Happy Kwanzaa - Day 7 - Faith

  Principle of the Day

Day 7 - January 1st

Imani (ee-mah-nee)

Faith

To believe with all our hearts in our people, our parents, our teachers and our leaders and the righteousness and victory of our struggle.

Examples of Imani:

Having Faith in all you do, Giving thanks, praying, even mediatating can be seen as having faith.  When you believe in yourself and those around you, your are using the principle of Imani.

Finally, in our world and time when words of hope and change evaporate into business as usual, when peace is postponed for war, social programs put on hold, bankers bailed out and the poor erased from the agenda, Imani (Faith) offers a shield against despair, cynicism and paralyzing disappointment. Faith calls us to believe in the good we seek to create, to work for it, and to live it in our daily lives. Indeed, only in this way will we be able to repair and renew ourselves in the process and practice of repairing, rebuilding and renewing the world.”“In the spirit of the steadfast faith of our ancestors, let us meditate on and give ever-deeper meaning in actual practice to this Kwanzaa wish of good and prayerful request of our ancestors: May we speak truth and do justice everywhere. May we always evaluate rightfully and not act in disregard of the sacred and the people. May we enter praised and leave loved everywhere we go. May our speech be wholesome and without blame or injury to others. May we reject evil and embrace joy. May we live a lifetime of peace. And may we pass in peace having done Maat and brought good in the world.”-Dr. Maulana Karanga
Read More - https://elev8.hellobeautiful.com/657832/day-7-celebration-of-kwanzaa-imani-faith-3/

Happy Kwanzaa! Day 6 -Kuumba

   Principle of the Day

Day 6 - December 31st

Kuumba ( Koo -oom-bah)

Creativity

To do always as much as we can , in the way that we can, in order to leave our community more beautiful and beneficial than we inherited it.

Examples of Kuumba:
When you are being creative and using innovative ways, you are using Kuumba.  Drawing, dancing, acting shows creativity.  Being inventive, and finding ways to do different tasks is also being creative.

More on Kuumba..

Today is the six day of Kwanzaa. Families, friends, and communities come together on this day assess, reassess, celebrate and recommit themselves to bettering the lives of their families, communities, and indeed the world. The story of Lewis Latimer is marvelous example of the creativity principle. Latimer was a collaborative partner with Alexander Bell, Hiram Maxim and Thomas Edison. Bell invention of the telephone was incomplete and made possible with the drafting and drawing of the patent by Latimer. Thomas Edison invention of the light blub was inefficient, cost prohibitive, and ineffectual. Thus, it was left up to Latimer to improve upon the technology that was before him and invent the first carbon filament light bulb by combing previous manufacturing techniques with several new materials. Latimer’s light bulb was cost effective and long lasting, allowing families and businesses to live by lights. Thus, Latimer embodies the creativity principle and is a model to emulate

During the morning, afternoon, or evening, family (and friends) gathers around the “Kwanzaa Set” to light the red candle, share memories and stories of how they have contributed to bettering their family, school, faith-based institution, community; poetry, song, or historical accomplishments may be cited to reinforce and make reference to the defining elements of the creativity principle; and families discuss and evaluate commitments and practices around the creativity principle, and make commitments around the creativity principle for 2016.

Read more..
/http://thesource.com/2015/12/31/happy-kwanzaa-day-6-kuumbacreativity/

Happy Kwanzaa! Day 5 -Nia

   Principle of the Day

Day 5 - December 30th

Nia  (Nee - ah)

Purpose

To make our collective vocation the building and development of our community in order to restore our people to their traditional greatness

Examples of Nia :
 We all have a purpose.  Have you thought of yours? Your purpose may be to help others or to provide a particular  service.  It may be to build, to entertain or  to teach.  You may have a gift that can benefit yourself, your family and others.  Those gifts can change future generations. Tap into your purpose.  Let your light shine.

 Here is a great song to help you think about your purpose

Find Your Purpose By Ann Payne

Find your Nia !

  

Happy Kwanzaa - Day 4 - Ujamaa

   Principle of the Day

Day 4 - December 29th

Ujamma - (Oo-Jah-Mah)

Cooperative Economics

To build and maintain our own stores, shops and other businesses and to profit from them together.

Examples of Ujamma:

Creating our own shops and businesses and supporting one another. We should pool our monies and resources together to help support one another so we can benefit from them together.

