Ben Carter
Kwanzaa is a seven-day celebration of African roots, observed by people of all faiths. It was founded in 1966 in the United States by activist and educator Dr. Maulana Karenga. The primary symbols of Kwanzaa are the seven candles (Mishumaa Sabaa), which represent the seven principles (Nguzo Saba) that give the holiday its core and seven days of cultural focus. These seven candles are placed in a kinara, a candleholder with seven branches. The word kinara is derived from the Swahili word for candle holder.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Kinara |
| Other Names | Candle Holder, Mishumaa Sabaa |
| Description | A seven-branched candle holder |
| Colour | Black, red, and green |
| Material | Wood, glass |
| Symbolism | Unity, African heritage, the seven principles of Kwanzaa |
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What You'll Learn
The Kinara is a Swahili word for candle holder
The Kinara is a candle holder used in Kwanzaa celebrations. Kwanzaa is a week-long celebration of African roots, observed by people of all faiths. It was founded in 1966 in the United States by activist and educator Dr. Maulana Karenga. The name 'Kwanzaa' comes from the Swahili phrase 'matunda ya kwanza', which means 'first fruits'. Kwanzaa is a call to celebrate the richness of African heritage and is anchored by seven principles known as the Nguzo Saba.
The Kinara is derived from the Swahili word for candle holder. It holds seven candles—three red, three green, and a single black candle in the middle. These candles represent the seven principles that are the foundation of the African American celebration of Kwanzaa. Each day, a new candle is lit, and families discuss the importance of one principle and how it fosters community among African Americans.
The Kinara is one of the primary symbols of Kwanzaa, along with the seven candles (Mishumaa Sabaa), the unity cup (Kikombe cha Umoja), placemat (Mkeka), crops (Mazao), corn (Muhindi), and gifts (Zawadi). All these items are displayed on the Mkeka, serving as a reminder of how African heritage is built upon tradition. The daily 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 its immediate right is burned, and on the third day, the green candle on its left is lit. This continues until all seven candles are lit on the seventh day.
The colours of the candles also have symbolic meanings. The black candle symbolises the people, the three red candles represent the struggle or blood shed in the past, and the three green candles stand for the Earth and the abundance of possibilities the future holds. These colours are also found in the clothing worn by participants during the Kwanzaa celebration.
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The candle holder holds seven candles
The candle holder that holds seven candles during Kwanzaa is called a "kinara". The word "kinara" comes from the Swahili word for "candle holder". The seven candles it holds are called "Mishumaa Sabaa" and they represent the seven principles of Kwanzaa, or "Nguzo Saba". Kwanzaa is a seven-day celebration of African roots, observed by people of all faiths from December 26 through January 1.
The seven candles in the kinara are made up of three red candles, three green candles, and a single black candle in the centre. The colours of the candles are also representative of the Pan-African flag. The black candle symbolises the people, the red candles represent the struggle and blood shed in the past, and the green candles stand for the future and the abundance of possibilities that the future holds.
The kinara is one of the basic symbols of Kwanzaa, along with the unity cup (Kikombe cha Umoja), placemat (Mkeka), crops (Mazao), corn (Muhindi), and gifts (Zawadi). 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.
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The candles are placed in a specific order
The kinara is a candleholder used in Kwanzaa celebrations. The word kinara comes from the Swahili word for candle holder. During Kwanzaa, seven candles are placed in the kinara, with three red candles on the left, three green candles on the right, and a single black candle in the centre. These colours are also those of the Pan-African flag. The candles are placed in this specific order as they represent the seven principles (Nguzo Saba) that are the foundation of the African American celebration of Kwanzaa.
Each day of the week-long Kwanzaa celebration, a new candle is lit, beginning with the black candle, also known as the unity candle, which symbolises the people. The three red candles are lit next, one per day, and they stand for the struggle or blood shed in the past. Finally, the three green candles are lit, one by one, and they represent the Earth and the abundance of possibilities that the future holds.
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. Kwanzaa is observed from 26 December to 1 January and is not tied to any religion.
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The colours of the candles have symbolic meanings
The kinara, a Swahili word for candle holder, is used during Kwanzaa celebrations. It is a seven-branched candle holder that holds seven candles—three red candles on the left, three green candles on the right, and a single black candle in the middle. The colours of the candles have symbolic meanings.
The black candle symbolises the people, the three red candles represent the struggle or blood shed in the past, and the three green candles stand for the Earth or the abundance of possibilities that the future holds. On the first day of Kwanzaa, the black candle, also known as the unity candle, is lit. The second day involves lighting the red candle on the immediate right of the unity candle, and on the third day, the green candle on the immediate left of the unity candle is lit. This continues until the seventh day, with a new candle being lit each day.
The colours black, red, and green are the colours of the Pan-African flag and the colours of African American people, originally given by Marcus Garvey, a civil rights activist and leader of the Pan-Africanism movement. The colours of the flag represent the people, their struggle, and the future that comes from their struggle.
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The candles are lit one by one, each day
The candle holder used in Kwanzaa celebrations is called a kinara. The word kinara comes from the Swahili word for candle holder. The kinara holds seven candles, which represent the seven principles that form the foundation of the African American celebration of Kwanzaa. The seven principles, or Nguzo Saba, are meant to inspire Black people to be united, self-determined, accountable for their communities, financially invested in Black-owned businesses, purposeful with their lives, creative, and full of faith.
During the week-long celebration of Kwanzaa, families and communities come together to share a feast, honour their ancestors, and celebrate African and African American culture. Each day, a new candle is lit to highlight the principle of the day. On the first day, the black candle, also known as the unity candle, is lit. This candle symbolizes the people. The second day is marked by lighting the red candle on the immediate right of the unity candle. The three red candles represent the struggle and the blood shed in the past. On the third day, the green candle on the immediate left of the unity candle is lit, with the three green candles representing the Earth and the abundance of possibilities that the future holds. The candles continue to be lit, alternating between red and green, until the seventh day.
The kinara is one of the basic symbols of Kwanzaa, along with the Mkeka (placemat or mat), Muhindi (corn), Mazao (crops or fruit representing the harvest), and Zawadi (gifts). All of these items are displayed on the Mkeka, which symbolizes the foundation of African tradition and history. The Kwanzaa celebration also often includes a Kikombe cha Umoja (Unity Cup), which represents the gathering of family in celebration of a rich heritage.
The colours of the Kwanzaa flag are also significant, with black, red, and green representing the people, their struggle, and the future that comes from their struggle. These colours 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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Frequently asked questions
The candle holder used in Kwanzaa celebrations is called a Kinara.
Kinara is a Swahili word that means candle holder.
A Kinara holds seven candles—three red, three green, and one black.
The seven candles represent the seven principles that are the foundation of Kwanzaa. The black candle symbolizes the people, the red candles represent the struggle and blood shed in the past, and the green candles represent the future and the abundance of possibilities it holds.
