Day-to-Day Instructions
Day One
Siku Moja (1st Day) / “Plant The Seed”
Call and Response
Facilitator: T Gani? (What’s The T)
Group: Umoja/Imani (Unity/Faith)
Symbol: Mkeka (Mat - The Foundation)
Candle: Green (life, harmony, and nature)
Welcome to Day 1 of KuchuQwanzaa. Traditionally this day is observed on the evening of December 25th or morning of December 26th. We celebrate two of the nine principles on the First Day.
Today’s principles ask us to reflect on those who have passed on and have contributed to our communities. Through these “libations” we are “calling out the names of the fallen and the great”. We drink of maji (water) to symbolize our unity in a communal experience and serve as a physical manifestation of our reflection of our ancestors. Please accommodate for your specific needs.
This day also is designed to observe our connection with the natural world and how we live as a community within it.
How Can I Observe This Day?
“Plant a seed” (either literal of figurative for the year)
Meditate/pray/quiet reflection to maintain a humble attitude throughout the day towards our neighbors
Attend a religious/spiritual service
Practice being silent in observance of those fallen
Fasting (food, alcohol, technology, etc.)
Go the park and enjoy the environment
Recycle
Day Two
Siku Mbili (2nd Day)
Call and Response
Facilitator: T Gani? (What’s The T)
Group: AFYA (Health)
Symbol: Matunda (Fruit)
We eat of “fresh fruit,” the MATUNDA (2nd day’s symbol), which symbolizes the African harvest celebrations, the rewards of productive and collective labor, and of food provided for our nourishment as well as transforming “fruit” from a term of degradation to a term of uplift and support.
Candle: Red (passion, blood, HIV, and struggle.)
Today’s Principle asks us “to promote and protect our individual and collective wellbeing, and to prevent and treat infection, disease, and illness in our communities.”
How Can I Observe This Day?
Reward your mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual body
Take a walk or jog outside (at sunrise or sunset)
Get a check up/get tested
Day of fasting (conceptualized broadly, doesn’t have to be food)
Hold conversation about issues most directly affecting our communities
Yoga/Dance Class/Workout
Start a nutrition journal
Learn more about illnesses that affect our communities
Day Three
Siku Tatu (3rd Day)
Call and Response
Facilitator: T Gani? (What’s The T)
Group: Nyumba (House)
Symbol: Bendera (The Flag)
The colors of the Kuchu-Qwanzaa flag are the rainbow colors symbolic of queer movements, integration, and inclusivity
Candle: Blue (tranquility, friendliness, and communication with others)
Day of 3 of KuchuQwanzaa is traditionally observed on December 28th
Today’s Principle Nyumba asks us “to invest time, energy, and resources in building, maintaining, and nourishing relationships with family, friends, and loved-ones.”
Nyumba is a Swahili word meaning “House”. “Houses” are important cultural components of Black LGBTQIA+ communities. They represent the familial units that LGBTQIA+ people of color construct for support. They have helped define LGBTQIA+ Black culture and we should celebrate the lives and legacy of these institutions within our communities.
How Can I Observe This Day?
Call a long lost family member or friend
Watch a movie about our community with friends
Learn about a Black LGBT author, artist, academic, activist etc.
Reflect on those Black LGBT persons who are personal heroes and have shaped your life
Spend quality time with someone you love
Day Four
Siku Nne (4th Day)
Call and Response
Facilitator: T Gani? (What’s The T)
Group: Elimu (Education)
Symbol: Kinara (The Candle Holder)
This is symbolic of our roots and parent people.
Symbol: Mishumaa Saba (The Seven Candles)
These rainbow color candles (Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, and Violent) are symbolic of the Nguzo Saba, the Seven Principles, the matrix and minimum set of values which Black LGBT people are urged to live by in order to achieve our goals, liberty, and happiness in our own image and according to our own needs.
Candle: Indigo (self-mastery and intuition)
Day of 4 of KuchuQwanzaa is traditionally observed on December 29th
Today’s Principle, Elimu (Education) asks us “To strive for the highest level of formal and informal educational attainment and vast acquisition of authentic experience.”
