Kwanzaa eCards

History of Kwanzaa

After the turbulent Watts Riots in Los Angeles in 1966, activist Maulana Karenga created Kwanzaa as an African-American holiday to celebrate African-American culture, community, and family. Karenga said that his goal was to “give blacks an opportunity to celebrate themselves and their history”. 

The name Kwanzaa comes from the Swahili phrase “matunda ya kwanzaa” which can be translated to “first fruits”. In many parts of African, they already celebrated many “first fruits” festivals in coordination with harvest season and December’s Southern Solstice. Karenga added an extra “a” onto Kwanzaa so that it would have seven letters. The number seven is symbolic in many African cultures. 

Since its beginning in Los Angeles, the celebration has spread worldwide. 

When is Kwanzaa Celebrated? 

Kwanzaa is celebrated from December 26 to January 1 every year. People gather with friends and family in homes, and some celebrate in community-wide events that include interpretive dance, readings, drumming and music, and food. 

Kwanzaa’s Seven Principles

Similiarly to Hannukah, Kwanzaa’s celebrations center around the lighting of a candleabra, called a Kinara. The seven candles, or mishumaa saba, of the Kinara celebrate the seven principles of Kwanzaa, also called the Nguzo Saba. These are: 

• Umoja, or unity; to maintain family and community unity. 
• Kujichagulia, or self-determination; this principle is centered around defining oneself and speaking truth about oneself. 
• Ujima, or responsibility; this principle is a reminder to build and maintain community together and to help one another. 
• Ujamaa, or cooperative economics; this principle is a reminder to build and maintain black-owned stores and businesses and to make a point to buy from other black-owned businesses. 
• Nia, or purpose; this principle is centered around building community to restore traditions. 
• Kuumba, or creativity; this principle is a reminder to leave the community and world more beautiful and more prosperous than how it was inherited. 
• Imani, for faith; this principle is a reminder to believe in self, family, teachers, and leaders. 

Other symbols of Kwanzaa include crops, or mazao, corn, or mahindi, a unity cup, or kikombe cha umoja, and the exchange of gifts, or zawadi. 

The Kwanzaa celebration lasts for seven days, and traditionally includes a community feast, also called Karamu, on the sixth night.

How Kwanzaa is Celebrated

Many families celebrate Kwanzaa by decorating their home with colorful African art, kente cloths, and by wearing kaftans; they also eat fresh fruits, drink from a communal cup, and greet one another by saying “Joyous Kwanzaa”. 

Some celebrations will include drumming and music or dance, and will include a discussion of the seven principles or by reading about African history. Most celebrations include a candle lighting ritual. Some large celebrations of Kwanzaa include the Spirit of Kwanzaa celebration at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. 

Kwanzaa is celebrated around the world, with festivities in Great Britain, Jamaica, France, Canada, and Brazil as well as in the United States. 

Who to Send a Kwanzaa ecard

Sending a Kwanzaa ecard is a great way to celebrate this season with family and friends who are far away. There are ecard options for everyone in your life, from solemn observance cards to celebratory cards. Here are a few of the people that you could exchange cards with this year: 

• Your parents - Sending a Kwanzaa ecard is a great way to tell your parents how much you appreciate their sacrifices through the years. When you can’t be together in person, an ecard can be a wonderful way to remind them of the joy you share as a family. 
• Your grandparents - Grandparents not only offer gifts when we are children, but they offer their wisdom, generosity, and love no matter how old we are. Send them a Kwanzaa ecard to let them know how much you appreciate the lessons they shared with you and how those lessons have shaped the person you are now. 
• Your children or grandchildren - We can’t always be together during holiday events, but that doesn’t mean we can’t still share a moment together. Sending a Kwanzaa ecard to the young ones in your life is a wonderful way to remind them that even when you are apart, you can still celebrate together. 
• Your friends and extended family - Kwanzaa is a celebration of unity and community above all else. Sharing your love and memories with friends and family is a wonderful remembrance of the seven principles. 
• Your minister - The principle of Imani is a large part of the Kwanzaa celebration. Remembering your minister during this important time is a wonderful way of giving back to the men and women who lead us daily to be better than we were before. 

What to Write in a Kwanzaa Ecard

There are several ways to begin a Kwanzaa ecard. Here are a few Kwanzaa greetings for you can use for inspiration: 

• Joyous Kwanzaa!
• Happy Solstice!
• Greetings! Habari Gani! (How are you?)
• Sending warm wishes to your family this Kwanzaa season. 
• Light, happiness, and peace to you in the coming year. 
• Kwanzaa blessings to you and yours. 

One question that is often asked: Should Kwanzaa cards be serious or funny? The answer depends on person to whom you send the card. A child may enjoy a whimsical image and saying while a grandparent or minister may appreciate a more serious or solemn touch with the card. What is important is that your message come from the heart. You can make your own Kwanzaa ecard here. A Kwanzaa ecard is certain to show your friends and family that you love them, especially when you can’t be together in person, and will be a gesture they hold close all year round!