Kwanzaa

noun

Kwan·​zaa ˈkwän-zə 

variants or less commonly Kwanza

: an African American cultural festival held from December 26 to January 1

Did you know?

In 1966, Maulana Karenga, a Black Studies professor at California State University at Long Beach, created a new holiday patterned after traditional African harvest festivals. He called it Kwanzaa, a name he took from a Swahili term that means "first fruits." The holiday, which takes place from December 26th to January 1st, was originally intended as a nonreligious celebration of family and social values. Each day of Kwanzaa is dedicated to one of seven principles: unity, self-determination, collective responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity, and faith.

Word History

Etymology

Swahili kwanza first

First Known Use

1970, in the meaning defined above

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Kids Definition

Kwanzaa

noun

Kwan·​zaa ˈkwän-zə 

: an African-American cultural festival held from December 26 to January 1

Etymology

Swahili kwanza "first," in the phrase matunda ya kwanza "first fruits"