Images/UIG via Getty images)

Photo By Photo By Education Images/UIG via Getty images

ADVERTISEMENT
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)

6 / 7

Day 6: Kuumba - Kuumba asks us to find creative ways 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.” A simple way to do this is by buying flowers, putting up artwork or even re-organizing a room at home that needs sprucing up. (Photo: The Washington Times/Landov)

/content/dam/betcom/images/2011/05/Health/051011-Health-Mental-Month-News.jpg

7 / 7

Day 7: Imani - Imani is faith and a reminder “to believe with all our heart in our people, our parents, our teachers, our leaders and the righteousness and victory of our struggle.” It is a day of meditation, reflection and recommitment to values. This can be done by fasting from social media, creating vision boards or mapping a master plan for the new year. (Photo: Jessica Rinaldi/Landov)