Na He Jeon–Reporter
Just as “Merry Christmas!” is the well-known term for greeting in Christmas, “Habri Gani?” (the Swahili term for “What’s the news?”) is what people say to each other during Kwanzaa, a holiday celebrated from Dec. 26 to Jan. 1 each year by African-Americans. Kwanzaa was created by Ron Karenga in 1966, as an alternative for Christmas and to provide the African-Americans with the opportunity to celebrate their own heritage.
In each of the seven days of Kwanzaa, people celebrate a different principle of the Nguzo Saba (the seven principles of blackness): Umoja (unity), Kujichagulia (self-determination), Ujima (collective work and responsibility), Ujamaa (cooperative economics), Nia (purpose), Kuumba (creativity), and Imani (faith). These names are also answers for “Habri Gani?” each day. On the first day, the answer is “Umoja.” On the second day, the answer is “Kujichagulia,” and so on.
Like the Christmas tradition, children get presents in Kwanzaa. The presents are supposed to include a book and a heritage symbol, to remind the children of their African origin.
The Mishumaa Saba (seven candles) and Kinara (candle holder), which are placed on top of the mkeka (mat), make up the symbol of Kwanzaa. The Kinara is made of one black candle on the center, three red candles on the left, and three green candles on the right. These colors, which are also the colors of Kwanzaa, stand for the people, the struggle of the people, and the future and hope that comes from the struggle, respectively. Starting from the center black candle, which stands for Umoja (unity), each candle is lit on each day of the holiday from right to left.
Information from www.officialkwanzaawebsite.com
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