by Mari Vega
Did you that the name Kwanzaa is derived from the
phrase “matunda ya kwanzaa” which means “first fruits” in
Swahili? The celebration of Kwanzaa last for seven nights. The family gathers
around together and a child lights one of the candles on the Kinara (the candle
holder). Each candle is lit to represent each principle of the holiday. Usually
for this holiday African Americans celebrate it. The seven principles are unity,
self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose,
creativity, and faith. Each one of these principles has a meaning to it. Unity
stands means to strive for and maintain unity in the family, community, nation,
and race. Self-determinations means to define ourselves, name ourselves, create
for ourselves, and speak for ourselves. Collective work and responsibility
means to build and maintain our community together and make our brother’s and
sister’s problems our problems and to solve them together. Cooperative
Economics means to build and maintain our own stores, shops, and other
businesses and to profit from them together. Purpose means to make our
collective vocation the building and developing of our community in order to
restore our people to their traditional greatness. Creativity means to always
do as much as we can, in the way we can, in order to leave our community more
beautiful and beneficial than we inherited it. Lastly faith means to believe with
all our heart in our friends, our parents, our teachers, our leaders, and the
righteousness and victory of our struggle. This holiday is celebrated through December
26 through January 1, it’s a good holiday to spend time with family and
appreciate what you have accomplished throughout the year. Happy Kwanzaa
everybody!