Lombard church invites community to celebrate Kwanzaa

Kwanzaa, the African-American cultural celebration, will be celebrated at 4 p.m. today at York Center Church of the Brethren, 1S071 Luther Ave., Lombard.

The annual gathering has been held at other locations in past years, including the Villa Park Public Library, said organizer and church member Darwin Walton. But she's opted to hold the event at the Lombard church the past two years.

"Kwanzaa is not a religious holiday, it's more cultural," Walton said. "It can be celebrated by people of all races, and its principals are universal."

Walton published a book, "Kwanzaa, World of Holidays," in 1999, and has organized some type of community event ever since.

Kwanzaa, which means first fruits in Swahili, was first celebrated from Dec. 26, 1966, to Jan. 1, 1967. It came about after the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s.

Kwanzaa, a secular holiday, celebrates classical African cultures and coincides with the Christmas season. Over seven days, families are to come together every day to recommit to their values and their connections.

There are seven principals that coincide with these days, starting with Umoja (unity) on the first day to the seventh day principal of Imani, which focuses on believing in the African-American community -- faith in people, parents, teachers and leaders.

More than 3 million African-Americans celebrate this tradition, said Walton, adding that the Lombard celebration typically attracts a diverse mix of participants.

At the local celebration today, Walton will set up a table with displays exemplifying the traditions of Kwanzaa. Many people will be dressed in traditional African clothing and children will perform a program. There will be games, arts and crafts, and finger foods.

"Traditionally, on the seventh day there's a banquet and we exchange small gifts," Walton said. "One of the traditional foods is benne cake, which are made with sesame seeds."

Nuts and fruits are also traditional Kwanzaa foods. The Lombard event typically attracts about 50 people, Walton said, both from the church membership and the community.

For details, call (630) 627-7411.

If you go

What:Children's author Darwin Walton leads a Kwanzaa celebration

When:4 p.m. today

Where: York Center Church of the Brethren, 1S071 Luther Ave., Lombard

Call:(630) 627-7411

Kwanzaa basics

Kwanzaa helps to reaffirm African culture and values

Created in 1966, the origins of the holiday are rooted in African traditions.

The word Kwanzaa stems from the phrase "matunda ya kwanzaa," which means "first fruits" in Swahili. The holiday was created by Dr. Maulana Karenga, chair of the Department of Black Studies at California State University, Long Beach.

Kwanzaa is celebrated from Dec 26 to Jan. 1. Its purpose is to reaffirm African culture and values by reinforcing the "Ngozo Saba," or seven principles.

These principles include: Umoja (Unity), Kuji-chagulia (Self-determination), Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility), Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics), Nia (Purpose), Kuumba (Creativity), and Imani (Faith). As part of the celebration, participants light a candle each day to represent one of these seven principles.

The colors of Kwanzaa and the seven candles are black, red and green. According to Karenga's Web site, www.officialkwanzaawebsite.org, black represents people of African descent, red symbolizes their struggle and green stands for the hope that comes from this struggle.

Source: www.officialkwanzaawebsite.org