Jessie Taylor
Kwanzaa is a seven-day celebration that takes place from December 26 through January 1. It was founded in 1966 in the United States by activist and educator Dr. Maulana Karenga. The holiday is a call to celebrate the richness of what it means to have African roots. Each day, a candle is lit to highlight the principle of that day. The three colors of Kwanzaa are black, red, and green. Green is the color that symbolizes the future.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Color | Green |
| Symbolizes | Hope and the future |
| Number of candles | 3 |
| Order of lighting | The green candle is lit on the fifth day of Kwanzaa, after the black and red candles |
| Day 5 principle | Nia, the concept of building up the community |
| Day 6 principle | Kuumba, the principle of creativity |
| Day 7 principle | Imani, the principle of faith |
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What You'll Learn
The green candle is lit on the sixth day of Kwanzaa
Kwanzaa is a week-long celebration honouring African and African-American heritage and culture. It is observed from December 26 through January 1. During this time, families and communities come together to share a feast, honour their ancestors, and celebrate their cultural roots.
The holiday was founded in 1966 by activist and educator Dr. Maulana Karenga, who aimed to empower people to reconnect with their African heritage and express the Nguzo Saba, a value system organised by seven key principles.
One candle is lit each day of Kwanzaa, with each candle representing one of the seven core principles. The colours of the candles—black, red, and green—are also symbolic. The black candle symbolises the people, the red candles represent the struggle and blood shed in the past, and the green candles signify the Earth and the abundance of possibilities that the future holds.
On the sixth day of Kwanzaa, the black candle is lit first, followed by the three red candles, and then the first and second green candles closest to the black candle. The lighting of the green candles symbolises the hope that comes from struggle and the abundance of possibilities that the future holds. The sixth day of Kwanzaa is a time to reflect on the future and embrace the richness of African roots.
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Green symbolises the land and our hopes for the future
The colour green is one of the three official colours of Kwanzaa, along with red and black. Kwanzaa is a week-long celebration of African and African-American culture, with each day of the festival dedicated to a different principle. On each day, a candle is lit to highlight the principle of the day. The three green candles represent the Earth and the abundance of possibilities that the future holds.
The first day of Kwanzaa honours Umoja, or unity, with the goal of fostering unity in the family, community, nation, and race. On this day, a black candle is lit. On the second day, the black candle remains lit, and the far-left red candle is lit to represent Kujichagulia, or self-determination. The third day is dedicated to the principle of Ujima, or collective work and responsibility, with the lighting of the second red candle. On the fourth day, the principle of Ujaama, or cooperative economics, is celebrated, and the third red candle is lit.
The green candles are lit on the fifth, sixth, and seventh days of Kwanzaa. The first green candle, the Nia candle, is lit on the fifth day, symbolising the concept of building up the community. The second green candle, the Kuumba candle, is lit on the sixth day, honouring the principle of creativity in the context of the community, the land, and the future. The final green candle, the Imani candle, is lit on the seventh day, celebrating faith and challenging people to believe in each other and honour their struggles. On this day, all seven candles are lit.
The colours of Kwanzaa were originally given by civil rights activist and leader of the Pan-Africanism movement, Marcus Garvey. The colours black, red, and green were chosen to unite people of African descent globally.
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Green Nia candle symbolises building up the community
The colour green symbolises the future in Kwanzaa. Each green candle also carries a specific meaning based on a principle of Kwanzaa. The Green Nia candle, lit on the fifth day of Kwanzaa, symbolises building up the community.
Nia means purpose. The Green Nia candle symbolises building up the community by encouraging self-reflection and urging people to consider their aspirations and how they contribute to rebuilding and uplifting their communities. It calls for an understanding of identity, heritage, shared destiny, and how to work towards the greater good. Purpose, as defined by Nia, goes beyond individual fulfilment. It is rooted in a collective context, encouraging people to align their personal goals with the well-being of their families, neighbourhoods, and cultural legacy.
People celebrating Kwanzaa may take time to evaluate their personal goals and how they support their community. They may ask themselves how their talents and passions can contribute to positive change and set meaningful goals and plans for the year ahead. They may also participate in local initiatives that foster growth and solidarity, such as mentoring youth, volunteering, or supporting community programs.
Nia serves as a guiding light throughout the year. By infusing purpose into careers, relationships, and community efforts, people can create a ripple effect of positive change that strengthens the bonds within their communities.
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Green Kuumba candle symbolises creativity for the community
The colour green is one of the three colours associated with Kwanzaa, a week-long celebration of African and African-American culture. The other two colours are red and black, which represent the struggle, blood shed in the past, and the people respectively.
The three green candles in Kwanzaa represent the Earth and the abundance of possibilities that the future holds. Each green candle also has a specific meaning based on a principle of Kwanzaa. The green Kuumba candle, in particular, symbolises creativity for the community.
The sixth day of Kwanzaa is dedicated to the principle of Kuumba, which means creativity. On this day, the black candle is lit first, followed by the farthest left red candle, the farthest right green candle, the next red candle, the next green candle, and finally, the last red candle. The lighting of these candles symbolises the richness of African roots and the unity of family, community, nation, and race.
The green Kuumba candle symbolises creativity for the community as a whole. It represents finding creative ways to help people grow within the community, just as we hope to see seeds grow in the land. This candle is lit on the sixth day of Kwanzaa, which is a special day where families come together to celebrate with friends and family, sharing a feast and engaging in various activities such as reciting poetry, African drumming, and playing music.
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Green Imani candle celebrates faith
Kwanzaa is a week-long celebration of African and African-American heritage and culture, with a focus on unity, shared values, and community. It is celebrated from December 26 through to January 1, with each day marked by a different principle. The seventh and final day of Kwanzaa is marked by the principle of Imani, or "Faith".
The name Imani comes from the Swahili word for "faith". It is a call to believe in oneself, one's community, and the possibility of a better future. Imani is also about preserving and passing down the cultural values and beliefs that have sustained the African-American community through history. It is a reminder of the power of faith in the face of adversity and as a source of strength and unity.
On the final day of Kwanzaa, a green candle is lit to represent Imani. The colour green symbolises the land and our hopes for the future. The lighting of the candle is a moment to express gratitude, honour the principles of Kwanzaa, and recommit to building stronger communities.
Imani is about having faith in the collective journey towards a better future. It encourages individuals to hold onto hope and belief, even in challenging times, thereby ensuring the continuity of cultural legacy and the pursuit of justice and equality. It is a time to reflect on the year and acknowledge personal and collective achievements, as well as share stories of ancestors and community leaders who embodied faith through their actions.
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Frequently asked questions
The three official colors of Kwanzaa are black, red, and green.
The black candle symbolizes the people and is lit first on the opening day of Kwanzaa.
The three red candles symbolize the struggle or blood shed in the past. They are placed to the left of the black candle.
The three green candles symbolize the Earth, hope, and the abundance of possibilities the future holds.
The proper order of lighting the Kinara is to light the black candle on the first day, followed by the black candle and the far-left red candle on the second day. On the third day, light the black candle and the two far-left red candles. On the fourth day, light the black candle first, followed by the far-left red candle, moving from left to right until all red candles are lit. On the fifth day, light the black candle first, followed by the three red candles, moving from left to right, and the green candle beside the black candle. On the sixth day, light the black candle first, followed by the red candles and the first and second green candles closest to the black candle. Finally, on the seventh day, all seven candles are lit.
