How to Teach Kids about Kwanzaa

If you thought that December is all about Christmas and Hanukkah, think again! December might be the month with the highest number of multinational festivals and holidays. And, as more and more families in the United States are becoming interfaith families, there’s an increased awareness about the need of teaching kids different cultural celebrations. 

In that spirit, we made this article to help you teach kids about Kwanzaa, an annual winter holiday from the African-American culture. Kwanzaa for kids is a much-needed topic, which will help children understand and respect diversity. On top of that, celebrating Kwanzaa traditions with kids is a fun experience. 

Whether you’re a teacher or a homeschooling parent, keep reading to find out how to teach Kwanzaa to kids. Together, we’ll take a look at what Kwanzaa is, its significance to the African-American culture, its origins, and traditions. Finally, we’ll share some high-quality teaching resources you can use to teach kids about Kwanzaa. 

What is Kwanzaa? 

Kwanzaa is a winter holiday that celebrates African-American heritage. It was founded in 1966 and lasts a week from December 26th to January 1st. Kwanzaa is a secular holiday that’s based on the start of the harvest season in Africa, and it’s observed by millions of people in the United States. 

The name Kwanzaa comes from the words matunda ya kwanza, which means “first fruit” in Swahili, referring to the first crops of the harvest. In Africa, the first fruit festivals are celebrated in accordance with the summer solstice (winter solstice in the Northern Hemisphere). 

Although many people might consider Kwanzaa as an alternative to Christmas, Maulana Karenga, its founder, believed that Kwanzaa is not created with the purpose to give black people their own religious holiday as an alternative to Christmas, which is why many African-American families celebrate Kwanzaa in addition to Christmas. 

The holiday lasts for one week (December 26th  – January 1st) and culminates on the sixth night when a communal feast called Karamu is celebrated. During the whole week, families observe Kwanzaa by gathering, sharing gifts, and lighting candles in honor of their ancestors and their hopes for the future. 

The holiday was most popular in the 1980s and its traditions are slowly fading in recent years. However, hopefully, in this article, we’ll make justice to the key aspects that shape Kwanzaa and encourage you to pass that knowledge to your children. 

The History of Kwanzaa

Kwanzaa was founded in 1966 by Maulanga Karenga, an activist, and leader of the Black Power Movement, one year after the historic rebellion of black people that happened in the Watts neighborhood of Los Angeles, California.

The Watts rebellion was a response to years of abuse and poverty. It lasted for one week and left 34 people dead and 1,000 injured. Right after the rebellion ended, Karenga founded the Us Organization. Karenga’s purpose was to provoke a Black cultural revolution and make people proud of Black history and achievements. 

“…The cultural revolution gives identity, purpose, and direction.”

• Maulanga Karenga.

The way to achieve this, in his mind, was by creating an African-American holiday that celebrates their African heritage and cultural identity. 

In 1965, one year before the establishment of Kwanzaa, Karenga defined the principles and traditions of Kwanzaa using pan-African symbols and practices. He based his vision of Kwanzaa on the harvest festivals in Africa, believing they’re a great model for building cultural identity and community and family relationships. 

Kwanzaa Traditions 

Maulanga Karenga defined the seven principles of Kwanzaa, calling them “Nguzo Saba” (the seven principles of African heritage). Together, the seven principles make up Kawaida (meaning tradition). 

Each of the seven days during Kwanzaa celebrations symbolically represents one of the seven principles on which the holiday builds.  These principles are: 

• Umoja (Unity).
• Kujichagulia (Self-determination).
• Ujima (Collective work and responsibility).
• Ujamaa (Cooperative economics).
• Nia (Purpose).
• Kuumba (Creativity).
• Imani (Faith).

Kwanzaa is also distinguished by seven symbols including:  

• Makka (mat), a traditional straw or woven textile. It represents the base or the foundation on which the other symbols are placed. 
• Kinara (candle holder) holds seven candles. 
• Mishumaa Saba (the seven candles). 
• Mazao (crops).
• Mahindi (corn). 
• Kikombe cha Umoja (unity cup). 
• Zawadi (gifts).

Although the holiday struggled to achieve recognition in the early years, slowly, spreading through the word of mouth, it became a mainstream holiday in the 1980s in the USA and beyond. Throughout the years, the celebrations of Kwanzaa emphasized African heritage and family relationships (unity).

How People Celebrate Kwanzaa?

Looking at the history of Kwanzaa, one question that lingers on is – how do people celebrate Kwanzaa today? Are the above-described traditions still greatly preserved in modern celebrations, or are African-Americans embracing new ways to honor their heritage and cultural identity?

Traditional Celebrations

Kwanzaa celebrations begin the day after Christmas (December 26) and last for seven days, where each day symbolizes something different. The celebrations usually begin by placing a traditional straw mat on the dinner table, which represents the foundation on which the holiday is built upon. Upon the mat, people usually put fruits (representing the harvest), ears of corn (representing the children), and Kinara (candle holder) in the middle. 

The Kinara consists of seven candles. The candle in the middle is typically black, whereas the three candles on the left are red, and the remaining three candles on the right are green (representing the Afro-American flag).

Families and communities gather each day to reflect on one of the seven principles of Kwanzaa. It’s customary to greet family members and friends with the phrase “Habari gani” which means “What is the news?” The response varies depending on the principle of that day.  

