Kwanzaa: What You Need to Know
Habari gani! This traditional Kwanzaa greeting means “what’s the news?” Your response? Well, that depends on the day, but it will always be one of the seven principles of Kwanzaa, a Black American celebration which begins on December 26 and ends on January 1. A Swahili word meaning “first fruits” of the harvest, Kwanzaa is a time of reflection for Black Americans to look toward our past, reflect on our present, and shape our future. As someone who celebrates yearly with family, here are the foods, traditions, and customs of Kwanzaa that you need to know.
Kwanzaa traditions
Honoring the seven principles of Kwanzaa: The seven Swahili principles, one for each day of the celebration, are the foundation of Kwanzaa—and serve as the answers to the above greeting, habari gani. Called the Nguzo Saba, the principles allow us celebrants to reflect on each one and how we’ve embodied said principle that year.
- Umoja: Unity.
- Kujichagulia: Self-determination.
- Ujima: Collective responsibility.
- Ujamaa: Cooperative economics.
- Nia: Purpose.
- Kuumba: Creativity.
- Imani: Faith.
Using red, black, and green: As the colors of the Pan-African flag, each one is significant during Kwanzaa and serves to unite us across the African diaspora. Red represents the blood and struggle of our ancestors, black represents Black people, and green represents the Earth and planting new seeds of abundance and opportunity. It’s common to see these colors represented in the candles placed in the kinara (candelabra).
Offering libations: At the beginning of a Kwanzaa celebration, it’s customary to start with libations to honor those whose legacies have shaped our present and future. We gather in a circle surrounding a plant, with one person leading from the middle, and speak our ancestors' names aloud. These can be any Black figures in our lives, from family members to historical figures such as Sojourner Truth or Malcolm X. With each name called, the leader in the middle pours water into the plant and the circle says ashé (a word derived from Yoruba meaning, roughly, “and may it be”).
Celebrating together: Kwanzaa celebrations vary widely, from those held in family homes to those hosted at community centers and libraries. My family and I typically host a Kwanzaa celebration on the last Sunday of each year, for which we invite family and friends and entertain with games, music, food, conversation, and community reflection. On the other days of Kwanzaa, we enjoy more intimate Kwanzaa time, lighting the kinara and reflecting on that day's principle.
Seven symbols of Kwanzaa
Since Kwanzaa connects Black Americans to our African roots, there’s a lot of symbolism associated with its practices. Here are the seven key symbols of Kwanzaa you need to know.
Kinara (candelabra): The kinara is the centerpiece of Kwanzaa. It holds the red, black, and green candles we light daily.
Mishumaa Saba (the seven candles): One black, three red, and three green candles create this symbol. You light the black candle—the unity candle—on the first day. On the second day, you light the red candle and place it next to the unity candle. Then, on the third day, you light the green candle, alternating between red and green until January 1.
Mkeka (placemat): The mkeka is included to honor the foundation of African history and our traditions as Black Americans. It’s commonly made out of straw or an African print fabric.
Kikombe cha Umoja (unity cup): For Kwanzaa, this cup is used as a symbol of unifying family and community. During libations, it’s used to pour the water into the plant when ancestors’ names are being called.
Zawadi (gifts): These are handmade and signify growth, knowledge, and success. They are given on the last day of Kwanzaa.
Mazao (crops): These fruits, vegetables, and nuts are an homage to African harvests and collective community labor.
Muhindi (corn): During Kwanzaa, an ear of corn is placed on the mkeka for each child of the family celebrating the holiday.
Kwanzaa food
The best conversations happen around a table, preferably in the kitchen, with delicious food at the center. Black families differ in how they prepare their Kwanzaa dishes; however, these are some of my family’s favorites.
Succotash: This dish is a sauteed mix of okra, corn, sweet peppers, sweet onions, and black-eyed peas. Okra was brought to the US by Africans who were enslaved, and it’s said that mothers put okra seeds in their daughters’ hair so they could have something to grow when they were separated.
Hoppin’ john: Black-eyed peas are a symbol of good luck. A popular dish from the Carolinas is hoppin’ john. It can be meatless, but it’s traditionally prepared with peas, rice, and some form of pork.
African peanut stew: Black-eyed peas, sweet potatoes, and collard greens create this savory stew, to which you can also add chicken. And—as my mama says—you know you have a stew if the spoon stands up straight in the pot.
Corn pudding: Corn pudding mixes cream-style corn, whole-kernel corn, butter, evaporated milk, and sugar. It's the most-requested dish for my family’s Kwanzaa celebration.
Celebrating Kwanzaa as a nonBlack American
Dr. Maulana Karenga created Kwanzaa as a way for Black Americans to celebrate our history and culture. Therefore, this is a sacred holiday made by and for Black Americans, which gives us a chance to release, reflect, and restore before the new year ahead. Before celebrating, be sure you’re explicitly invited into a Kwanzaa space or ask for permission to celebrate alongside Black Americans. As a nonBlack American person, be prepared to decenter yourself and unpack how you can stand in solidarity with us, while reflecting on Kwanzaa’s values of family, history, and community.
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