Week-long Kwanzaa celebrations begin; African-American holiday highlights 7 core principles
Friday marked the start of Kwanzaa, the African-American holiday that runs until New Year’s Day.
The name itself is derived from the Swahili phrase “matunda ya kwanza,” which loosely translates to “first fruits of the harvest.”
The holiday was created in the 1960s as a non-religious celebration to honor African culture, family and community.
Each of the next seven days will focus on the following principles:
- unity
- self-determination
- collective work and responsibility
- cooperative economics
- purpose
- creativity
- faith
Celebrants will light a candle on a seven-branched candelabra to reflect on each value.
