Thank you so much for the pictures of you, your friends, and family celebrating Kwanzaa!
Xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox Happy Kwanzaa! Today is Day 5- Nia 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 Habari Gani? Nia! ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
On the fifth day of Kwanzaa we light the candle representing the principle Nia, or purpose. It encourages us to look within to not only set personal goals, but also to choose goals that benefit our community. We believe that financial strength is critical to building a successful future for the Black community.✨✨✨✨✨✨✨
Celebrating Day 5 of Kwanzaa- Nia
How has celebrating Kwanzaa changed your opinion of Kwanzaa moving forward!
Kwanzaa reminds me to focus on the present. It helps keep my family and I focused on your family and community goals.
Each day, a different principle is discussed, and each day a candle is lit on the kinara (candleholder). On the first night, the center black candle is lit, and the principle of Umoja unity is discussed. The second day is celebrated the same way until you reach the last day! New Years Eve!
On the final day of Kwanzaa, families enjoy an African feast called Karamu. This is when families can bring their last gifts, food, music, positive vibes and celebrate the new year together as a family! Umoja!
Yes! Play the drums loud and proud!
I woke my family up, playing the drums loud and proud. My son ran downstairs so excited and began playing the drums. It’s something ancient that just connects me when I play the drums. Watching my kids play is a joy!
My Kwanzaa table 2022
I finally have all my items for my table! I know my ancestors are proud that we took the time out to honor them for seven days!
My Kwanzaa color earring and natural hair!
I enjoy wearing my African colors during Kwanzaa. I have also noticed the self-esteem it builds in the youth. They become so proud to wear African prints and say Habari Gani?
How to celebrate Kwanzaa 2022
Here is a guide to help you if you need ideas. You can also send me questions and pictures to: empressyana@empresslyfe.com
We are planning to post all pics as a reel as the days continue.
Yes, we give gifts with intention each day of Kwanzaa!
Just think about the lower levels of stress when shopping for the holidays now. Yes, we still gave away gifts on Christmas. However, we are spending more time now after Christmas with our families to listen and see what they need. Instead of going out blindly buying things that your family/friends may never use.
Kwanzaa teaches patience and selection when opening and waiting each day for gifts.
It also opens the conversation with our family members for planning and shopping within a budget. Especially taking advantage of those after sales.
Well enough about me. Share what you are doing. This is an interactive blog. Feel free to share your thoughts, pictures, questions about Kwanzaa here.
What activity are planning with your family for today? Day 3 Ujima?
Celebrating a seven day long holiday has been so much fun for my family and I! We started celebrating Kwanzaa about 7 years ago. I can honestly say Kwanzaa should be a paid holiday off to pay homage to our ancestors and to create space for more unity within our communities. Kwanzaa celebrates all African heritage in America.
Our ancestors built this country and went through so much pain. How can you NOT celebrate or recognize Kwanzaa?
Africans & African Americans set so many trends here in America! Kwanzaa is also the time to show off your African gear! Rock those afrocentic hair styles! Let’s celebrate together. Pull out those African prints in your closet and wear them with pride. Then send me pics of you, your family, and friends celebrating Kwanzaa. I will post your pics here on my blog.
Be proud of your African roots!
Ok! So you have your African gear and your afrocentric hair styles ready……..now what?
This is what goes on the center of your table for the next seven days.
Kwanzaa nightly gatherings around the candles.
During Kwanzaa, families take time to reflect on the richness of the past, the potential of the present, and the promise of the future by capturing mambo yote mazuri, or “all things beautiful.”
Each night of Kwanzaa includes a gathering dedicated to one of the holiday’s seven principles, known as Nguzo Saba. Central to this nightly observance is the lighting of the kinara, a special candleholder with room for seven candles.
Each night, you light a new candle — the one that corresponds to the principle for that day — on the kinara.
The candles (mishumaa saba)Â come in three different colors: red, green, and black. The red color symbolizes the struggles of the past, the black color the African people, and the green color the Earth and all the possibilities it holds.
The night then unfolds with stories, poetry, art, gifts, and food.
Each day, you celebrate Kwanzaa in a different way!
Celebrating Kwanzaa also teaches you the African language Swahili. If someone says “Habari Gani?” (WHAT’S THE NEWS?) You reply with the name of the day. For example, on the first day, you will reply with “Umoja!”
You ask each other this phrase each day of Kwanzaa.
We pass out 7 pieces of paper and each person is assigned a day according to the number they pick. Each person is responsible for:
-the activity/event of the day
-say word and meaning of the word during sunrise &/or sunset prayer over candles.
Umoja is the first day of Kwanzaa. Light the black candle first.
Some families gather at sunrise, some gather at sunset, and others gather at both sunrise & sunset. You decide what is better for you and your family.
Start with the black candle first. The eldest family member lights the black candle first. Then, on the second day….
The second day, you always light the RED candle.
The second day, you always light the RED candle. Ok! I hope that helps! Yes, I will be back tomorrow to share and help you better understand each Kwanzaa day 2022.
Are you celebrating Christmas & Kwanzaa this year?
What’s up family? How has the holiday’s going for you? Are you celebrating both holiday’s this year? We are! And I am so excited for 2022 to end and 2023 to begin.
Huge shout out to everyone who sent me an email at (empressyana@empresslyfe.com) asking me how to celebrate Kwanzaa.
Kwanzaa is an holiday the lasts for 7 days. Kwanzaa starts on Dec 26th to Jan 1st. It is the only holiday that celebrates African American ancestry and creates space for more unity! In my opinion, Kwanzaa holiday should be a paid off holiday along with the Juneteeth. However, many African Americans have forget about this holiday!
We prepare for Kwanzaa by everyone making their very own first making the Mkeka Mat! This activity really gets the family in the Kwanzaa feeling/spirit.
What does mkeka symbolize?
Mkeka: Place Mat – Just as the crops stand on the mkeka, the present day stands on the past. The mkeka symbolizes the historical and traditional foundation for people to stand on and build their lives.
What is this entire Kwanzaa holiday about? I found this video and I do not own any rights to this video. I am just sharing it to help you better understand.
HAPPY KWANZAA
Do you better understand this holiday? Ok. So, start with each family member making the Mkeka mat. You will now use your new Mkeka mat to eat on for each of the seven days.
I will be back soon with more ways to celebrate Kwanzaa.
Eventually your center table should look like this.
You should begin to gather your:
-Kinara
-Ears of corn to represent each child under 21
-Large Mkeka mat (For under the Kinara candle holder)
-Unity cup
Also, Kwanzaa comes with its very own language. Swahili African language. Each day teaches you and your family a new virtue. Review and write these 7 principles in you calendar for each day starting with December 26th- Jan1st 2023.
Research your local area for local Kwanzaa events!
Ok my beautiful souls, that is all I have for today! I will be back with more updates about Kwanzaa. Until then, protect your space and remember that self care comes first!!!!
EmpressLyfe 