Kwanzaa is a seven-day holiday honoring African-American culture and community. You can observe this celebration with your own mini-festival. If possible, do this with family and friends, for the real point of Kwanzaa is community.

You’ll need an item to represent each of Kwanzaa’s seven principles:
First night: Unity (an example of what I might use: a family photo)
Second night: Self-determination (a diploma)
Third night: Collective responsibility (two cords knotted together)
Fourth night: Cooperative economics (several coins)
Fifth night: Purpose (my planning journal)
Sixth night: Creativity (a sketch)
Seventh night: Faith (a piece of magical jewelry)

Festoon your altar with red, gold, green, and brown cloths, and add a chalice (filled with your celebratory drink of choice) and a brightly colored candle and holder.

Each evening, light the candle, place that evening’s item on the altar, and speak of that night’s principle. Share stories and ideas. Finish with drinks from the chalice and share your plan to take the Kwanzaa principles to heart. Then extinguish the candle.