Kwanzaa

noun

Kwan·zaa | \ ˈkwän-zə

How to pronounce Kwanzaa (audio)

\

variants: or less commonly Kwanza

Definition of Kwanzaa

: 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.

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Cite this Entry

“Kwanzaa.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Kwanzaa. Accessed 23 May. 2022.

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More Definitions for Kwanzaa

Kwanzaa

noun

Kwan·zaa | \ ˈkwän-zə

\

Kids Definition of Kwanzaa

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

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