Kwanzaa Ideas

Understanding Kwanzaa

Kwanzaa is a cultural holiday observed for seven days: beginning December 26th and ending January 1st. Neither a religious or political holiday, Kwanzaa is celebrated as a time of reflection, to remember the historical past and make commitments to strengthening African-American families and community. Each day represents a different guiding principle of African culture: unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity, and faith.

Since Kwanzaa is not a religious holiday, it's not meant to replace Christmas. In fact, some African-American families and communities celebrate both and believe that Kwanzaa's cultural emphasis on family and community reinforces the real meaning of the Christmas season—love and hope.

During Kwanzaa, friends and family exchange messages of hope, commitment to excellence, belief in possibility, the beauty of aspiration, the importance of equality and the inevitability of success.

Here are some suggestions for choosing and personalizing a card.

Choose a card that...

• expresses a wish for the recipient and the community in the new year.
• reflects cultural pride and the power of pulling together.
• authentically voices the language of Kwanzaa or depicts powerful cultural imagery.

Make Kwanzaa cards works of personal art by adding family or community stories, wishes for a prosperous year, or promises or commitments to service. You can also enclose drawings of cultural symbols; attachments of red, black and green ribbons; a strip of adinkra, kente, or mud cloth; or some other cultural favor.