Happy Kwanzaa!
The celebration of Kwanzaa is not a religious holiday. It’s a time for people of African heritage to celebrate their culture and its history.
Kwanzaa lasts seven days, taking place from December 26th to January 1st.
The celebration was founded in 1966 in the United States, and Canada began to celebrate it in 1993. The word kwanzaa comes from the Swahili language and means “first fruits.”
Activities
Decorations & Costumes
People often decorate their homes in the colors of the Pan-African flag: red, green, and black.
People may wear traditional African clothing — women might wear a colorful robe called a kaftan, while men wear a bright shirt called a dashiki (say “da-SHE-KEE”).
YouTube Links
Here is our YouTube Playlist for Kwanzaa
Just click here!
Movie and Tv Recommendation
Fun Kwanzaa Movies and TV Episodes to Watch
- ‘Everybody Hates Chris’ (Season 3, Episode 10) – There are lots of reasons some folks might ditch Christmas and embrace celebrating Kwanzaa — heritage, the associated principles, taking part in a candle-lighting counterpart to Hanukkah — but for Julius (played by Terry Crews), it’s all about being frugal.
- ‘The Black Candle’ – Wanna get lit while learning the history and customs behind Kwanzaa? This Maya Angelou-narrated documentary is the perfect starter kit.
- ‘Rugrats’ (Season 7, Episode 13) – Now, this is how you power past tokenism. Susie, the Black toddler of the Rugrats crew (voiced by Cree Summer), takes center stage in this episode about cultural discovery and self-esteem that earned an NAACP Image Award.
- ‘The Proud Family’ (Season 1, Episode 11) – The crème de la crème of Kwanzaa specials, this heartwarming episode finds the Proud family taking in a homeless family (voiced by Vivica A. Fox, Samuel L. Jackson, and Raven-Symoné) who exposes them to another side of the holiday season. Ultimately, the show highlights the fact that celebrating Christmas and Kwanzaa can be mutually inclusive. Umoja, indeed.
Music
Kwanzaa Music Playlists
Printable Products for Kwanzaa Days
Check out printable products!
