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Getting to Know your Kwanzaa Celebration Symbols HomeThis is a featured page

Do you know what Symbols are used to conduct a Kwanzaa Celebration? Well just in case you have forgotten a few of them, I will list them here for you. It is important to gather all of the necessary items that are needed before conducting your Kwanzaa celebration. These items play an important part and serves as visual symbols for this spiritual celebration.


The first symbol is the Mkeka (Straw Mat). The straw mat is to lay on a low table, it is the foundation, representing our culture and history. As the ancestors would say, " No matter how high a house is built, it must stand on something."

The second symbol is the Kwanzaa Kinara and Candles. The Kinara holds seven candles three green ones at right, three red ones at left and a black candle in the center. The green candles signify a Prosperous Future, the red candles for the Struggle and a black candle for Black Unity.

The third symbol is the Bandera or flag, of black, red and geen on the Kwanzaa table.

The fourth symbol is the Muhindi (The Ear of Corn) to represent the children in the family. The commitment for caring for the children, whether they are yours or not, and making sure they practice moral and cultural values.

The fifth symbol, because Kwanzaa is a harvest celebration, the table is adorned with other fruits and vegetables called Mazao, or (Crops) to symbolize ones labor throughout the year such as the family's success and accomplishments.

The sixth symbol is the Umoja cup which represents the in-gathering of the people on the national level as well as in the world African community.
The in-gathering ceremony is the pouring of libations to the ancestors, which stresses the continuity between the living, the dead and the yet unborn. This ceremony includes thanksgiving, reverence for the creator, and all creation, and a statement and discussion of the principles of the Nguzo Saba (The Seven Principles) by everyone present.

The seventh symbol is Zawadi (Gifts) Children are the main recipients of (Kwanzaa Gifts), they must always include a book and a heritage symbol.

The Feast. In closing Maulana Karenga the creator of Kwanzaa calls the
feast "a celebration of the good". The feast offers an array of food dishes from the United States, the Caribbean, and the Motherland. There is also singing dancing, storytelling, and poetry reading at the feast.

Feel free to share this information on to your family and friends and have a Happy Kwanzaa Celebration Click the link to test your knowledge of the seven principles of Kwanzaa.














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gdberry 		Latest page update: made by gdberry , Dec 23 2009, 6:43 AM EST (about this update About This Update gdberry Edited by gdberry


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gdberry Do you know the Seven Principles of Kwanzaa? 0 Dec 23 2009, 6:49 AM EST by gdberry
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Take the KWANZAA Celebration quiz, test your knowledge of the 7 principles and more. Click the link for the quiz.
http://www.squidoo.com/quiz-how-much-do-you-know-about-kwanzaa
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Keyword tags: Kwanzaa Celebration Symbols
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