African-Americans Celebrate Kwanzaa And Its 7 Principles

The holiday observed mostly by African-Americans began yesterday and lasts to Jan. 1. Celebrations vary, which is part of the allure, but they often involve gift-giving, feasts, candlelighting and colorful decorations.

Kwanzaa celebrations focus on seven principles: unity, self-determination, responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity and faith.

It's unclear how many observe the holiday. Some Pan-African Web sites peg the number at 20 million, while an October survey by the National Retail Federation estimated about 4.7 million said they would participate.

Activist Maulana Karenga founded the holiday in 1966 as an alternative to Christmas and a way to honor African culture, according to Karenga's Web site. Kwanzaa's name comes from the Swahili phrase "matunda ya kwanza," meaning first fruit.

Read more: The Detroit News