TOOELE, Utah ( ABC4 ) — Kwanzaa, the week-long celebration honoring African heritage, begins today and many have already begun to observe it.
Daniel Houston, a Tooele man, says he only started celebrating Kwanzaa a few years ago. “I actually celebrated, my first year, without any of the candles,” Houston said.
Born out of the Black Freedom Movement of the 1960s, the holiday was first established by African American author, Dr. Maulana Karenga, in an effort to reconnect Black communities, according to the Associated Press.
Kwanzaa celebration and its meaning
The holiday is often observed using a number of items that symbolize many African values. The centerpiece, for example, dawns seven candles which represent the seven principles (Nguzo Saba). Even the candles’ colors have meaning. The black represents the people, while red and green represent struggle and hope.
“I’ve always been around it in my family…red, black, and green beads my grandpa [used to] make,” Houston said.
