As is customary with most holidays, hosts of Kwanzaa observances choose the best and most beautiful items to display and use. This means taking time to plan and select the most beautiful objects of art, colorful African cloth, and fresh fruits so that every object used represents African idealism and a commitment to the holiday in the best of ways. It is customary to include children in Kwanzaa ceremonies and to give respect and gratitude to one's ancestors. Often libations are poured, an African custom that has survived in the African-American community to this day. Celebrants are expected to arrive at the celebration with respect for its values, symbols and practices and to do nothing to violate its meaning.

When Kwanzaa was established, observers eschewed the mixing of the holiday or its symbols, values and practice with the holidays of any other culture. The feeling was that doing so would violate the principle of kujichagulia (self-determination) and thus violate the integrity of the holiday, which is intended, in part, as a reclamation of certain important African values. However, many African-American families who celebrate Kwanzaa also celebrate Christmas and New Year's, with both Christmas trees and kinaras inhabiting the same space. They view Kwanzaa as an opportunity to incorporate elements which speak to their particular ethnic heritage into holiday observances and celebrations during the Christmas season.

Kwanzaa has seven basic symbols. Each represents values and concepts reflective of African cultures. The basic symbols in Swahili and then in English are:

Mkeka (The mat) can be made of any material, but is frequently straw. Often red, black and green, the colors of the black nationalist flag, it is a reference to a West African aphorism, "No matter how high a house is built, it must stand on something."

Kinara (The Candle Holder) This is the symbol of African roots, the "parent people" of continental Africa.

Mishumaa saba (seven candles) are symbols referencing the Nguzu Saba, the set of underlying values by which African people are urged to live in order to rescue and reconstruct their lives in their own image and according to their own needs. There are three red candles to the right, three green candles to the left, and one black candle in the center of the kinara. The colors, again, are symbolic of black nationalism: red is for the blood of the African people; green is for the hope of new life and for the motherland, Africa; and black is for the face of the African people.

Mazao (the crops) are symbolic of African fruit harvest celebrations and of the rewards of productive and collective labor during the October month.

Muhindi (corn) symbolize children and the future which they embody.

Kikombe cha Umoja (The Unity Cup) symbolizes unity, which "makes all else possible".

Zawadi (the gifts) are symbolic of the labor and love of parents and the commitments made and kept by the children.

A supplemental symbol of Kwanzaa is the bendera, or flag. The Kwanzaa flag is the red, black and green black nationalist flag.

Kwanzaa can be seen to be celebrated in the third series of the cult superhero drama "Power Rangers" when Aisha holds a holiday festival for the citizens of Angel Grove.

On episode 3 of season 3 of the television show Futurama, the character Kwanzabot states that there "ain't no body down with this Kwanza tip" and that he has no time to help Bender because he has to hand out the traditional Kwanzaa book, "What The Hell Is Kwanza?". He then sighs and says that he's been giving the book out for 640 years.

It is also featured in the episode "Into the Woods" of the cult television show Buffy the Vampire Slayer .

In one holiday sketch on Late Night with Conan O'Brien, Conan O'Brien, his Jewish musician Max Weinberg, and his announcer Joel Godard all decided to represent the three major holidays of the winter season. Conan took Christmas, Max took Hanukkah while Joel took Kwanzaa despite not being African-American.

Aaron McGruder, author of the popular comic strip "The Boondocks," known for its biting social commentary from an African-American perspective, wrote in his 12/27/2004 strip: "'Twas two nights into Kwanzaa, with a chill in the air - and no one was stirring 'cause nobody cared." (picture of Granddad sleeping) / "The family all thought of Kwanzaa as wack..." (picture of Riley sleeping) / "Even young Huey, who's very pro-Black..." (picture of Huey sleeping). On 12/28/2004, he said: "Granddad was nestled, all snug in his bed-" (picture of Granddad sleeping) / "Without thinking of Kente cloths - black, green or red... 'Cause Kwanzaa, he said, ain't no real holiday..." (picture of Granddad sleeping) / "Just a bunch of African words he can't say..." (picture of Granddad thinking "...Kujijhagoo - What?").

• This information was last modified 04:16, 6 November 2005 on the Wikipedia Site.
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