As we drive around our neighborhoods during this time of year, we see beautiful lights adorning trees and houses in and around the city. Christmas is a holiday to celebrate with lights. Lights on the trees, displayed on our homes, and hung from the Christmas tree, which we so lovingly put in our houses to adorn with presents. But did you know that Christmas is not the only significant holiday that is celebrated this time of year with lights?
Kwanzaa is a celebration in the United States to honor African-American heritage and culture. It is a weeklong celebration that runs from December 26th - January 1 each year. The festival includes activities such as lighting a candleholder called a kinara. The seven candles in the kinara represent each of the seven principles of Kwanzaa, and a different candle is lit on each day of the celebration. The seven principles are: Unity, Self-Determination, Collective Work and Responsibility, Cooperative Economics, Purpose, Creativity, and Faith.
