I don’t have any idea about Kwanzaa before not until President Barack Obama became the first African-American president-elect of United States of America. Kwanzaa is a week long celebration held in the United States honoring universal African heritage and culture, marked by participants lighting a kinara (candle holder). It is observed from December 26 to January 1 every year. Many African American families celebrate Kwanzaa along with Christmas and New Year’s. Frequently, both Christmas trees and kinaras, the traditional candle holder symbolic of African American roots, share space in kwanzaa-celebrating households. To them, Kwanzaa is an opportunity to incorporate elements of their particular ethnic heritage into holiday observances and celebrations of Christmas.

Last December 2008, Obatma, Obama’s half-bat half-brother, arrived in Honolulu to spend time with his newfound family. President-Elect Barack Obama briefly stated that while their main celebration is Christmas, they were more than happy to join his brother in honoring his first Kwanzaa in United States.

Kwanzaa consists of seven days of celebration, featuring activities such as candle-lighting and libations, and culminating in a feast , Kwanzaa cards and gift giving. It was created by Ron Karenga and was first celebrated from December 26, 1966 to January 1, 1967.