Decorating Your Home for Kwanzaa
Kwanzaa is celebrated December 26 through January 1 in honor of African American cultural heritage and traditional values. Draw inspiration for your decorations from African and African American crafts, paintings, sculptures, textiles, ceramics and photographs. Here are some ideas for decorating your home:
Display the Bendera Ya Taifa — the traditional Kwanzaa flag — on the wall.
Put up Nguzo Saba — the seven principles of Kwanzaa — posters around your home. Paint the Nguzo Saba on pieces of wood and display them on a mantel or bookshelf. The seven principles of Kwanzaa are:
• Umoja (unity)
• Kujichagulia (self-determination)
• Ujima (collective work and responsibility)
• Ujamaa (cooperative economics)
• Nia (purpose)
• Kuumba (creativity)
• Imani (faith)
Place the symbols of Kwanzaa throughout your home by decorating with ears of dried corn and other traditional African crops. Display a kinara — a seven-branch candle holder representing African ancestors — on a woven mat placed on a table or another prominent location in the house. Don't forget to include the Mishumaa Saba, seven candles representing the seven principles.
Creating DIY Kwanzaa Decorations
Make Kwanzaa decorations using the colors of red, green and black. Get the children involved with crafts, such as making and decorating hats or paper chain garland.
Create an afternoon of fun with the family or start a new family holiday tradition with your children creating their own decorations each year.
Make a DIY wreath in the traditional colors of Kwanzaa. Gather a foam ring, tinsel, and ornaments in red, green and black. Then take a look at How to Make a Wreath.
Finally, display your DIY decorations and spread the celebration throughout your home.