Kwanzaa celebrates African-American heritage. Here’s how it came to be—and what it means today. Since its founding in 1966, the weeklong holiday has been observed with candle lighting ...

The candles also represent the Kwanzaa flag (Bendera) created by Marcus Garvey and represent African gods. Red is the color of Shango, the Yoruba god of fire, thunder and lightning; ...

A candle is lit each night as celebrants review one of the seven principles of the holiday. Kinara, $150, from Zambezi Bazaar African Crafts & Gifts, 4334 Degnan Blvd., Los Angeles. (323) 299-6383.

Kwanzaa is celebrated every year from Dec. 26 to Jan. 1. It always lasts seven days for the seven principles. This year, it will be from Thursday, Dec. 26 to Wednesday Jan. 1.

Come each December, high atop the choir loft of St. Luke Community United Methodist Church in Dallas sit the traditional three purple and one pink Advent candles for several Sundays. But as the ...

Kwanzaa starts today, here's everything you need to know about the week-long holiday. The holiday is a seven-night celebration that honors African American culture.

The candles symbolize the people, their struggle and hope for the future. One candle is lit each night, starting with the black candle. Food is an important part of Kwanzaa, with families cooking ...

Families will light a Kinara — a candle holder that holds seven candles — for Kwanzaa (SeventyFour/Getty Images) Your support helps us to tell the story. Read more. Support Now.

The 7-day celebration of Kwanzaa runs from December 26 through January 1. ... The first principle of Kwanzaa—represented by the lighting of the only black candle— means Umoja or unity.