Happy Kwanzaa!

[snginc]

Kwanzaa Seven Principles

The Kwanzaa holiday was created to introduce and reinforce seven principles which were viewed as core value systems for healthy and thriving families, stable and loving and caring relationships, effective parenting practices, school achievement, and non violent, safe and productive communities. Thus, the seven days of the Kwanzaa holiday is organized around the seven principles of Kwanzaa: Unity, Self-determination, Collective Work and Responsibility, Shared Wealth, Purpose, Creativity and Faith.

Today is the first of the 7 days of Kwanzaa!  Today's Principle is Umoja (Unity):

Umoja principle instructs that each member of the family and by extension the community is constituted by a web of interpersonal relationships. The health and possibilities of the family and community, therefore, is dependent upon the quality of relationship within the family and community.

Note:  This information comes from the Kwanzaa Guide.

[magicman]

Wow - what a great post...interesting, entertaining and enlightening. Thanks.-MM

BTW - Is there a free guide available for this celebration - I'd like to learn more.

[snginc]

Thanks Magic Man!  I like helping to expand people's knowledge.

Here is the link to the Official Kwanzaa Website http://www.officialkwanzaawebsite.org/index.shtml

The Principle for Day 2 of Kwanzaa is Kujichagulia (Self Determination):

Kujichagulia principle says African Americans, like all people, need shared cultural values, symbols, rituals, and practices in order to give their families and children meaning and value, and identity and community.

Note:  This information comes from the Kwanzaa Guide.

[snginc]

The Principle for Day 3 of Kwanzaa is Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility):

Ujima principle teaches each family member to recognize that their own well-being is derived from their family and community’ well being and that they must be concern with the overall health of their family and community; and that the lives of each family member and that of the community are bound together.

Note:  This information comes from the Kwanzaa Guide.

[Mark Austin]

Thanks for the informative post Jerome. Happy Kwanzaa  everyone!

Mark

[Jim Burney]

Thanks Magic Man!  I like helping to expand people's knowledge.

Well you certainly did that for me Jerome.

Never heard of this celebration before. 

Jim

[snginc]

I just wanted to show everyone that there are other traditions going on during this time of year!  I participate in the City Wide Kwanzaa Celebration in my hometown and thought it would be nice to share what exactly we celebrate. 

Jerome

Thanks for the informative post Jerome. Happy Kwanzaa  everyone!

Mark

[snginc]

Next year marks the 40th year of Kwanzaa!  It's a little known tradition that is slowly growing.  You can read more here on the Official Kwanzaa site http://www.officialkwanzaawebsite.org/index.shtml

Jerome

Well you certainly did that for me Jerome.

Never heard of this celebration before. 

Jim

[snginc]

The Principle for Day 4 of Kwanzaa is Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics):

Ujamaa principle empowers families and communities to come together around their collective economic interest and to see their economic strength in co-opt owning and buying as in employee owned credit unions.

Note:  This information comes from the Kwanzaa Guide.

[snginc]

The Principle for Day 5 of Kwanzaa is Nia (Purpose)

Nia principle instructs each family member to see him or herself as linked to the larger project of nation building. “An individual has not started to live until he or she can rise above the narrow confines of his or her individualistic concerns to the broader concerns of humanity”, Martin Luther King, Jr. instructs.

Note:  This information comes from the Kwanzaa Guide.

[snginc]

The Principle for Day 6 of Kwanzaa is Kuumba (Creativity):

Kuumba principle demands continuous improvement in personal and family and social matters. George Washington Carver teaches us all that “No one has a right to come in to the world without leaving behind a distinct and legitimate reason for having passed though it”.

Note:  This information comes from the Kwanzaa Guide.

[KarenMcG]

Thanks for the "running information of posts" about Kwanzaa, Jerome!

I'd heard of it, but I didn't know all the history/details that you've shared. Thank  you.

Happy Kwanzaa, all.

Karen

[snginc]

You're welcome Karen!  There's more to life than IM and I wanted to share part of mine with all of you!

Jerome

Thanks for the "running information of posts" about Kwanzaa, Jerome!

I'd heard of it, but I didn't know all the history/details that you've shared. Thank  you.

Happy Kwanzaa, all.

Karen

[snginc]

Today is the last day of Kwanzaa!  I hope these 7 days have been enlightening for you.

The Principle for Day 7 of Kwanzaa is Imani (Faith):

Imani principle teaches personal and collective efficacy. Mary McLeod Bethune says: “Without faith nothing is possible; with faith nothing is impossible. Faith in god is the greatest power, but great to is faith in oneself”. Howard Thurman teaches that faith is the “promise of tomorrow at the close of everyday, the triumph of life in the defiance of death.”

Note:  This information comes from the Kwanzaa Guide.

[snginc]

Here are all 7 Principles of Kwanzaa

Source: http://officialkwanzaawebsite.org/NguzoSaba.shtml