How to Arrange Kwanzaa Symbols and Decorations

Kwanzaa symbols play a significant part in this African-American cultural holiday celebrated by families from December 26 to January 1 each year. Start planning now by finding common Kwanzaa decorations that represent themes of hope, unity, harvest and African heritage.

What You Need
These symbolic items are important parts of a Kwanzaa celebration:

• Mkeka, a straw woven mat, used for placing the decorations upon.
• Kinara, the seven-branched candle holder, holds candles of black, red and green. The black goes in the center, with three red candles placed to the left, and three green candles placed to the right of the black candle.
• Muhindi, ears of corn, one per child in the household (use two if there are no children). These ears of corn represent potential of each child. Place the corn in a bowl with other harvest vegetables and fruit.
• Mazao, harvest vegetables and fruit represent the first crops of the harvest.
• Kikome Cha Umoja, a unity cup, representing community, should be placed on the mat.
• Zawadi, enriching and creative gifts, may also be placed upon the Mkeka mat.

Other Decorating Ideas for Kwanzaa
Make the Kwanzaa celebration even more exciting by adding these to the room:

• African colors, red, green and black, in streamers, pictures, and balloons around the room.
• A beautiful table runner to go beneath or around the Mkeka mat with the symbols on it.
• Posters, flags and banners featuring key themes of Kwanzaa, which are unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity and faith.
• Match utensils, napkins and table cloths for the feast to the colors red, green and black. Think of the room as a whole, and make these colors really show the spirit of the African flag and Kwanzaa holiday.