Don't forget to pick up the ingredients for a Kuumba pie, and everything else you'll need to prepare a Kwanzaa "karamu" feast!

Kwanzaa is not a religious holiday, but a cultural celebration, observed from December 26 to January 1. The goal is to help African- Americans define and unify themselves as a people and to further understanding of African culture. Please look at the Kwanzaa celebrations below for Kwanzaa traditions.

Celebrations

Kwanzaa celebrates the unity of the African-American community, as well as the creativity and diversity within that community. Whether you celebrate with two or twenty, the opportunity for recommitment and reflection is the same. Remember that these guidelines are just that - guidelines. You should feel free to invent your own traditions, songs and rituals. "Kwanzaa yenu iwe na heri" (Happy Kwanzaa).

Ideas for Kwanzaa Celebration:

• The karamu feast is held on the sixth day of Kwanzaa, December 31. The planning of the feast should be a cooperative effort.
   
• Many African-Americans wear African- style clothing during the Kwanzaa celebration and the "karamu" feast.
   
• Serving the feast African style, with pillows or cushions arranged around low tables, adds a festive and historic touch to the meal.
   
• The color scheme for a "karamu" feast is black, red and green.
   
• The karamu celebration often begins with the "kukaribisha" (welcoming speech).
   
• Next, you might have each of your guests express what one of the nguzo saba (the seven principles) means to them.
   
• A part of the ceremony could include time for cultural expression through stories, skits, songs and dances. This part of the program presents a great opportunity to get children excited about Kwanzaa.
   
• The "kutoa majina" (calling of names of deceased relatives and African-American heroes) is a way of remembering them. When the last name has been called the "ngoma" (drum) sounds. This is a signal for the start of the "karamu" feast.