Seven Days. One Purpose.
Symbols, Language, and Principles
Kwanzaa spans seven days, from December 26 through January 1st. This holiday helps Black Americans reflect on their history and purpose in the United States. An essential, daily ritual is lighting the kinara, a candle holder featuring seven candles for each principle of Kwanzaa. Each principle has an English version and Swahili version. Other popular symbols during Kwanzaa include harvest fruits, the colors of the Pan-African flag (red, black, and green), and artwork by Black creators that honor our history.
Unity.
UMOJA.
First day and principle. To strive for and maintain unity in the family, community, nation, and race (NMAAHC, 2022).
Self-Determination.
KUJICHAGULIA.
Second day and principle. To define ourselves, name ourselves, create for ourselves and speak for ourselves (NMAAHC, 2022).
Collective Work & Responsibility.
UJIMA.
Third day and principle. To build and maintain our community together and make our community’s problems our problems and to solve them together (NMAAHC, 2022).
Cooperative Economics.
UJAMAA.
Fourth day and principle. To build and maintain our own stores, shops and other businesses and to profit from them together (NMAAHC, 2022).
Purpose.
NIA.
Fifth day and principle. To make our collective vocation the building and developing of our community in order to restore our people to their traditional greatness (NMAAHC, 2022).
Creativity.
KUUMBA.
Sixth day and principle. To do always as much as we can to leave our community more beautiful and beneficial than we inherited it (NMAAHC, 2022).
Faith.
IMANI.
Seventh day and principle. To believe with all our hearts in our people and the righteousness and victory of our struggle (NMAAHC, 2022).
