As the holiday season draws to a close, the final celebration on the calendar before New Year’s is Kwanzaa. Kwanzaa is not a religious holiday; instead, it was established in 1966 to celebrate the African-American heritage and to reinforce positive values within the community. It is celebrated over the course of seven days, beginning on December 26th, and ending on January 1st. December 31st is the major feast day, when a festive meal is prepared for family and friends.
There are plenty of ways to help kids learn about Kwanzaa. One way for them to gain a better understanding of the holiday is to have them make a traditional candle holder, known as a kinara, which holds a candle for each of the seven days of Kwanzaa. Each station on the kinara can then be labeled with one of the seven principles of the holiday, and a candle lit on each day, leading up to January 1st (with an adult’s supervision, of course!).
Next, get children excited to learn about Kwanzaa by having them help out in the kitchen while preparing several traditional Kwanzaa recipes. This is the perfect way to have your own mini-feast! Dishes such as Salmon Croquettes and Sweet Potato Pecan Bars are fun foods that kids can enjoy helping you make, and enjoy eating even more.
Finally, help kids learn about Kwanzaa and internalize the seven principles through a variety of activities which engage them in the learning process. Simple printable Kwanzaa coloring pages detailing the lessons of the holiday are one way to do just that. Or, try helping them make a Kwanzaa handprint wreath – an enduring way to preserve memories of the holiday and see how kids have grown throughout the years.
No matter how you choose to learn about Kwanzaa, with so many fun things to do, it’s sure to be an exciting and educational time for everyone!