The name kwanzaa pronounced kwanza takes its roots from the swahili phrase matunda ya kwanza, which means first fruits. Kwanzaa, annual holiday affirming african family and social values that is celebrated primarily in the united states from december 26 to january 1. A woman celebrates kwanzaa by lighting candles on a kinara. Kwanzaa is a sevenday africanamerican and panafrican holiday celebration that runs from december. The seven principles of kwanzaa a kwanzaa libation kwanzaa symbols include a decorative mat on which other symbols are placed, corn and other crops, a candle holder with seven candles, called a kinara, a communal cup for pouring libations, gifts, a poster of the seven principles, and a. Kwanzaa is an annual celebration of africanamerican culture held from december 26 to. These are readytouse kwanzaa worksheets that are perfect for teaching students about the kwanzaa which is a celebration that honors african heritage intertwined with american culture. The seven principles, or nguzo saba are a set of ideals created by dr. This photograph of a kwanzaa tablesetting exhibit was taken by laura marcus in december 1998. You now have a complete and colorful kwanzaa display. The annual holiday of kwanzaa was created in 1966 by dr. Dec 19, 2012 if you were watching theblaze tv last week, you likely saw glenn becks satirical kwanzaa edition of jeopardy. Kwanzaa flag craft, kinara craft, kwanzaa kids craft2 fo.
If you were watching theblaze tv last week, you likely saw glenn becks satirical kwanzaa edition of jeopardy. Established in the 1960s, kwanzaa is a celebration of african american culture, history, and heritage. The story of kwanzaa printable texts and skills sheets. According to the official kwanzaa website, celebrations of the harvest in african history may be traced. Karenga, the nguzo saba stand at the heart of the origin and meaning of kwanzaa, for it is these values which are not only the building blocks for community but. Each family celebrates kwanzaa in its own way, but celebrations. The history kwanzaa pronounced kwonzah means first fruits and is a nonreligious sevenday celebration created in 1966 in the midst of the black consciousness movement in the united states.
The story of kwanzaa trophy picture books paperback. Based on african harvest festivals, kwanzaa was created in 1966 by doctor maulana karenga, a professor at california state university in long beach, california. Kwanzaa simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Kwanzaa is a celebration that started in the black nationalist movement of the 1960s. I will also guide you to the homepage of the official webpage of kwanzaa. Acrobat allows you to print a single page or a set of pages from a pdf file. Seven candles for kwanzaa by andrea davis pinkney, lil rabbits kwanzaa by donna l. Kwanzaa is a celebration that honors african heritage intertwined with american culture. It is meant to emphasize the values of commerce, community responsibility, family and selfimprovement. The installation was the focus of several public events at the library during kwanzaa. Kwanzaa is observed from december 26th to january 1st, and culminates. This is a brief version of the history, meaning, and understandings of kwanzaa. Kwanzaa click on a worksheet type or use the left and right arrow keys to move through the worksheets and answer keys.
The first kwanzaa celebrations introduced the holidays seven core principles, known by swahili names. This is because i want you to use this site as a pathfinder where you use it to point you to other information. Teach the history of kwanzaa and its meaning with this original student book. Kwanzaa articles kwanzaa principles, symbols of kwanzaa. Kwanzaa is a weeklong celebration held in the united states that honors african heritage in africanamerican culture. Students will interact with the story using crayons or colored pencils to light their kinara. The title of the event means fresh fruits in the swahili language. The seven principles of kwanzaa, called the nguzo saba, serve to remind african americans of the struggles of the past, and also focus on presentday achievements and goals for the future.
It was created as a way to help african americans reconnect with their african cultural and historical heritage. The origins and brief history of the ewe people narrated by dr. The history, principles, and symbols of kwanzaa career training. Kwanzaa is the most recent addition to the endoftheyear holiday trifecta, and it focuses on themes of love and friendship that anyone can appreciate. It takes place between december the 26th and january the 1st every year.
