Maddie James
The candles in the Kinara represent the seven core principles (nguzo saba) of Kawaida philosophy. The Kinara is a candleholder with seven branches used during Kwanzaa celebrations. Kwanzaa is an African American and Pan-African holiday celebrated from December 26 through January 1. The seven candles in the Kinara consist of three red, three green, and one black candle, each representing a different principle.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of candles | 7 |
| Colour of the candles | Black, red, and green |
| Symbolism of the black candle | People, unity |
| Symbolism of the red candles | Struggle, blood shed in the past, self-determination, cooperative economics, creativity |
| Symbolism of the green candles | Earth, future, hope, abundance of possibilities, collective work and responsibility, purpose, faith |
| Order of lighting the candles | The black candle is lit first, followed by the red candle on its right, and then the green candle on the left of the black candle. The candles continue to alternate until all seven are lit on the seventh day. |
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What You'll Learn
The black candle symbolises unity
The black candle is lit first on the first day of Kwanzaa, with the remaining candles lit from left to right on the following days. The black candle is also known as the unity candle. Kwanzaa is celebrated from 26 December through to 1 January. The lighting of the kinara is a key custom during Kwanzaa. The black candle represents the first principle, Umoja (unity), and is placed in the centre of the kinara. The red candles represent the principles of Kujichagulia (self-determination), Ujamaa (cooperative economics), and Kuumba (creativity) and are placed to the left of the black candle.
The green candles represent the principles of Ujima (collective work and responsibility), Nia (purpose), and Imani (faith) and are placed to the right of the black candle. The black candle symbolises the people themselves. The three red candles represent the struggle or blood shed in the past, and the three green candles represent the Earth and the abundance of possibilities the future holds. The colours of Kwanzaa are black, red, and green. Black stands for the people, red for their struggle, and green for the future and hope that comes from their struggle.
Families are encouraged to make the celebration their own. Each family can decide on the ceremonial practices they wish to follow for lighting the Kinara. Some families recite the principle that each candle represents as they light it. Other families name deceased family members they associate with a specific principle when that candle is lit. Most families offer a prayer at the opening of the ceremony or at the end. Some offer a prayer at the beginning and end of the ceremony. Some families allow the oldest member to light the black candle, followed by other members lighting the red candles and the children lighting the green candles.
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The three red candles represent the struggle of African Americans
The kinara is a candleholder with seven candles, used in Kwanzaa celebrations. Kwanzaa is an African American and Pan-African holiday celebrated from December 26 through January 1. It is a call to honour the richness of African heritage and culture. The seven candles of the kinara represent the seven core principles (nguzo saba) of Kawaida philosophy. These principles are intended to foster community among African Americans.
The three red candles on the left of the kinara represent the struggle of African Americans. They symbolise the blood shed by African Americans in the past and the principle of Kujichagulia, which stands for self-determination. The red candles also embody the principle of Ujamaa, which stands for cooperative economics. This principle encourages people to come together and work cooperatively for economic empowerment.
The red candles are lit on the second, fourth, and sixth days of Kwanzaa. On these days, families may discuss the importance of these principles in their lives and how they have helped them navigate their struggles. They may also recite the principles or name deceased family members associated with them.
The lighting of the red candles symbolises the recognition and honouring of the struggles faced by African Americans. It is a reminder of the resilience and strength demonstrated during challenging times. The red candles stand as a testament to the determination and unity of the community in their pursuit of a better future.
The overall lighting of the kinara and the meaning of each candle may vary between families, reflecting the spirit of Kwanzaa, which encourages families to make the celebration their own.
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The three green candles symbolise the future
The kinara is a candleholder used in Kwanzaa celebrations. Kwanzaa is an African American and Pan-African holiday that celebrates family, community, and culture. The kinara holds seven candles: three red, three green, and one black. Each candle represents one of the seven core principles (nguzo saba) of Kawaida philosophy. The three green candles symbolise the future, specifically the Earth and the abundance of possibilities that the future holds.
The three green candles are placed to the right of the black candle and are the last to be lit. Each candle is lit on a specific day of the Kwanzaa seven-day celebration. The sixth candle to be lit is a green candle, which represents the principle of Nia, or purpose. This candle symbolises looking inside oneself to set personal goals and goals that benefit the community. The seventh and final candle to be lit is also green, and it represents the principle of Imani, or faith. This candle challenges people to believe in each other and honour their struggle, knowing that they will be victorious.
The lighting of the Kinara is a key custom during Kwanzaa. On the first day, the black candle, also known as the unity candle, is lit. On the second day, the red candle to the right of the unity candle is lit. On the third day, the green candle to the left of the unity candle is lit, and the candles continue to alternate until all seven are lit on the seventh day. While there are official guidelines for lighting the Kinara, families are encouraged to make the celebration their own and decide on their own ceremonial practices. For example, some families recite the principle that each candle represents as they light it, while others name deceased family members they associate with a specific principle.
The colours of Kwanzaa are black, red, and green. Black symbolises the people, red their struggle, and green the future and hope that comes from their struggle. These colours were originally chosen by Marcus Garvey, a civil rights activist and leader of the Pan-Africanism movement, which aimed to unite people of African descent globally.
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Each candle is lit on a different day
The kinara is a candleholder with seven candles, used in Kwanzaa celebrations. Kwanzaa is an African American and Pan-African holiday celebrated from 26 December to 1 January. The seven candles represent the seven principles (nguzo saba) of Kawaida philosophy. The candles are placed in a specific order, with three red candles on the left, three green candles on the right, and a single black candle in the centre. Each candle is lit on a different day of the seven-day celebration, with the black candle being lit first, followed by the red and green candles, alternating from left to right.
The black candle, also known as the unity candle, represents the first principle of Umoja (unity). It symbolises the unity of family, community, nation, and race. 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 and symbolise the struggle and blood shed by African Americans. The green candles represent the principles of Ujima (collective work and responsibility), Nia (purpose), and Imani (faith). They are placed to the right of the black candle and represent the future and hope that comes from the struggle.
On the second day of Kwanzaa, the red candle on the immediate right of the black candle is lit. On the third day, the green candle on the immediate left of the black candle is lit, and the candles continue to alternate until the seventh day. On this final day, all seven candles are lit. Families may recite the principle that each candle represents as they light it or name deceased family members associated with a specific principle.
While there are official guidelines for lighting the kinara, families are encouraged to make the celebration their own and decide on their own ceremonial practices. For example, some families allow the oldest member to light the black candle, while the red candles are lit by adults and the green candles by children.
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The candles are placed in a specific order
The kinara is a candle holder with seven branches, used in Kwanzaa celebrations. The word "kinara" is derived from the Swahili word for "candle holder". The seven candles placed in the kinara are known as "mishumaa saba".
While there are official guidelines for lighting the kinara, families are encouraged to personalise the celebration. For example, some families recite the principle that each candle represents as they light it, while others name deceased family members associated with a specific principle. Many families offer prayers at the beginning or end of the ceremony, or both. In some cases, the oldest family member lights the black candle, while other members light the red candles and children light the green candles.
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Frequently asked questions
The kinara is a seven-branched candle holder used in Kwanzaa celebrations in the United States. The word kinara is Swahili for candle holder.
The seven candles in the Kinara represent the seven principles that are the foundation of the African American celebration Kwanzaa. The candles are made up of three red, three green, and one black candle in the middle.
The black candle represents the people, the red candles represent the struggle or blood shed in the past, and the green candles represent the future and hope.
The black candle is lit first on the first day of Kwanzaa. The remaining candles are lit from left to right on the following days.