Happy Kwanzaa -Day 3 - Ujima

Principle of the Day

Day 3 - December 28th

Ujima - (Oo-Jee-Mah)

Collective Work and Responsibility

To build and maintain our community together and make our brothers and sisters problems our problems and solve them together

Examples of Ujima:

Put simply, lift each other up.  We are our brothers and sisters keepers.  When you recognize  one needs help and is struggling, see what you can do to help them. As part of the community, helping them is helping yourself. Its a team effort.  What you want for yourself, you should want for others. We should all want each other to be successful.

Kwanzaa Simplified

      The  word Kwanzaa is derived from an African celebration and means first fruits.  First fruits celebrations were held historically all over Africa as a celebration of unity, good life  and community.
 Kwanzaa was created by Dr Maulana Karenga in 1966 as an African American, Pan - African Holiday that celebrates family, culture and community.
    
     The celebration is held over 7 days -  Dec 26 - Jan.1, and has 7 principles.  Each principle has a very specific meaning that is meant to unify bonds, motivate, uplift and inspire people of African decent through out the diaspora . It solidifies core values and belief systems that introduce and reinforce African values thru the seven principles called The Nguzo Saba.

      On each day of Kwanzaa, you greet each other with "Habari Gani ?" which means " Whats the news?" The expected response is the principle of the day.

Nguzo Saba - Seven Principles

Principle 1

Umoja - Unity

 December 26th   -

To strive for and maintain unity in the community, nation and race.

Principle 2

Kujichagulia - Self Determination

December 27th -

To define ourselves, name ourselves. create for ourselves and speak for ourselves.

Principle 3

Ujima - Collective Work and Responsibility

December 28th -

To build and maintain our community together and our brothers and sisters problems our problems and solve them together.

Principle 4

Ujamaa - Cooperative economics

December 29th -

To build and maintain our own stores, shops and other businesses and to profit from them together.

Principle 5

Nia - Purpose

December 30th -

To make our collective vocation the building and development of our community in order to restore our people to their traditional greatness

Principle 6

Kuumba - Creativity

December 31

To do always as much as we can , in the way that we can, in order to leave our community more beautiful and beneficial than we inherited it.

Principle 7

Imani - Faith

January 1

To believe with all our hearts in our people, our parents, our teachers and our leaders and the righteousness and victory of our struggle.

Kwanzaa Symbols

       A Kinara  or candle holder is used to hold 7 candles ( called Mishumaa Saba).  Each candle  represents one of the 7 principles.  One black candle is placed in the middle, and 3 red on the left and 3 green on the right.  The first candle lit is the black candle in the middle and  then each night the  candles are lit from the middle then left ( red)  to right (green)  Each night  you add another candle to the lighting as the principle and its meaning is read.

     Under the kinara a mat or Mkeka is used. The mkeka symbolizes foundation where all things are laid.  Corn on the cob or Muhindi  is placed to symbolize the children .If there is 1 child in the home 1 muhindi is placed, if there  are 2 children  you place  2 muhindi.
There is also a unity cup called the Makeka cha Umoja that everyone sips from in a display of Unity. It is also used to pour libations to the ancestors to give thanks for them paving the way.

     A Bandera is a Red black and green flag  that symbolizes African Liberation.

Red  the blood shed by those who fought for liberation

Black - the color of African skin

Green - for the earth, nature and land

Mazao are the crops and symbols that are symbolic of the harvest celebrations and of the productivity of working together.


On day 6  Kuumba,  there is a celebration or a Karamu where friends and family come together for a festivity of food, music, song and dance  There is an exchange of gifts.. Zawadi. These Zawadi are usually creative home made gifts. Families and friends unite and give thanks with 7 Harambees  Pronounced( Ha- ram - Bay).  Harambee  means Pull together. Hands are joined in a circle and  thrown up in unison as exclamations of Harambee are said 7 times A  long stretched out Harambeeeeee is said on the 7th one.

The principles of Kwanzaa are ones that should not just be used during the Kwanzaa season but everyday.  It can be such a great  resource to teach children values growing up.

Here is great Cd with Kwanzaa songs  entitled

Kwanzaa for Young People (and Everyone Else)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LvnQQcyPojs 

References:
http://officialkwanzaawebsite.org/index.shtml