The seven principles of kwanzaa a kwanzaa libation kwanzaa symbols include a decorative mat on which other symbols are placed, corn and other crops, a candle holder with seven candles, called a kinara, a communal cup for pouring libations, gifts, a poster of the seven principles, and a black, red, and green flag. American maulana karenga created kwanzaa in 1966 during the aftermath of the watts riots as a specifically africanamerican holiday. The celebration is held yearly between december 26 and january 1. Kwanzaa kinara cut and paste this is a simple cut and paste activity for a kwanzaa theme. Maulana karenga in 1966 to celebrate african culture and inspire african americans in the united states. Worksheets in this package alphabetical crossword decoder letters decoder numbers lined matching missing consonants missing letters missing vowels word jumble. The story of kwanzaa printable texts and skills sheets my file cabinet. The sevenday festival commences the day after christmas and. Kwanzaa is a time when families of african descent celebrate their heritage with special traditions and ceremonies. Each day of kwanzaa emphasizes a different principle. Kwanzaa activity pack to help learn about kwanzaa this unit is packed full of activities to help your student learn about kwanzaa, and you teach it. Kwanzaa is not a religious holiday, nor is it meant to replace christmas. The general premise of the game show was to drive home the point that most people know little to nothing about the african holiday. This makes a great introduction lesson to a mini unit on kwanzaa.
The history kwanzaa pronounced kwonzah means first fruits and is a nonreligious sevenday celebration. The name kwanzaa which comes from the word, kwanza in the east african language of kiswahili, means the the first or the first fruits of the harvest. Kwanzaa is a weeklong celebration held in the united. The second a distinguishes the africanamerican from the african kwanza. The very first kwanzaa candelabrum was made by altering a jewish menorah. Maulana karenga to honor the customs and history of african americans. It was created by maulana karenga and first celebrated in 1966. If you are unable to obtain all of the kwanzza cultural symbols, please keep in mind that it is the kwanzaa principles that are most important. Given the profound significance kwanzaa has for african americans and indeed, the world african community, it is imperative that an authoritative source and site be made available to give an accurate and expansive account of its origins, concepts, values, symbols and practice.
I have included books and media that you may find helpful in understand kwanzaa. The story of kwanzaa trophy picture books paperback washington, donna l. Maulana karenga as a nonreligious holiday to celebrate african american culture. Apr 28, 2008 kwanzaa famous black inventor christmas cartoons for children educational videos for students duration. Heri za is swahili a panafrican language which is the most widely spoken african language1 for happy kwanzaa. Kobla dotse published in 2011 xxxx publications disclaimer the material we present here is provided to you mainly for educational and information purposes only. Nov 28, 2018 according to the official kwanzaa website, kwanzaa was created out of the philosophy of kawaida, which is a cultural nationalist philosophy that argues that the key challenge in black peoples lives is the challenge of culture, and that what africans must do is to discover and bring forth the best of their culture, both ancient and. The name kwanzaa is derived from the phrase matunda ya kwanza which means first fruits in swahili. Kwanzaa is observed from december 26th to january 1st, and culminates in gift giving and a big feast. Mar 17, 2018 this photograph of a kwanzaa tablesetting exhibit was taken by laura marcus in december 1998. Use this handout to introduce the african american holiday of kwanzaa, including its history, symbols and traditions. The history, principles, and symbols of kwanzaa career.
The origins, history, principles, traditions, and symbols. A nonreligious holiday, kwanzaa celebrates africanamerican heritage, pride, community, family, and culture. The first day of kwanzaa, is called umoja, which means unity. On each of the seven days of kwanzaa, participants light a candle and discuss one of the principles. You have probably been wondering about the translation on the home page and on this page. Many words to do with kwanzaa are heavily based off of the swahili language. How to celebrate kwanzaa kwanzaa is a holiday invented in 1966 by ronald karenga founder of the black power group us organization through which african americans can connect with their heritage and culture. Kwanzaa originated as a cultural idea and an expression of the.
