Know Your Roots to Grow: Kwanzaa!

Me and my family celebrate Kwanzaa after Christmas (Even though we haven't been as dedicated as of late!) and it is always a great way to rebuild our spirit from the past year and carry a stronger sense love and spirit into the new year. For those who don't know, yes Kwanzaa is a African American holiday, and yes it is not a specific African Holiday, but a mix of many, and it is not the black Christmas but its own celebration that happens on the 26th of December to January 1st. Here is a little insight:

Kwanzaa is an African American and Pan-African holiday which celebrates family, community and culture. Celebrated from 26 December thru 1 January, its origins are in the first harvest celebrations of Africa from which it takes its name. The name Kwanzaa is derived from the phrase "matunda ya kwanza" which means "first fruits" in Swahili, a Pan-African language which is the most widely spoken African language.
Kwanzaa was created in 1966 by Dr. Maulana Karenga, professor of Africana Studies at California State University, Long Beach, author and scholar-activist who stresses the indispensable need to preserve, continually revitalize and promote African American culture.
Finally, it is important to note Kwanzaa is a cultural holiday, not a religious one, thus available to and practiced by Africans of all religious faiths who come together based on the rich, ancient and varied common ground of their Africanness.The Celebration is made of the Seven Principles called the Nguzo Saba, which each day is the celebration of each principles.

So for the week of Kwanzaa I will post the Principle if each day, so everyone in their little way can celebrate and grow their spirit for the new year. Even though Kwanzaa is an African American Celebration, the principles are things that all can learn and grow from and be shared.

Posted By: Peaches!

Side Note: I found this cute video from Sesame Street showing a typical Kwanzaa Celebration with a now celebrity star in it.