What to Know About Kwanzaa.<br />Here are some facts about the African-American holiday that is typically celebrated around Christmas.<br />Annually, Kwanzaa is held from December 26 until New Years Day.<br />Each day, a candle is lit on a seven-branched candelabra to honor African Americans' past, present and future.<br />Gifts are also exchanged and on December 31, participants hold a feast called "karamu.".<br />The candle lighting is also meant to celebrate principles, which include collective responsibility, purpose and faith.<br />Other principles are unity, self-determination, creativity <br />and cooperative economics.<br />Kwanzaa comes from the Swahili phrase, "matunda ya kwanza.".<br />In the language, this means "fresh fruit.".<br />It was created back in 1966 by California State University professor Maulana Karenga.<br />Karenga, who taught Pan-African studies, meant for Kwanzaa to be a nonreligious way of celebrating one's values.<br />She also started it to help African-Americans celebrates their culture
