On what dates does Kwanzaa take place each year?

Kwanzaa takes place each year from December 26 to January 1. It is a seven-day celebration of African-American culture, family, community, and heritage, created in the United States in the 1960s.

Maulana Karenga founded Kwanzaa in 1966 in the aftermath of the Watts uprising in Los Angeles. Its name comes from the Swahili phrase matunda ya kwanza, meaning “first fruits,” and its observances draw inspiration from African first-fruits traditions while forming a specifically African-American cultural holiday.

Each day focuses on one of the Nguzo Saba, or Seven Principles. These include Umoja (Unity), Kujichagulia (Self-Determination), Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility), and Imani (Faith). Families may light candles in a kinara, discuss the principle of the day, share food, and exchange gifts.

Kwanzaa is not a federal holiday, and many people observe it alongside Christmas or New Year’s celebrations. Its seven-day span begins after Christmas and ends on New Year’s Day, which is why the dates are sometimes mistakenly shifted forward by a week.