Happy Kwanza friends! Enjoy your celebration of family, culture, community & harvest!

December 26, 2021 through January 1, 2022

What Is Kwanzaa?

Kwanzaa is a week-long holiday held annually from December 26 to January 1. Fundamentally, it celebrates family, culture, community, and the harvest. The word "Kwanzaa" itself comes from the Kiswahili phrase matunda ya kwanza, meaning "first fruits [of the harvest]."

Kwanzaa focuses on seven essential principles, known as the Nguzo Saba, which are each represented by one day of the seven-day celebration. These principles are unity (umoja), self-determination (kujichagulia), collective work and responsibility (ujima), cooperative economics (ujamaa), purpose (nia), creativity (kuumba), and faith (imani).

Despite the fact that it is often thought of as a substitute for Christmas or Hanukkah, Kwanzaa is not a religious holiday, and families who celebrate Kwanzaa often celebrate it in addition to Christmas, Hanukkah, or another religious holiday.

Fun Fact: On October 22, 1997, the first Kwanzaa U.S. postage stamp was issued, featuring art by Synthia Saint James.

You may be surprised to learn that the modern holiday of Kwanzaa is a relatively new creation, though it has its roots in traditions that go back generations. First celebrated in 1966, Kwanzaa is the brainchild of Dr. Maulana Karenga, an African-American author, professor, and activist. It was created with the community and cultural spirit of traditional African harvest festivals in mind, but Kwanzaa itself is uniquely North American, being celebrated mainly in the United States, Canada, and the Carribbean. 

When Is Kwanzaa?

Kwanzaa is an annual holiday that begins on December 26 and lasts through January 1.