Once all the family members are present around the table, the candle-lighting ceremony begins. Usually, an elder fills the unity cup with wine (juice for kids). While they fill the cup, they spill some of the wine on the earth (or earth-filled vessel) as a symbolic way of remembering the deceased. During this ceremony, the elder also makes a speech in honor of the departed family members and everything they left on their descendants. 

On the first day, the black candle is lit to represent all the people of African descent. After this, each day a new candle (once green, once red) is being lit. The order is said to represent the struggles and future hopes of African-American people. 

The 6th day of Kwanzaa, which falls on December 31st (New Year’s Eve), is a day of music and dancing and children usually receive gifts. 

Modern Celebrations

Today, people don’t celebrate Kwanzaa as intensely as they did back in the 1980s. Because of its recent creation, some people see Kwanzaa as a made-up holiday, although we have many world-wide accepted holidays with only a short but significant history. 

Nowadays, families celebrate Kwanzaa in a similar way because its guidelines are officially documented and easily available. However, it’s not uncommon for families to adjust the celebration in order to fit in their busy schedule. 

The most essential principle that’s preserved is that Kwanzaa is a time when families gather to celebrate their heritage and identity. Most also follow the main decoration of the dining table and honor the family’s descendants. 

The main difference to traditional celebrations is that many African-American families today celebrate both Kwanzaa and Christmas together. This might be viewed as a problem in traditional celebrations as one of the principles is kujichagulia (self-determination) which would be violated with the mixing of different holidays. Today, the celebrations are more flexible and allow for the integration of different holiday traditions. 

Teaching Kwanzaa for Kids

Aside from organizing a traditional Kwanzaa celebration and letting children participate, there are a few other things you can do to teach kids about Kwanzaa and its significance. Some of these activities include reading and discussing children’s books on the topic, consolidating key information through interactive worksheets or other material, watching movies, or planning a field trip to history museums (during the Covid-19 situation, virtual trips might be more appropriate).

Reading Material

One of the easiest ways to teach kids about the history and traditions of Kwanzaa is through specially designed children’s books. In a very simple way and with many illustrations, these books explain the core aspects of the holiday and make it easy for kids to grasp the basic ideas.

Some great children’s books about Kwanzaa for kids are: 

• K Is For Kwanzaa by Juwanda Ford and Ken Wilson-max (ideally for children between 4-8 years old).
• My First Kwanzaa (My First Holiday) by Karen Katz (ideally for children between 2-5 years old).
• Together for Kwanzaa (Pictureback(R) by Juwanda G. Ford and Shelly Hehenberger (ideally for children between 3-7 years old).
• My Family Celebrates Kwanzaa by Lisa Bullard and Constanza Basaluzzo (ideally for children between 5-8 years old).
• Seven Days Of Kwanzaa by Angela Shelf Medearis (ideally for children between 8-12 years old).

Interactive Worksheets and Lesson Plans 

Another great way to introduce this holiday to children is through our interactive worksheets that can help consolidate the facts you’ve presented. Worksheets help children make connections between different terms and meanings, as well as associate the terminology with Kwanzaa symbols. 

On our website, you’ll find a 27-page Kwanzaa worksheet pack that you can utilize within the classroom or home environment. The worksheet pack includes key information needed for creating a strong lesson plan, as well as worksheets on Kwanzaa’s seven principles, symbols, and celebrations, including famous African-Americans, and even poem writing. 

Documentaries and Movies

Unfortunately, there aren’t many Kwanzaa movies but we managed to find two good ones, which you can show to your students or watch at home with your children. 

A Rugrats Kwanzaa (2001) is an animated television special from the television series Rugrats. It explores Kwanzaa from a toddler’s perspective when his grandma comes to visit. 

The Black Candle (2008) is a documentary about the struggles of African-American communities. It shows the celebrations of Kwanzaa, its significance to the African-American people, and the holiday’s growth out of the Black Power Movement.

Visit the National Museum of African American History and Culture

Finally, another alternative is to organize a field trip to the National Museum of African American History and Culture. Considering the situation we’re currently in, we understand that a field trip might not be possible, which is why you can choose to visit the museum online, through many of the photos and videos available. 

The museum is located in Washington and today it offers many virtual exhibitions, online collections, and digital resources you can use.

Check out the museum’s website for upcoming virtual events that you and your child can participate in. 

Before You Leave

We hope that our article was a useful guide on how to teach and celebrate Kwanzaa with kids or students. We made sure to include some key information and facts regarding Kwanzaa’s history and significance in today’s African-American culture. Unfortunately, we don’t know how many people celebrate Kwanzaa today, but research from 2009 by Keith Mayes estimated that around 500,000 to 2 million Americans celebrate Kwanzaa. In 2012, another study from Public Policy Polling revealed that 4% of the participants celebrate Kwanzaa, which is more than Hanukkah.

What this tells us is that Kwanzaa is an important holiday for many American families and we should make sure to include it in our lessons. Our worksheets can be of big help when trying to compose a solid lesson plan for teaching kids about Kwanzaa, so don’t forget to check them out. 

Additionally, you can browse through our worksheet library and take a peek at everything else we offer. As a teacher or a homeschool parent, you’ll benefit by implementing some of our worksheets, curriculums, and lesson plans. They’re ready to use, hands-on materials that you can easily adjust to fit your student’s grade level. 

Finally, if you found this article useful, make sure to also follow our blog, where we regularly share insightful articles on every aspect of our children’s education.