NEW YORK (1010 WINS) -- Kwanzaa celebrations are underway Thursday. The week-long annual celebration held in the United States and other nations of the African diaspora in the Americas honors African heritage in African-American culture.
It is observed from Dec. 26 to Jan. 1, ending in gift-giving and a feast.
The White House released a presidential statement in honor of those observing Kwanzaa.
"For more than 50 years, this week long celebration has been used to honor the heritage and culture African Americans share around the country and worldwide. Every aspect of American life has been enriched by the countless contributions of African Americans," the statement said. Adding "Kwanzaa is an opportunity to foster deeper cultural understanding and build stronger bonds of mutual respect and friendship between all Americans.'
Kwanzaa has seven core principles which are celebrated throughout the seven days.
The principles include unity, creativity, faith and purpose.
The holiday was created in 1966 by Maulana Karenga, a black nationalist and professor of Pan-African studies at California State University at Long Beach and the name comes from the Swahili phrase "matunda ya kwanza," which means "first fruits."
These are those principles and their meanings.
Umoja: Umoja means unity in Swahili.
Kujichagulia: Self-determination. This principle refers to defining, naming, creating and speaking for oneself.
Ujima: Translated as "collective work and responsibility," it refers to uplifting your community.
Ujamaa: Cooperative economics. this principle refers to uplifting your community economically.
Nia: Nia means purpose.
Kuumba: Kuumba means creativity.
Imani: This principle translates to faith.
Each day of the festival is dedicated to a specific principle and is marked by the lighting of a new candle of a seven-branched candelabra called a kinara.