Wrapping Papers (HAPPY KWANZAA WRAPPING PAPER)

Kwanzaa is a cultural holiday celebrated primarily by African Americans from December 26 to January 1. It was created in 1966 by Dr. Maulana Karenga to honor African heritage and promote unity, self-determination, and community values. The name “Kwanzaa” comes from the Swahili phrase “matunda ya kwanza,” meaning “first fruits”.

Each of the seven days of Kwanzaa is dedicated to one of the seven principles, known as the Nguzo Saba:

1. Umoja (Unity): To strive for and maintain unity in the family, community, nation, and race.
2. Kujichagulia (Self-Determination): To define ourselves, name ourselves, create for ourselves, and speak for ourselves.
3. Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility): To build and maintain our community together and make our brothers’ and sisters’ problems our problems and solve them together.
4. Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics): To build and maintain our own stores, shops, and other businesses and to profit from them together.
5. Nia (Purpose): To make our collective vocation the building and developing of our community in order to restore our people to their traditional greatness.
6. Kuumba (Creativity): To do always as much as we can, in the way we can, in order to leave our community more beautiful and beneficial than we inherited it.
7. Imani (Faith): To believe with all our heart in our people, our parents, our teachers, our leaders, and the righteousness and victory of our struggle.

Kwanzaa celebrations often include lighting a kinara (candle holder), sharing meals, giving gifts, and reflecting on the principles of the holiday. It’s a time for families and communities to come together and celebrate their cultural heritage