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[[Category:Observances]][[Kwanzaa]] is an [[African-American]] [[holiday]] created in 1966 by radical Black activist [[Ron Karenga]], and consisiting of one week of celebrating, in honor of African-American heritage. The most well known-symbol of Kwanzaa is the Kinara, a candle holder with seven candles, which bears a similar, though not necessarily intentional, appearance to the [[Jewish]][[Category:Holidays]] [[menorah]] used during [[Hanukkah]].  

[[Category:Observances]][[Kwanzaa]] is an [[African-American]] [[holiday]] created in 1966 by radical Black activist [[Ron Karenga]], and consisiting of one week of celebrating, in honor of African-American heritage. The most well known-symbol of Kwanzaa is the Kinara, a candle holder with seven candles, which bears a similar, though not necessarily intentional, appearance to the [[Jewish]][[Category:Holidays]] [[menorah]] used during [[Hanukkah]].  

Its purpose is both to honor African-American heritage and to provide a holiday especially for African-Americans, so that they don't have to accept existing traditions. Dr. Karenga explains in his following quote: "...it was chosen to give a Black alternative to the existing holiday and give Blacks an opportunity to celebrate themselves and history, rather than simply imitate the practice of the dominant society." <ref>1</ref>

Its purpose is both to honor African-American heritage and to provide a holiday especially for African-Americans, so that they don't have to accept existing traditions. Dr. Karenga explains in his following quote: "...it was chosen to give a Black alternative to the existing holiday and give Blacks an opportunity to celebrate themselves and history, rather than simply imitate the practice of the dominant society." <ref>http://www.believersweb.org/view.cfm?ID=917</ref>

==Seven Principles of Kwanzaa==

==Seven Principles of Kwanzaa==

*Nia (Purpose) To make our collective vocation the building and developing of our community in order to restore our people to their traditional greatness.  

*Nia (Purpose) To make our collective vocation the building and developing of our community in order to restore our people to their traditional greatness.  

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

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

*Imani (Faith) To believe with all our heart in our people, our parents, our teachers, our leaders and the righteousness and victory of our struggle. <ref>2</ref>

*Imani (Faith) To believe with all our heart in our people, our parents, our teachers, our leaders and the righteousness and victory of our struggle. <ref>http://www.holidays.net/kwanzaa/principles.htm</ref>

==Criticism==

==Criticism==

Some criticize Kwanzaa as being a secular celebration, a major purpose of which is to detract from the religious meaning of Christmas and Hanukkah. One article questions why Dr. Karenga popularized Kwanzaa in winter if it is a harvest festival, the proper celebration time of which is fall. <ref>3</ref>

Some criticize Kwanzaa as being a secular celebration, a major purpose of which is to detract from the religious meaning of Christmas and Hanukkah. One article questions why Dr. Karenga popularized Kwanzaa in winter if it is a harvest festival, the proper celebration time of which is fall. <ref>

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==References==

==References==