Kwanzaa is a week-long celebration. The celebration honors African heritage in African-American culture, culminating in a feast and gift-giving. Kwanzaa has seven core principles (Nguzo Saba). It was created by Maulana Karenga, and was first celebrated in 1966–67.

Faith Without Borders

For everything there is a season—a time to die and a time to be born. With the arrival of winter’s low dark sky, communities around the world look to the miracle of light as a sign of rebirth and a source of hope. We celebrate the promise of new life and recommit ourselves to the protection of everyone’s right to his or her own radiant humanity.

Celebrating the winter holidays, thus, is an excellent opportunity for Unitarian Universalist congregations to express their commitment to our Sixth Principle: We covenant to affirm and promote the goal of world community with peace, liberty and justice for all. See Sixth Principle Resources for winter holidays.

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Unitarian Universalist Perspectives

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  • December second, Kwanzaa first celebrated (1966). Dr. Maulana Ron Karenga, Kwanzaa's founder, received some of the money needed to develop and publicize Kwanzaa through a Unitarian Universalist fund set up to support black empowerment. Drawing from traditional West African harvest celebrations...
    Image | By Ralph Yeager Roberts | November 23, 2015 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Kwanzaa, Multiculturalism, Race/Ethnicity
  • O come all you faithful, rejoicing and victorious, Come, let us embrace the mystery in the spirit of life, as we celebrate the goodness of Kwanzaa and the the African American heritage. Come and give thanks for companions on the journey in the struggle for freedom and justice....
    Prayer | By Addae Ama Kraba | January 25, 2015 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Community, Diversity, Human Rights, Justice, Kwanzaa, Race/Ethnicity, Unitarian Universalism
  • Frances, an African American woman: To be African-American in this country is to face racism throughout life, however subtle. The love of one’s family is paramount in reducing the damage of racism on one’s wholeness. Unitarian Universalism is splendid as an affirming church family. Its primary...
    Reading | By Mark Hicks | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: 1st Principle (Worth & Dignity), 2nd Principle (Justice, Equity, & Compassion), 3rd Principle (Acceptance & Spiritual Growth), 6th Principle (World Community), Anti-Oppression, Black History / Whitney Young / James Reeb, Diversity, Kwanzaa, Martin Luther King, Jr. Sunday, Multiculturalism, Race/Ethnicity, Unitarian Universalism, Multiculturalism
  • This service is best done between Kwanzaa and Martin Luther King Day. The worship table is set up to clearly suggest Kwanzaa, although it does not have to have all of the elements of Kwanzaa on it. I used a straw mat, several ears of corn, and the wooden Kwanzaa cup along with the seven candles...
    Complete Service | By Gail Forsyth-Vail | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Kwanzaa
  • Now is the moment of magic, when the whole, round earth turns again toward the sun....
    Meditation | By Victoria Safford | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Awe, Christmas Eve / Christmas, Connections, Earth-Centered, Gratitude, Hanukkah, IllUUmination, Kwanzaa, Love, Winter Solstice / Yule, Wonder
  • George: This is Angel Gabriel of KGOD airwaves, coming to you live from the downtown mall in Bethlehem. The air is positively solar as frenzied shoppers scurry from store to store, their camels and donkeys weighted down with purchases. The beasts bawl. There are only, count ‘em and weep shoppers,...
    Story | By Lois Van Leer | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Christianity, Hanukkah, Judaism, Kwanzaa, Multiculturalism, Paganism, Winter Solstice / Yule, Multiculturalism