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Kwanzaa, celebrated from December 26 through January 1, celebrates the seven principles of self awareness: unity, self determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity, and faith.
It’s a Pan-African compilation of harvest festivals that uses corn (to symbolize children) on a mat along with a seven-candle holder called a kinara. A communal chalice is used to share libation.
Kwanzaa is a word adapted from the Swahili language that means “first fruits of the harvest.” A feast on December 31 called the Kwanzaa Karamu is a traditional part of the celebration. It is a cultural (not religious) celebration with no prescribed foods, but it celebrates dishes from the African continent and the diaspora. Here are some examples:
- Fried Okra
- Peanut Soup
- Benne Cakes
- Beef Stew
- Sweet Potato Fritters
- Fried Plantains
- Collard Greens
- Lamb Kebabs
- Akara
- Black Eyed Peas
- Beef Stew
- Vegetarian Stew
