12/20/2024

A Beginner’s Guide to Kwanzaa

It is celebrated in countries with large African descendant populations

Kwanzaa has become a nationally recognized celebration of African culture and community in the United States since its founding in 1966 and also is celebrated in countries with large African descendant populations.

The holiday, which serves as a nationwide communal event reinforcing self-determination and unity in the face of oppression, spans seven days from the day after Christmas through New Year's Day. It is observed in large, city-sponsored events as well as in smaller communities and homes nationwide.

Kwanzaa has grown in popularity in the decades since its founding and is celebrated by 3 percent of the country, according to a 2019 AP-NORC survey. Former Presidents Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Barack Obama all released statements commemorating the holiday; in 1997, the U.S. Postal Service began issuing Kwanzaa stamps. It is not recognized as a federal holiday.

Please select this link to read the complete article from TIME.