Kwanzaa (Quansa) is a holiday celebrated by many African-Americans. It is a week-long festival that runs from December 26th through to January 1st.

Kwanzaa was started in 1966 by Doctor Maulana Karenga, who established the holiday as a means to help African Americans reconnect with their African cultural and historical heritage by uniting in meditation and study of “African traditions” and “common humanist principles.”

Seven Principles of Kwanzaa

There are 7 principles of Kwanzaa, and each day represents a different one of the principles. First principle is Unity, followed by self determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity, and lastly is faith. Each day of Kwanzaa is devoted to celebrating one of the basic values of African culture or the Nguzo Saba, which in Swahili means the seven principles.

Origins

The origins of Kwanzaa are grounded in an agricultural celebration, The Festival of the New Year, in many traditional African societies.

The purpose of these celebrations was to give thanks for the well-being and prosperity of the family and community, to celebrate the common good, to pay homage to ancestors, and to commit to the life-affirming values which held the community together and contributed to "the good life.”