How Can I Observe This Day?
Start a new book
Learn a new word
Do something you’ve never done before
Begin to assess how you want to grow and learn in the new year
Day Five
Siku Tano (5th Day)
Call and Response
Facilitator: T Gani? (What’s The T)
Group: Nia (Purpose)
Symbol: The Nguzo Tisa (Nine Principles) Poster
The original 2009 poster can be found here.
Candle: Violet (good judgement and royalty)
Day of 5 of KuchuQwanzaa is traditionally observed on December 30th.
Today’s Principle, Nia (Purpose) asks us “to pursue the fulfillment of our life’s purpose through career development, progression of our personal work, and contribution to communal productivity.”
How Can I Observe This Day?
(If you are able) Take the day off from work or work from home in observance of this principle
Think, reevaluate, and journal about what your purpose in life is, your work, and what your leadership contribution to your communities will be
Build, construct, or make something (conceptualized broadly – ideas, physical, service, etc.)
Day Six
Siku Sita (Day 6)
Call and Response
Facilitator: T Gani? (What’s The T)
Group: Kuumba (Creativity)
Symbol: Zawadi (The Gifts)
These are symbolic of the talents and contributions of our communities in the creation and creative use of language, ways of being, and institutions for us and by us.
Candle: Yellow (happiness, and creativity)
Day of 6 of KuchuQwanzaa is traditionally observed on December 31st
Today’ s Principle, Kuumba (Creativity) asks us “to foster, facilitate, and support the arts and innovation in order to leave our communities more beautiful than we inherited them, to share and pass-on our cultural attitudes and beliefs, and to provide social commentary.”
How Can I Observe This Day?
Attend a virtual show, performance, or artistic event to support the arts & culture field
Create, generate, or produce innovative cultural art related to one of the principles of Kwanzaa (performing, fine, visual, etc.) that be can displayed at next year’s celebration and to foster your creativity
Revisit one of your favorite artists or artistic pieces (read favorite poem, listen to favorite album, watch favorite film, etc.) to remind you of the beauty and utility of art
Day Seven
Siku Saba (Day 7)
Call and Response
Facilitator: T Gani? (What’s The T)
Group: Dhidi Chuki (Against Hate) and Kiasiasa Utambulisho (Politicized Identity)
Symbol: Your personal pledge to support and uplift our communities and the persons who create them.
Candle: Orange (boldness, flamboyance, energy)
Day 7 (the last day) of KuchuQwanzaa is traditionally observed on January 1st.
Disclaimer: We traditionally celebrate Kuumba on the 31st and the last two principles Dhidi Chuki and Kiasiasa Utambulisho on January 1st. In the past, however, we have completed our day-of assessment of goals for the coming year as well as holding our Karamu (dinner party) (which is generally associated with the last two principles) on the 31st to coincide with New Year’s Eve celebrations. Either way of celebrating is legitimate.
Today’s principles Dhidi Chuki (Against Hate) and Kiasiasa Utambulisho (Politicized Identity) asks us to:
To acknowledge parallels in oppression, repression, and subjugation, and to exert a social justice orientation in the struggle against oppression of any kind
Live out loud with public displays or signifiers of our identities in honor of those who have come before us and paid the price for our ability to do so, and as our responsibility to provide a more just society for those coming after us.
How Can I Observe This Day?
Day of assessment (public reflecting on the past year and public planning for next year with respect to the principles of kwanzaa, outlining goals, objectives, strategies, tactics, due dates, and benchmarks using newsprint, sharing with each others, drawing ideas and support from one another)
Live out loud with a public display or signifier of your identity (wearing a button, use of gender neutral language, pic of partner in office, etc.)
Make a public pledge for the upcoming year of both an internalized and external anti-oppressive issue you will be committed and dedicated to addressing both in yourself and in your surroundings
Virtual dinner party or New Year’s celebration (Karamu) with food, music, and games.