Kwanzaa - Why is there a Kwanzaa?
Other Links: Why is there a Christmas? Why is there a Hanukkah?

Kwanzaa is a week-long holiday observance held from December 26 to January 1 honoring African-American heritage, primarily in the United States. Timed to serve as an alternative to the growing commercialism of Christmas, it was founded in 1966 by Ron Karenga (Ron Everett). Kwanzaa is not a religious holiday, but a cultural one, a syncretic festival, based on various elements of the first harvest celebrations widely celebrated in Africa, around the 10th month of the year. According to a survey conducted by the National Retail Foundation in October 2004, 1.6% of consumers celebrate Kwanzaa.

The name Kwanzaa derives from the Swahili phrase 'matunda ya kwanza', meaning "first fruits". The additional "a" was added to "Kwanza" so that the word would have seven letters, one for each of the Seven Principles, or Nguzo (originally, Nguzu) Saba, of Blackness. Each of the seven days of Kwanzaa is dedicated to one of the following principles. In order, they are:

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

As is customary with most holidays, hosts of Kwanzaa observances choose the best and most beautiful items to display and use. This means taking time to plan and select the most beautiful objects of art, colorful African cloth, and fresh fruits so that every object used represents African idealism and a commitment to the holiday in the best of ways. It is customary to include children in Kwanzaa ceremonies and to give respect and gratitude to one's ancestors. Often libations are poured, an African custom that has survived in the African-American community to this day. Celebrants are expected to arrive at the celebration with respect for its values, symbols and practices and to do nothing to violate its meaning.

When Kwanzaa was established, observers eschewed the mixing of the holiday or its symbols, values and practice with the holidays of any other culture. The feeling was that doing so would violate the principle of kujichagulia (self-determination) and thus violate the integrity of the holiday, which is intended, in part, as a reclamation of certain important African values. However, many African-American families who celebrate Kwanzaa also celebrate Christmas and New Year's, with both Christmas trees and kinaras inhabiting the same space. They view Kwanzaa as an opportunity to incorporate elements which speak to their particular ethnic heritage into holiday observances and celebrations during the Christmas season.

Kwanzaa can be seen to be celebrated in the third series of the cult superhero drama "Power Rangers" when Aisha holds a holiday festival for the citizens of Angel Grove.

On episode 3 of season 3 of the television show Futurama, the character Kwanzabot states that there "ain't no body down with this Kwanza tip" and that he has no time to help Bender because he has to hand out the traditional Kwanzaa book, "What The Hell Is Kwanza?". He then sighs and says that he's been giving the book out for 640 years.

It is also featured in the episode "Into the Woods" of the cult television show Buffy the Vampire Slayer .

In one holiday sketch on Late Night with Conan O'Brien, Conan O'Brien, his Jewish musician Max Weinberg, and his announcer Joel Godard all decided to represent the three major holidays of the winter season. Conan took Christmas, Max took Hanukkah while Joel took Kwanzaa despite not being African-American.

Aaron McGruder, author of the popular comic strip The Boondocks, known for its biting social commentary from an African-American perspective, wrote in his 12/27/2004 strip: "'Twas two nights into Kwanzaa, with a chill in the air - and no one was stirring 'cause nobody cared." (picture of Granddad sleeping) / "The family all thought of Kwanzaa as wack..." (picture of Riley sleeping) / "Even young Huey, who's very pro-Black..." (picture of Huey sleeping). On 12/28/2004, he said: "Granddad was nestled, all snug in his bed-" (picture of Granddad sleeping) / "Without thinking of Kente cloths - black, green or red... 'Cause Kwanzaa, he said, ain't no real holiday..." (picture of Granddad sleeping) / "Just a bunch of African words he can't say..." (picture of Granddad thinking "...Kujijhagoo - What?").