LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — It’s officially the holiday season, and since Hanukkah has passed, most eyes are now on Christmas Day. However, there’s another important celebration that starts on the 26th of December— Kwanzaa!
“We celebrate it in our household and now my children are doing it. They’re doing it over Zoom now. Their children participate so it has become a tradition in our household," said Garbo Hearne, director of Pyramid Art, Books, and Custom Framing in Little Rock.
Kwanzaa was established in 1966 as a celebration of African-American culture, history, values, and community.
The annual 7-day holiday begins on Dec 26, and throughout the weeklong celebration, families come together to eat, dance, and rededicate themselves to seven core principles— Umoja (unity), Kujichagulia (self-determination), Ujima (collective work and responsibility), Ujamaa (cooperative economics), Nia (purpose), Kuumba (creativity), and Imani (faith)
"The seven principles are good to set those goals and New Year's resolutions that can become the whole year round and not just seven days or that first month in January," Hearne added.
If you want to celebrate locally, you're in luck!
"[Events will be at] seven locations throughout Central Arkansas, mainly in Little Rock. At noon every day and on Sundays and New Year's Day we do it at 2:00 p.m. We do it in the middle of the day because we want families to come out, but we also want families to do it at home with their children," she explained
Hearne encouraged anyone and everyone to come to each of the seven events and celebrate the holiday season.
“A holiday that was created in 1966 to bring the community together and it’s formulated all communities. Not just the Black community, everyone is invited to celebrate the seven principles," she added.
