How to Celebrate the 7 Days of Kwanzaa

Kwanzaa is an African American holiday celebrated over a 7 day period that encourages African Americans to think about their African heritage and their lifestyle in present day America.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Fruits
• Bales of straw
• Large table or other work surface
• Vegetables

1. Place a placemat made of straw in the center of a table with a 7 candle candelabrum, 7 black candles, 12 red candles, 9 green candles, a communal drinking cup, ear of corn per child in household, fruits and vegetable and any gifts to be exchanged.
2. Place a black candle in the center of the candelabrum, 3 red candles on the left side of the candelabrum and 3 green candles on the right side of the candelabrum.
3. Light the center black candle the first night.
4. Light the center black candle every night and 1 additional candle every night thereafter starting from the far left with the red candles, then alternating sides each additional night from red to green working your way towards the black center candle.
5. Recite 1 principle for each night in this order: Unity, Self Determination, Collective Work and Responsibility, Cooperative Economics, Purpose, Creativity and Faith.
6. Enjoy a feast style meal on the seventh night. Corn, fruit, and vegetables are commonly served while the communal drinking cup is passed around filled with wine, water or grape juice for each person to sip from.
7. Open presents at the end of the meal and enjoy the rest of the evening with family and friends.

Tips & Warnings

• Light a new set of candles at sundown each night.
• Shout "Harambee" at the end of each night. On the seventh night shout "Harambee" 7 times, 1 time for each principle.
• Fast from sunup to sundown (adults only).
• Make sure adults are always present when the candles are being lit and when the candles are burning.