How People Decorate Their Homes for the Kwanzaa

How people decorate their homes for the Kwanzaa

Kwanzaa is one of the important celebrations in Africa. The holiday highlights the African heritage and identity. It is a holiday of gathering with family and friends. Therefore, make your home attractive so that your guests will be able to enjoy their visit and stay in your home. Your red-, green- and black-themed wall mural will be perfect for this day. Here we have more information that you need to decorate your home for the Kwanzaa.

What is Kwanzaa

Kwanzaa is a holiday that highlights the heritage and identity of the African people. The term originated from the Swahili phrase “matunda ya kwanza,” which literally means “first fruits”. Kwanzaa is actually based on traditional African harvest festivals. It is observed from December 26 to January 1, and the seven days correspond to the Seven Principles, also known as the Nguzo Saba. During the holiday, seven candles are lighted and seven symbols are placed around the home.

The Seven Principles help the African people focus on the ways to reinvigorate pride in and celebrate African culture by acknowledging our connection to African cultures and traditions. While the seven Kwanzaa symbols that are placed around the home represent African cultural values that contribute to community building and reinforcement.

Kwanzaa is celebrated differently by families. In general, the holiday is celebrated with dancing, singing, storytelling, poetry reading and a large traditional meal. In some families, they decorate their homes with crafts which are created by their kids and lay their seven symbols on their tables. At night, the family gathers around the table to pray, pour libation, candle lighting and discuss the seven principles and how they were demonstrated throughout the year. They then enjoy African drumming, dance, tell stories, and create crafts after the gathering.

Kwanzaa was created by Maulana Karenga in 1966 and known as the first specifically African-American holiday. It also has its roots in the black nationalist movement of the 1960s. It was established to help the African-American reconnect with their African culture and heritage.

Decorate your home for the Kwanzaa

Bring the atmosphere of Kwanzaa in your very own home and celebrate with your family and friends. Kwanzaa is a celebration in honor of African-American cultural heritage and traditional values. Create your own Kwanzaa decorations with the use of traditional colors of red, green and black. Decorations may be inspired from African-American crafts, paintings, sculptures, textiles, ceramics and photographs. Hang the Bendera Ya Taifa on the wall and display the Nguzo Saba or the Seven Principles of Kwanzaa posters around your home. The seven principles are the following:

1. Umoja (unity)
2. Kujichagulia (self-determination)
3. Ujima (collective work and responsibility)
4. Ujamaa (cooperative economics)
5. Nia (purpose)
6. Kuumba (creativity)
7. Imani (faith)

These can be painted on pieces of wood and be displayed on a mantel or bookshelf. The symbols can be scattered throughout the home. Kinara, or the seven branch candleholder, can be placed on a table or any prominent place in the house.