How to Celebrate

 

Step One: Understand the Values

Come to the celebration with a profound respect for its origins, values, symbols, and practices and do nothing to violate its integrity, beauty, and expansive meaning. Read more about the celebration’s creation.

 

Step Two: Review the Principles

Celebrate the first two principles on the 1st day and last two principles on the 7th day with every other day celebrating each successive principle respectively. Read more about the principles.

Step Three: Gather the Symbols

Decorate household with objects centering African, African-American, and LGBTQIA+ experience(s).

Make sure to have all symbols well in advance. Some of the symbols such as the candles and Kinara are sometimes difficult to find around the holidays. We also encourage you to start where you are: the symbols are important but the values and principles are more important.

View this Amazon idea list to help plan your symbols.

Read more about the meaning of the symbols.

Step Four: Observe the Days

  • Review the day-by-day celebration breakdown and create space and time to complete each day’s offerings as you move through the celebration.

  • Join the Facebook group for daily connection with others who may be celebrating.

  • Spread the word with other Black, LGBTQIA+ identifying folx about the celebration! Download our easy to share graphics!

  • Practice pandemic safety and opt in or out of in-person gatherings in favor of virtual ones as you feel comfortable.

 

Checklist of Symbols

You’ll need the following items:

  1. Mishumaa Saba (The Seven Candles)
    Rainbow colors (Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, Violent)
    Options on Amazon

  2. Zawadi (The Gifts)
    Symbols of the talents and contributions of our communities.
    (ex: literature, art, crafts, etc.)

  3. Matunda (Fruit)

  4. Maji (Water)

  5. Kikombe cha Umoja (The Unity Cup)
    This will hold the Maji (water).

  6. Kupanda (Plant)
    (ex: seeds, plants, greenery)

  7. Bendera (The Flag)
    (ex: rainbow flag, rainbow decorated items)

  8. Nguzo Tisa Poster (Poster of The Nine Principles)
    The original 2009 poster can be found here or consider handwriting or crafting your own.

Other possible items needed: paper, writing utensils, laptop/mobile device.

View the Amazon idea list for some help planning your symbols.