Kwanzaa is a celebration of African culture, heritage, and community which begins on December
26th and lasts for seven days.
Each day of the celebration a different principle is studied. The seven principles are:
Unity (Umoja), Self-determination (Kujichagulia), Collective work and responsibility (ujima),
Cooperative economics (ujamaa), Purpose (nia),
Creativity (kuumba), and Faith (imani).
The seven Kwanzaa symbols are a mkeka (a mat), mazao (crops symbolized by fruits and vegetables),
a Kinara (candleholder), muhindi (ears of corn repesenting children), zawadi (gifts given on the sixth day),
the Kikombecha Umoja (the unity cup used each night of the celebration), and the Mishumaa Saba (the seven
candles in the Kinara which represent the seven principles of Kwanzaa).
