Seven candles are lit on a kinara during Kwanzaa, representing the holiday’s Seven Principles, or Nguzo Saba.
The kinara is a seven-branched candleholder used throughout Kwanzaa, which runs from December 26 through January 1. Its arrangement includes three red candles, three green candles, and one black candle placed in the center. The Swahili word kinara means “candle holder.”
The black candle symbolizes African people, while red represents their struggle and green represents hope and the future. The center candle is lit first, followed by the others during the week, with each day associated with one of the Seven Principles, including unity, self-determination, collective work, purpose, creativity, and faith.
Kwanzaa was created in the United States by Maulana Karenga and was first celebrated in 1966. The kinara is sometimes confused with a Hanukkah menorah, but the two belong to different traditions and have different symbolism.