Kwanzaa is an African-American cultural observance that falls in the month of December. In the United States, it was created by Maulana Karenga in 1966 as an alternative to Christmas and Hanukkah, but more representative of African-American culture and history. The first Kwanzaa celebration was held on December 26th, 1966 and continues today as a recognized holiday by African-Americans across the world. It celebrates the African harvest and key cultural values.
Happy Kwanzaa from S&G Cleaning! We strive to promote cultural awareness and celebrate with our diverse community in Somerville, New Jersey and nearby areas. Continue reading to learn more!
The Definition of Kwanzaa
Kwanzaa is a seven-day African American holiday that celebrates family, community, and culture. It is typically observed from December 26 to January 1st. The name Kwanzaa comes from the Swahili phrase “matunda ya kwanza” which translates to “first fruits of the harvest”. Kwanzaa was coined in 1966 by Dr. Maulana Karenga as a way to bring African Americans together after the Watts Riots and tough times fighting against racial inequality and discrimination. Together, families celebrate Kwanzaa and their culture by cleaning and decorating their homes, exchanging gifts, and spending time with loved ones.
The History of Kwanzaa
On each day, one of the seven principles is honored through an activity related to its meaning. For example, on December 27th the principle of unity is celebrated with a feast. On December 31st, self-determination is honored with cleanliness rituals. It is historically significant as it encourages African Americans to appreciate and bask in their heritage and culture, regardless of where they may now live. This is meaningful as they faced many struggles and were often discriminated against. Basically, it gives them an opportunity to celebrate all that they have overcome as a community, as well as motivation to continue the legacy.
What Are The Seven Principles For Living
As aforementioned, Kwanzaa is a seven-day African American holiday, and each day focuses on one of the seven key principles. The seven principles of Kwanzaa are unity, self-determination, collective work, responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity, and faith.
Celebrating Kwanzaa
People celebrate Kwanzaa by lighting a kinara, a candle holder with seven candles. On the first day of Kwanzaa, a black candle is lit in the center of the kinara followed by three red candles on the left side and three green candles on the right side. This is especially important for the virtuous occasion. They also exchange gifts, decorate with colors that represent the holiday (black, red, and green), and enjoy a delicious feast.
Cleaning and Decorating for Kwanzaa
Before Kwanzaa can begin, you need to make sure your home is clean and decorated. After all, this is a time to celebrate! Start by giving your home a good cleaning. Wash the windows, vacuum the floors, and dust everything off. Once your home is clean, you can start decorating. To celebrate Kwanzaa, many people clean their homes and decorate them with African symbols. One popular decoration is the kinara, which is a seven-branched candelabra. Each branch represents one of the seven principles of Kwanzaa. Other decorations include colorful clothes, fruits, vegetables, and grains. Many people use red, black, and green to decorate for Kwanzaa.
These colors represent different aspects of African culture. Red represents the blood that was shed during the struggle for freedom, black represents the African people, and green represents the growth and prosperity of Africa. You can use these colors in any way you like – whether that be through traditional decorations like candles or through more modern decorations like hanging banners or streamers.
Contact Us!
We’ll do what we do best – the cleaning! Our team loves to clean and enjoys making our clients smile while we are at it. That is why it is our job! Let us take some of these chores off of you and your loved ones’ plates so you can truly enjoy the holiday season!
We are also offering a promotion for Kwanzaa to celebrate with our loyal clients. Contact us for more information!
S&G Cleaning Services values consistent, quality service and trustworthy business practices. You can rest assured that your place will be taken care of effectively and efficiently by us. If you reside in Somerset County, NJ, or nearby areas in New Jersey, contact us today at (908) 722-9254 to clean up your living space, as well as your loved ones. Our cleaners will leave it spotless as we uphold our satisfaction guarantee.
