is
an African American holiday observed by African communities
throughout the world. Kwanzaa is a seven-day holiday from December 26 through
January 1. It is rooted in the ancient African first-fruit harvest celebrations. is
an African American holiday observed by African communities
throughout the world. Kwanzaa is a seven-day holiday from December 26 through
January 1. It is rooted in the ancient African first-fruit harvest celebrations.
Kwanzaa’s modern history begins in 1966, when it was developed by African American scholar and activist Maulana Karenga.
Kwanzaa is organized around five fundamental activities: (1) the gathering of family, friends, and community; (2) reverence for the creator and creation; (3) commemoration of the past; (4) recommitment to the highest cultural ideals of the African community; and (5) celebration of life, struggle, achievement, family, community, and culture. Kwanzaa is celebrated through rituals, dialogue, narratives, poetry, dancing, singing, drumming and other music, and feasting.
© 1997-1999 Microsoft Corporation. All Rights Reserved. Reprinted from the Encarta Online Free Concise Encyclopedia, http://encarta.msn.com
Online, there are many sources for information on Kwanzaa, which include information on the tradition itself, as well as cards, graphics, recipes, and activities.
For a very nice article on Kwanzaa, written for kids, see http://www.kidsdomain.com/holiday/kwanzaa/about.html. This site includes suggestions for Kwanzaa links.
Graphics courtesy of Kid's Domain 
Compiled by Dee Marx-Kelly, a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, in San Jose. She welcomes questions or comments, and can be reached at 408.246.3525, or by e-mail at dmk@surfnetusa.com