Kwanzaa Holiday Brings Cultures, Religions Together

Remembering the struggles of their ancestors and pointing to hope for the future, families and friends from the African-American community gathered Saturday night to celebrate Kwanzaa.

Nearly 100 people squeezed into a small room in the East Central Community Seventh-day Adventist Church to learn what the ceremony was all about.

“Now that I have been to my first one, I can do a little reading up on it,” said Manuel Brown.

Kwanzaa is a seven-day, non-denominational holiday that blends principles from many cultures and religions.

The holiday, which ends on Jan. 1, focuses on seven principles: unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity and faith.

Each day, as celebrants examine one of the seven principles, they light one of seven candles to symbolize their belief. The study of unity and the lighting of the black candle in the center of the kinara, which holds the candles, kicks off the celebration.

Celebrants then alternate between two groups of principles and their corresponding candles. Three red candles on the left represent principles of struggle. The three green candles on the right represent principles of the future.

“‘Nia’ means to build a community,” said Danielle Logwood before lighting the second of the three green candles.

“Faith is what I have in myself, family and friends,” said Phillip Reed, explaining ‘imani,’ the last principle. “I know that if I have faith I can do anything.”

A large spread of traditional African and African-American cuisine is also part of the holiday.

Saturday’s ceremony and feast marked the first public Kwanzaa celebration in Spokane.

“It’s a tradition I’d like to continue with my family,” Djuana Kelley said.

Kwanzaa’s popularity is spreading across the country. An estimated 10 million Americans have embraced the 29-year-old celebration.

“It’s not only important that we follow these principles today, but that we follow them every day,” said Debra Reed.

The ceremony closed with the harambee chant, a proclamation of unity.

“Harambee. Harambee. Harambee. Harambee. Harambee. Harambee. Harambeeeeeee,” everyone chanted while thrusting a hand in the air and pulling it back to their chest.

After a quick blessing, the race was on for the feast, marking the completion of Saturday’s celebration.

“Now we know how to do it,” said Ella Huffman, one of the organizers.

Next year, the Spokane group hopes to attract even more interest.

“Kwanzaa’s about unity and educating our community so we would open our doors to everybody because that’s the kind of program it is,” Reed said.

, DataTimes