Let's talk basics

For those who would like an introduction to Kwanzaa, here's some basic history.

Maulana Karenga, a California professor, started the seven-day holiday celebration in 1966. Though it falls close to Christmas Day and Hanukkah, it isn't religious. It's based on ancient customs and heritage, and it celebrates traditions and values from throughout the African continent.

The word "Kwanzaa" comes from the Swahili word kwanza, or "first fruits" of the harvest. The extra "a" was added to give the word seven letters.

Each day of the celebration has lessons: a principle, a symbol and a candle. The principles and symbols also come from Swahili. Each night, a different candle on the kinara, or wooden candleholder, is lit. The kinara has seven candles — a black one in the center, three red on one side and three green on the other.

Gifts aren't an important part of the holiday. If they are given, they should be handmade or have special significance. Emphasis is on the passing down of family traditions.

● Day 1

Principle: Umoja, or unity. Stands for the unity of the family, community, nation and race.

Symbol: Mazao, or fruits and vegetables. Symbolizes the wealth of the harvest and hard work.

Candle: The first one lit is the black, which signifies the African people.

● Day 2

Principle: Kujichagulia, or self-determination. The value means people should speak for themselves and choose their own path.

Symbol: Mkeka, or straw mat. The kinara sits on top, and the mat stands for history and tradition.

Candle: The inside red. The red candles represents the struggle of black Americans.

● Day 3

Principle: Ujima, or collective work and responsibility.

Symbol: Kinara, the wooden candleholder, symbolizes roots and continental Africans.

Candle: The inside green. Green candles stand for the fertility of the earth.

● Day 4

Principle: Ujamaa, or cooperative economics. This is the belief that people should work and profit together.

Symbol: Muhindi, or ears of corn. Because these symbolize children and their future, an ear for each child and grandchild is placed on the mkeka.

Candle: The middle red.

● Day 5

Principle: Nia, or purpose. African-Americans are encouraged to strengthen the community.

Symbol: Zawadi, or the gifts. Meaningful presents strengthen the bond between parent and child.

Candle: The middle green.

● Day 6

Principle: Kuumba, or creativity. People are encouraged to leave the world more beautiful than they found it.

Symbol: Kikombe cha umoja, or the unity cup. The cup is shared among friends and family and can be used, by pouring out a drink offering, to honor ancestors.

Candle: The outside red candle.

● Day 7

Principle: Imani, or faith. This is the most important value. It stands for faith in yourself and your people.

Symbol: Mishumaa sabe, or the seven candles. All will be lit on that night.

Candle: The outside green.

● To help teach her students about Kwanzaa, Moss uses basic activities and books.

Here are some suggestions for crafts and the like that families can do together.

l Make a mkeka

You'll need: 1/4-inch red, green and black ribbon, foam core sheet or something sturdy that thumb tacks can be pushed into, thumb tacks, scissors, iron-on interfacing, Fray Check or glue and an iron.

Directions:

1. Decide how big you want your mat.

2. Cut the ribbons in each of the colors to the correct length. You'll need enough to cover the board both horizontally and vertically.

3. Place half the ribbons in rows, face down, on the board and tack them down.

4. Weave the other half of the ribbons, face down, across the tacked-down ribbons.

5. Cut a piece of interfacing to fit the back of the ribbons and iron it on, adhesive-side down.

6. Take the tacks out of the ribbons and trim them below the holes. Use Fray Check or glue to seal the ends of the ribbons.

l Talk about fiscal responsibility

On Day 4, Moss suggests taking some time to talk with your child about the importance of a savings account. Explain how much you make, how much goes toward bills and random expenses, and how saving takes a concerted effort. You might consider having the child help with balancing the checkbook.

l Make a Mancala game

You'll need: A cardboard egg carton (dozen size), two tuna cans, washed, rinsed and dried; craft paints, paintbrush, 48 marbles, tiny rocks, beads or beans.

Directions:

1. Paint the the egg carton and the outside of the tuna can with whatever color you like. Add designs if you like.

2. When the paint is dry, you're ready to play the game.

Rules

Object: To collect as many marbles as you can before the other player clears his side of the carton of marbles.

Setting up the game: Place the carton between the two facing players, lengthwise. Place a Mancala (tuna can) to the right of each player. Put four marbles in each egg-carton cup and decide who goes first.

Playing the game: The first player picks up all the marbles in one of his cups. The player then sows his seeds by dropping one marble in each cup, moving to the right. If he reaches the end of his side, he drops a marble in his Mancala, and continues to the other side of the board. Don't drop a marble into your opponent's Mancala.

If you get a marble in your Mancala, you get another turn. Example: If you start the game with the fourth cup from the right, you would pick up four marbles, dropping one in each cup and ending in your Mancala. This gives you an extra turn.

If the player drops his last marble on his side of the board in an empty cup, he captures all the marbles in his opponent's bin directly across from that bin. All captured marbles, plus the capturing marble, get put in the player's Mancala.

Players are not allowed to touch marbles in order to count them. If you touch your marbles, you have to play that cup.

Winning the game: The game ends when one player runs out of marbles on his side of the egg carton. When the game ends, the other player gets to take all his stones from his side of the egg carton and place in his own Mancala. The person with the most marbles wins, or the game can end when one person has captured 25 seeds.

Note: This is a basic version. Rules can vary.

● Erin White