Kwanzaa in the family

Kwanzaa in the family

As the season of Christmas approaches, we notice many traditions celebrated during this time. People in New York City attend the Macy’s Christmas parade; people in Chicago await the lighting of the Christmas tree while they stroll down Michigan Avenue viewing the Christmas decorations in the store windows. Catholics celebrate the Advent season as they await the birth of a savior and African Americans celebrate Kwanzaa as a way to affirm the African culture and connectedness of a larger African family.

Although Kwanzaa is not a Catholic tradition, it does offer a wonderful opportunity for family catechesis. Our Church reminds us in the General Directory for Catechesis that how we teach and live the faith in the home with our family is the foundation that precedes, accompanies and enriches all forms of catechesis. (GDC #226)

During the Advent season we pay special attention to the Holy Family as we anticipate the birth of Jesus. Chapter 1 of Matthews’s gospel gives an ancestral genealogy, which causes us to reflect on the history of the Jewish people and their encounter with God. The infancy narrative allows us to see the struggle and triumph of the Holy Family as they deal with the birth of a savior into the world.

Likewise, the Kwanzaa tradition embraces the same Advent principles. It is a time to gather the family, remember the ancestors and history, and express our hopes for the future. Dr. Maulanna Darenga founded the Kwanzaa celebration in 1966. Kwanzaa mean "the first fruits of the harvest" and it is celebrated from December 26-January 1. The family home is decorated with seven traditional symbols of Kwanzaa:

Mkeka – a straw place mat

Kinara – a candle holder for seven candles

Mazao – fruits and vegetables

Muhindi – ears of corn

Kikombe Cha Umoja – communal unity cup

Zawadi – gifts

Mishumma Saba – seven candles

Each day the family gathers after a meal and lights the Kwanzaa candle and reflects on the principle for the day. The seven Kwanzaa principles are

Umoja – Unity

Kujichagulia –Self-determination

Ujima – Collective Work and Responsibility

Ujamaa – Cooperative Economics

Nia – Purpose

Kumba – Creativity

Imani – Faith

On the last day the family gathers for a meal, lights the last candle and reflects on the meaning of all seven principles. The stories, symbols and values remembered during this time are a way for us to appreciate the richness of the African and African American culture. Such remembrance provides an opportunity for inculturation of family catechesis through the combining of spiritual principles and cultural traditions. For more information on how to celebrate Kwanzaa with your family log on to: www.archchicago.org under the peace and justice department and learn how to incorporate social justice into your Kwanzaa celebration. You may also log on to www.arusinetwork.org/Kwanzaa.pdf to obtain information on how to celebrate Kwanzaa in the home or in your parish. Happy Kwanzaa!