Kwanzaa celebrations begin on December 26 and last for seven days. Here are some books, DVDs, and more to help you celebrate Kwanzaa!

There are several non-fiction books and DVD’s about Kwanzaa in the Youth Services Department. Here is a selection of titles:

• Celebrating Kwanzaa by Barbara M. Linde
• Kwanzaa by Rachel A. Koestler-Grack
• Kwanzaa by Lisa M. Herrington
• Kevin’s Kwanzaa by Lisa Bullard
• How to Celebrate the African-American Holiday Kwanzaa [DVD]
• Kwanzaa [DVD]

Each night of Kwanzaa, a candle in the kinara candleholder is lit. The candles and their colors represent certain principles. On the first day, the black candle is lit. It represents umoja  or unity. For the next six days, the red and greed candles are lit, alternating, beginning with red and ending with green. The second candle is for kujichagulia, or self-determination (what you want to be, how you accomplish that). The third is for ujima, helping those less fortunate. The fourth is ujamaa, or supporting black-owned businesses. The fifth candle is for the principle of nia, or purpose; and the sixth is for creativity or kuumba. The last candle is green. It represents imani, or faith in oneself and one’s community.

Kinara Song (tune of “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star”)
First light BLACK for UNITY
Next RED for who you want to be
Light the GREEN and help the poor  
Support black business on day FOUR
NIA means purpose, light the GREEN
Day SIX, let creativity be seen!
FAITH is last, GREEN for IMANI —
Belief in you and in me!
Light the KINARA for SEVEN days!
Joyous Kwanzaa, Happy Holidays!

These holiday craft books and African and African American cookbooks will add a festive and delicious touch to any party, or karamu:

• Homemade Holidays: 150 Festive Crafts, Recipes, Gifts and Parties edited by Deanna Cook
• Creating Winter Crafts by Dana Meachen Rau
• Holiday Crafting and Baking with Kids: Gifts, Sweets, and Treats for the Whole Family! by Jessica Strand
• Zoe’s Ghana Kitchen: Traditional Ghanaian Recipes Remixed for the Modern Kitchen by Zoe Adjonyoh
• The Rise: Black Cooks and the Soul of American Food by Marcus Samuelsson
• Jubilee: Recipes From Two Centuries of African American Cooking by Toni Tipton-Martin