Kwanzaa is December 26 through January first. Celebrate this cultural holiday with your children, with these fun ideas.

* Learn the principals of Kwanzaa: Umoja (unity);
Kujichagulia (self-determination); Ujima (collective work and responsibility); Ujamaa (cooperative economics); Nia (purpose); Kuumba (creativity); Imani (faith). Make a poster with drawings to reflect these principals, and hang
it in your home.

* Make Kwanzaa jewelry for zawadis (gifts). String together red beads, black beads, and green beads for necklaces and bracelets.

* Decorate your home with paper kinaras. A kinara is a candle holder with mishumaa (seven candles): 3 green candles, 1 black candle in the center, and 3 red candles. First, use a marker to draw a simple kinara on a sheet of paper. Cut green, black and red rectangles from construction paper to use as candles. Glue the candles onto the kinara. Next, glue popcorn kernels onto the paper as the flames of the candles.

Happy Kwanzaa!

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Credits: Deborah Shelton