Ben Carter
Kwanzaa is a week-long celebration that was founded in 1966 in the United States by activist and educator Dr. Maulana Karenga. It is a holiday that celebrates African American and Pan-African culture and heritage. The colours of Kwanzaa are black, red, and green, and these colours are used for the Mishumaa candles. The three red candles represent the struggle for self-determination and freedom by people of colour, and each candle also has an extra meaning provided by the day it is lit. The first red candle represents Kujichagulia (self-determination), the second represents Ujamaa (cooperative economics), and the third represents Kuumba (creativity).
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of red candles | Three |
| Position | To the left of the black candle |
| Represents | Struggle, self-determination, freedom, and blood shed in the past |
| Principles | Kujichagulia (self-determination), Ujamaa (cooperative economics), and Kuumba (creativity) |
| Day lit | Day 2, Day 3, and Day 4 |
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What You'll Learn
Self-determination
The red candles in Kwanzaa represent the principles of Kujichagulia (self-determination), Ujamaa (cooperative economics), and Kuumba (creativity). The red colour specifically symbolises the struggle for self-determination and freedom by people of colour.
Kwanzaa is a week-long celebration that was founded in 1966 in the United States by activist and educator Dr. Maulana Karenga. It was formed as a way to empower people to rediscover their African heritage and express the Nguzo Saba, a value system organised by seven key principles.
Each day of Kwanzaa, a candle is lit to represent one of the seven principles. The black candle is lit first, followed by the three red candles, and then the three green candles. The red candles are placed to the left of the black candle. The black candle represents the principle of Umoja (unity), while the three green candles represent Nia (purpose), Ujima (collective work and responsibility), and Imani (faith).
The second day of Kwanzaa is dedicated to the principle of Kujichagulia, or self-determination. This principle is about the ability to "define ourselves, name ourselves, create for ourselves, and speak for ourselves". It is a call for people to determine their own identity, values, and path in life, free from external influence or control.
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Cooperative economics
Kwanzaa is a celebration of African culture and heritage, and the holiday's symbols and rituals are imbued with meaning. The kinara, or candle holder, is central to the Kwanzaa setting and represents the stalk from which we came—our ancestry. The kinara is placed on a mkeka, a mat or cloth that symbolises African heritage.
The kinara holds the mishumaa saba, or seven candles, which are comprised of three red, three green, and one black candle. Each candle represents one of the seven core principles (nguzo saba) of Kawaida philosophy. The black candle symbolises the people and the principle of unity (umoja). The three green candles represent the Earth and the abundance of possibilities the future holds, embodying the principles of collective work and responsibility (ujima), purpose (nia), and faith (imani).
The three red candles represent the struggle or blood shed in the past, and embody the principles of self-determination (kujichagulia), cooperative economics (ujamaa), and creativity (kuumba). The red Kujichagulia candle, lit on the second day of Kwanzaa, symbolises the ability to define, name, create, and speak for oneself. The Ujima candle, lit on the fifth day, represents the vocation of building and developing the community. The Ujamaa candle, lit on the fourth day, embodies the principle of cooperative economics.
The lighting of the Kinara's candles is a meaningful ritual. Each candle is lit on a specific day of the seven-day celebration, with the black candle lit first, followed by the red, and then the green. The candle-lighting ceremony provides an opportunity for families to gather and discuss the meaning of Kwanzaa and the principles being celebrated.
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Creativity
The red candles in Kwanzaa represent the struggle for freedom and self-determination by people of colour. The three red candles each represent a separate principle. The first principle is Kujichagulia, which means self-determination and is about defining, naming, creating, and speaking for oneself. The second principle is Ujamaa, which means cooperative economics. The third principle is Kuumba, which stands for creativity.
The red candles are placed to the left of the black candle in the mishumaa saba, which is the seven-branched candle holder, or kinara. The kinara is the centrepiece of the Kwanzaa setting and represents the stalk from which we came—our ancestry. The kinara can be any shape, as long as the seven candles are separate and distinct, like a candelabra.
Kwanzaa was founded in 1966 in the United States by activist and educator Dr. Maulana Karenga. It was formed as a way to empower people to rediscover their African heritage and express the Nguzo Saba, a set of seven key principles. The red, black, and green colours of Kwanzaa were originally given 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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Struggle and blood shed
The red candles in Kwanzaa represent the struggle and bloodshed of the past. The three red candles are placed to the left of the black candle in the mishumaa saba, which is the candle holder or kinara. The kinara is the centrepiece of the Kwanzaa setting and represents the original stalk from which we came, our ancestry. The kinara can be any shape, as long as the seven candles are separate and distinct. The three red candles represent the principles of Kujichagulia (self-determination), Ujamaa (cooperative economics) and Kuumba (creativity).
The colours of the Kwanzaa candles—black, red, and green—were originally given by Marcus Garvey, a civil rights activist and leader of the Pan-Africanism movement, which aimed to unite people of African descent globally. Red is also the colour of Shango, the Yoruba god of fire, thunder, and lightning.
Kwanzaa was founded in 1966 in the United States by activist and educator Dr. Maulana Karenga. It was formed as a way to empower people to rediscover their African heritage and express the Nguzo Saba, a value system organised by seven key principles. Each day of Kwanzaa, a candle is lit to represent one of these principles, and the remaining candles are relit to give off more light and vision.
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Hope for the future
The red candles in Kwanzaa represent the struggle and blood shed in the past by African Americans and Pan-Africans. The three red candles represent the principles of Kujichagulia (self-determination), Ujamaa (cooperative economics), and Kuumba (creativity).
Kwanzaa is a celebration of family, community, and culture, with a focus on African heritage. The holiday was established in 1966 by activist and educator Dr. Maulana Karenga as a response to the Watts Riots. It is a way to empower people to rediscover their African roots and express the Nguzo Saba, a set of seven core principles of Kawaida philosophy.
The seven candles of Kwanzaa, or mishumaa saba, are placed in a candle holder called a kinara. The kinara represents the people of the past and the ancestors who were once earthbound. It is placed on a mkeka, a mat that symbolizes African heritage. The black candle is lit first, followed by the three red candles, and then the three green candles. Each candle represents one of the seven principles guiding Kwanzaa, with a specific day dedicated to discussing its meaning.
The red candles embody the struggles and self-determination of African Americans and Pan-Africans, reflecting on the past and the ongoing journey towards freedom and creativity. The lighting of the red candles symbolizes the hope that arises from these struggles, a reminder that even amidst challenges, there is the potential for growth and a brighter future.
Kwanzaa emphasizes the importance of unity, with the first day dedicated to Umoja, or unity in the family, community, nation, and race. Children are essential to Kwanzaa, as they are the future carriers of cultural values and practices. The holiday encourages families to come together, honor their ancestors, and celebrate their unique traditions and heritage.
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Frequently asked questions
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.
The three red candles represent the principles of Kujichagulia (self-determination), Ujamaa (cooperative economics), and Kuumba (creativity). They also represent the struggle for self-determination and freedom by people of colour.
There are three red candles, each representing a separate principle.
The black candle is placed in the centre of the kinara (candle holder), with the three red candles to its left, and the three green candles to its right.