History of kwanzaa kwanzaa is a holiday celebrated in the united states by african americans. By warner todd huston every year i post a piece on the troubled history of kwanzaa. It is estimated that some 18 million african americans take part in kwanzaa. Kwanzaa and the seven principles the organization us. Every year the celebration begins on december 26th and lasts until january 1st. Malauna karenga in 1966 as an african equivalent to christmas. Over the years, various other symbols and rituals have become associated with kwanzaa, helping it to endure.
Color one candle black, 3 candles red, and 3 candles green. The holiday celebrates african culture and history. Kwanzaa is a weeklong celebration observed from december 26th to january 1st each year. Based o n african h arvest f est ivals, kwanzaa was cre ated in 1966 by doctor maulana karenga, a professor at california state university in long beach. It was the first holiday just for african americans. Karenga longed for ways to bring africanamericans together as a community. The making of a black nationalist tradition, 1966 1990 pdf. Have students write descriptions of special traditions or ceremonies they celebrate with their families. Kwanzaa is a weeklong holiday that is celebrated around the world. Maulana karenga, professor and chairman of black studies at california state university, long beach. According to the official kwanzaa website, kwanzaa was created out of the philosophy of kawaida, which is a cultural nationalist philosophy that argues that the key challenge in black peoples lives is the challenge of culture, and that what africans must do is to discover and bring forth the best of their culture, both ancient and. Occurring each december, kwanzaa is a nonreligious, africanamerican holiday celebrating african culture, heritage and unity. But if you see something that doesnt look right, contact us. The original goal of the holiday was to provide african americans an alternative to christmas and to celebrate themselves and to reconnect with their culture and heritage.
While christmas and hanukkah are more mainstream, the celebration, which is only decadesold, is widely. Kwanzaa are deeply rooted in the concept and practice of creating and sharing good in the world. Kwanzaa famous black inventor christmas cartoons for children educational videos for students duration. Kwanzaa has spread outside the united states and become more commercialized while observance of the holiday has waned. A brief history of kwanzaa by ashlee peck the annual holiday of kwanzaa was created in 1966 by dr. The seven principles of kwanzaa, called the nguzo saba, serve to remind african americans of the struggles of the past, and also focus on. History of kwanzaa book by shared teaching teachers pay. Both the name and the celebration were devised in 1966 by maulana karenga, a professor of africana studies at california state university in long beach.
The history of kwanzaa occurring each december, kwanzaa is a nonreligious, africanamerican holiday celebrating african culture, heritage and unity. It therefore reflects the activism of that time and the call for cultural unity. The year 2016 will see the 50th annual kwanzaa, the african american holiday celebrated from december 26 to january 1. Learn all about kwanzaa history, then engage in some short writing exercises, with this kwanzaa history worksheet.
Note that some of the newspaper articles i quote are. Students explore an interactive scrapbook of photos, articles, and activities to learn about the history and traditions of kwanzaa. Itihari toure, guest lectionary cultural resource commentator director, the center for afrikan biblical studies at first afrikan presbyterian church, lithonia, ga i. This is a fantastic bundle which includes everything you need to know about kwanzaa across 27 indepth pages. History, food, colors, candles, symbols, activites.
Kwanzaas ancient history has its origin in our ancestors celebration of the first fruits of the harvest, which was a celebration, not only of the shared good produced, but also of the cooperative process used to produce it. Director, the center for afrikan biblical studies at first afrikan presbyterian church, lithonia. Learn about the history and significance of kwanzaa. It is based on yearend harvest festivals that have occurred. Discover the roots of kwanzaa and how it became an african american holiday. It also goes well with my other original student book, kw. A collection of kwanzaa articles for parents and teachers 7 kwanzaa principles, decorating for kwanzaa, kwanzaa gift ideas, the kwanzaa feast, 7 symbols of kwanzaa, the history of kwanzaa and kwanzaa games and crafts. It was first celebrated in 1966 and held to honor african american heritage. Its celebrated from december 26 through january 1, with each of the seven days focusing on one of seven core values, or nguzo saba. Swahili is a panafrican language, and it is the most commonly spoken language in africa.
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