When it comes to the holiday season, Kwanzaa is always mentioned right alongside Christmas and Hanukkah. But unlike these religious holidays, the meaning behind Kwanzaa is not as well-known.
According to the Official Kwanzaa Web site, "Kwanzaa is an African American and Pan-African holiday which celebrates family, community and culture."
"The name Kwanzaa is derived from the phrase 'matunda ya kwanza' which means 'first fruits' in Swahili, a Pan-African language which is the most widely spoken African language," the site states.
It was created by Maulana Karenga, a black scholar and social activist. Karenga is a professor of Africana studies at the California State University at Long Beach.
The holiday occurs from Dec. 26 to Jan. 1 every year.
On each of the seven days of Kwanzaa, those who observe light candles to symbolize each of the "Nguzo Saba," or seven principles of Kwanzaa. These include unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity, and faith.
"I don't think it's recognized as much as it should be," said Kim Corredor, a 7th-semester political science and Spanish major. "It's important to celebrate your culture. Like for Latinos we have Hispanic Heritage Month."
The African-American Cultural Center sponsored its 15th annual Kwanzaa celebration Friday in the Student Union Ballroom.
"Kwanzaa is nationally observed Dec. 26, but since we are not in session we collapse it all into one day," said AACC Director Willena Kimpson Price. "We do our candle lighting, and Kwanzaa always includes a feast that you share with people you love, so we collapse it all into one [event]."
In the past, the event has featured a guest speaker. This year's speaker, Farrah Gray, had to be cancelled at the last minute due to budget cuts.
"He is a 24-year-old African-American multimillionaire, which is just like 'Oh my God,'" Price said.
Instead, Price said the students would see video of "interviews that were done, just to give students a sense that that is something they can aspire to," she said before the event. In addition, Price said the event would also feature student performances.
As of press time, many different student groups, including choirs, dance groups and drummers were scheduled to perform at the Kwanzaa dinner.
"Even a young lady who is residing in a juvenile detention center in Willimantic, which is one of our partners in Community Outreach, is performing. She has the most wonderful voice," Price said last week.
"This is the first time we haven't been able to have a speaker, but it's the last day of classes and everyone gets really excited for it," said Price, who also celebrates Kwanzaa in just one day at home.
"It's a big deal. It's a wonderful family time. To get people motivated for exams and everything is really great," she said.
Students think the values of Kwanzaa are important beyond the holiday.
"We have reached a new point in our country where unity is very important, and that is a big feature of Kwanzaa," Corredor said.
Price points out that the overarching ideals of Kwanzaa span outside the realm of the Black community.
"You don't have to be African-American; you just have to believe in the power and the voices of humanity, no matter how diverse they are. Everyone can get something out of it," Price said.
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