Traditions represent values – Happy Kwanzaa
If we are to improve and strengthen our families, we must be conscious of how we interact as a unit. One of the two effective ways to monitor that and make changes for the better is to institute a route of family interaction, such as family dinner time, or lunch after church. The second way is by instituting family traditions. If you think of how your family interacts during special times of the year while taking stock in the value of each tradition, you may find room for improvement.
One of the major things the Black community lacks is leadership. This starts in the home, and normally with the man. If a household has a man, and no rich traditions that bond the family members emotionally, who is at fault? Regardless of who is running the household, someone should step up and get everyone’s full participation in traditions that have more positive affects than negative. Each tradition should have more than one purpose. Traditions should be symbolic in nature, thus be of deeper meaning than “that’s the way my grandmother did it”. So if you are the leader of your house, what are your children going to do with your grandchildren due to your conscious effort to pass down rituals that assist in your grandchildren’s feelings of belonging and worth?
Created in 1966 by Dr. Maulana Karenga, Kwanzaa is an African American and Pan-African holiday celebrated by millions throughout the global African community. Celebrated from December 26th to January 1st, its purpose is the reaffirmation of the dignity and integrity of the human person and his community and culture.
Kwanzaa is an example of traditions that far outreaches just individual families, but Dr. Karenga’s purpose is to reach a world-wide community. Kwanzaa was created to introduce and reinforce seven basic values of African culture which contribute to building and reinforcing family, community and culture among the global Pan-African community. See the “Celebration of Kwanzaa” link in the right margin of this site.
So I pose the questions to the head of your family, what traditions does your family have? Are any of them more harmful to the diet or longevity of your family? Is there room for improvement? And whose job is it to make these changes?
Kwanzaa was beautiful this year for my family. We all sipped of the unity cup and spoke of our love and affection for each individual in the circle. We discussed our purpose, my daughter didn’t know her purposes yet and at 16 she really shouldn’t know it yet. Yet the invaluable point is that she knows her purpose exists. Now she can seek it. When choices of doing something not great present themselves, I want her to ask herself “is this my purpose?” We all discussed our faith in God, our faith in our family members and our faith in ourselves.
Thank you Dr. Karenga for leading leaders to be better at leading. We are stronger for this tradition.
After reading this piece, I did a bit of homework. It sounds great, but wouldn’t this be expensive right after the holiday. Should I withhold some gifts so I can give them for Kwanzaa? I never found definite things to do with the family. How do you actually celebrate Kwanzaa?
My family visited Leimert Park during the annual Kwanzaa festival to purchase the candles and candle holder and all the other ornamental symbols that cost about $40. Leimert Park is the mecca of African-American culture in Los Angeles. I also bought a video on the history and purpose of Kwanzaa (theblackcandle.com). All this was good to show my kids that dad is not making this stuff up, but we are part of a world-wide community of consciousness.
But gifts to family members are strictly an option. You can express your love by giving words, or hand made gifts if you choose to exchange any. My family didn’t exchange any; Christmas does enough patronage of businesses. But exactly how you celebrate each of the principles of the holiday is up to your family. You can ask for suggestions or you can give a particular day to one child ahead of time and tell them to be creative and come up with how you will celebrate that day.
I talk to my family all the time, but the seven principles makes sure I don’t forget to reinforce the important communication to and from each family member surrounding Unity, Self-Determination, Collective work and responsibility, Cooperative Economics, Purpose, Creativity, and Faith. It is good to see what you pour into your children, come out of your children in word and deeds. If I had to choose one holiday over the other, Kwanzaa has much more value to the nuclear family.
Celebrating Kwanzaa this year was a BEAUTIFUL experience. A DEFINITE must do….
It will ENHNACE your family unity…
THANK YOU baby for bringing this well known ritual into OUR family….