Jessie Taylor
Kwanzaa is an annual celebration of African heritage and culture, held from December 26 to January 1. The holiday is centred around the nightly lighting of the kinara, a seven-branched candle holder. The kinara holds seven candles in total: one black candle, three red candles, and three green candles. Each candle represents one of the seven principles guiding Kwanzaa, with the black candle symbolising unity, the red candles representing struggle, and the green candles representing the future and hope. But are all the candles lit at once, or is there another method to this ceremony?
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of candles | 7 |
| Colors of the candles | Black, red, and green |
| Symbolism of the black candle | Unity of family, community, nation, and race |
| Symbolism of the red candles | Struggle or blood shed in the past |
| Symbolism of the green candles | Earth or the abundance of possibilities the future holds |
| Day the black candle is lit | First day of Kwanzaa (December 26th) |
| Day all candles are lit | Seventh day of Kwanzaa (January 1st) |
| Order of lighting the candles | From left to right when facing the kinara |
| Alternate order of lighting the candles | Alternating from the closest red to the black candle, then moving to the first green candle beside the black one |
| Other customs during the lighting of the candles | Drinking from the unity cup, discussing the principle of the day, offering a prayer, etc. |
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What You'll Learn
The black candle is lit first on the first day of Kwanzaa
Kwanzaa is a week-long celebration of African heritage, taking place between December 26th and January 1st. The nightly lighting of the kinara, a special candelabra, is a central part of the celebration. The kinara holds seven candles in total: one black candle, three red, and three green. Each candle represents one of the seven principles guiding Kwanzaa.
After lighting the black candle, each person drinks from the kikombe cha umoja (unity cup). Any water left over is poured over the bowl of crops as a libation or directly onto the crops. If there is a plant on the Kwanzaa table, the water can be poured into that. While lighting the candle and passing the unity cup, participants discuss what unity means to them, their family, and their community.
On the second day of Kwanzaa, the black candle and the furthest left red candle are lit. On the third day, the black candle and the two furthest left red candles are lit. From the fourth day onwards, the black candle is always lit first, followed by the red candles from left to right, and then the green candle beside the black candle. On the seventh day, all seven candles are lit, starting with the black candle, then moving to the red candles, and finally lighting the green candles.
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The red candles are lit next
Kwanzaa is a week-long celebration of African heritage and culture. It takes place annually between December 26th and January 1st. A central part of the celebration is the daily lighting of the kinara, a seven-branched candle holder. The kinara holds seven candles: one black candle, three red candles, and three green candles. Each candle represents one of the seven principles guiding Kwanzaa.
The black candle is lit first, on the first day of Kwanzaa, December 26th. This candle represents the principle of umoja (unity). It is placed in the centre of the kinara to stress the priority of the people.
The red candles are lit before the green candles to show the importance of struggle before hope. The green candles represent the future and the hope that comes from struggle.
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The green candles are lit last
Kwanzaa is a week-long celebration of African heritage that takes place between December 26th and January 1st. A central part of the celebration is the nightly lighting of the kinara, a special candle holder. The kinara holds seven candles in total: one black candle, three red candles, and three green candles. These are the mishumaa saba (the seven candles) and they represent the Seven Principles of Kwanzaa.
The black candle is lit first, on the first day of Kwanzaa (December 26th). This candle represents the first principle, Umoja, or unity. It is placed in the centre of the kinara to stress the priority of the people. After the black candle is lit, each person drinks from the kikombe cha umoja (unity cup). Any water left over is poured over a bowl of crops as a libation. As the candle is lit and the cup is passed, participants discuss what unity means to them.
On the second day of Kwanzaa, the first red candle is lit. The red candles represent the principles of Kujichagulia (self-determination), Ujamaa (cooperative economics), and Kuumba (creativity). They are placed to the left of the black candle. The red colour symbolises the struggles of the African people.
Each day of Kwanzaa, all of the previously lit candles are lit again before lighting that night's candle. So, on the sixth and seventh nights, all of the candles are lit together, with the sixth and seventh green candles being lit last.
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The candles are lit from left to right
Kwanzaa is a week-long celebration of African heritage and culture, taking place annually between December 26th and January 1st. The lighting of the candles is a central part of the celebration.
The candles are placed in a kinara, a seven-branched candle holder. The kinara holds seven candles, one black candle, three red candles, and three green candles. Each candle represents one of the seven principles guiding Kwanzaa.
The black candle is lit first, on the first day of Kwanzaa, December 26th. This candle represents unity, or umoja, and is placed in the centre of the kinara. The red candles are placed to the left of the black candle, and the green candles are placed to the right.
On the second day, the first red candle on the left is lit, followed by the second and third red candles on the third and fourth days. The candles are lit from left to right, with the red candles being lit first. On the fifth day, the first green candle is lit, followed by the remaining two green candles on the sixth and seventh days.
Each day, all the previously lit candles are replaced and lit again before lighting the new candle for that night. So, for example, on the third night, the first two red candles are lit, and then the third red candle is lit for the first time.
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The kinara is a seven-branched candleholder
The kinara is a seven-branched candle holder used in Kwanzaa celebrations in the United States. Kwanzaa is a week-long celebration of family, community, and culture, which takes place annually between December 26th and January 1st. It was founded in 1966 by activist and educator Dr. Maulana Karenga, who wanted to empower people to rediscover their African heritage.
The kinara holds seven candles, which represent the seven principles guiding Kwanzaa. The candles are lit one by one, each day of the celebration, starting with the black candle in the centre, which symbolises unity. The black candle is lit first to stress the priority of the people. The three red candles are lit next, from left to right, to represent the struggle or blood shed in the past. Finally, the three green candles are lit, again from left to right, to represent the Earth and the abundance of possibilities that the future holds.
The order of lighting the candles is important. The official Kwanzaa website explains that "this procedure is to indicate that the people come first, then the struggle, and then the hope that comes from the struggle". However, some people choose to light the candles differently, alternating between red and green candles to symbolise hope in the midst of struggle.
Each day of Kwanzaa has a specific principle. The first day is dedicated to umoja, or unity. As the black candle is lit, each person drinks from the unity cup, and any leftover water is poured over the bowl of crops as a libation. The group then discusses what unity means to them.
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Frequently asked questions
Kwanzaa is a celebration of family, community, and African culture and heritage. It takes place annually between December 26th and January 1st.
There are seven candles in total, one black candle, three red candles, and three green candles.
The black candle represents the people, the red candles represent their struggle, and the green candles represent the future and hope that comes from their struggle.
The black candle is lit first on the first day of Kwanzaa. On the second day, the red candle on the left of the black candle is lit. On the third day, the green candle on the left of the black candle is lit. This continues, alternating between red and green, until all seven candles are lit on the seventh day.
The lighting of the candles represents the Seven Principles of Kwanzaa: Umoja (unity), Kujichagulia (self-determination), Ujima (collective work and responsibility), Ujamaa (cooperative economics), Nia (purpose), Kuumba (creativity), and Imani (faith).
