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Planning an African Themed Kwanzaa Party

Kwanzaa is an African-American winter holiday that lasts for seven days. During Kwanzaa, the following seven values are celebrated: Unity, Self-Determination, Collective Work and Responsibility, Cooperative Economics, Purpose, Creativity and Faith. Read on to find out more about planning a great Kwanzaa Party.

Color Scheme

Black, Red and Green -- the colors of the African flag!

Invitations

Check your local stationery store during the holiday season to find Kwanzaa themed invitations. Or make your own using construction paper in black, red and green. Be sure to send out the invitations a month or so in advance and always request an RSVP so you'll know how many guests to expect.

Decorations

Black, red and green balloons and streamers are ideal ways to spruce up your home for a Kwanzaa party. Create a Kwanzaa bush by stringing a miniature Christmas tree with lights. Or, skip the lights and have your children create a fun black, red and green construction paper chain. Adorn your Kwanzaa bush with ornaments of your choosing. For the table, start with a bright African patterened tablecloth. And don't forget the kinara -- a traditional Kwanzaa candleholder with room for seven candles. On either side of the kinara, place ears of corn and any fruits and vegetables that you feel symbolize a plentiful harvest. For a festive glow, group black, red and green votive candles around your home.

Food

For a delicious Kwanzaa feast, try a three course meal featuring African dishes and family favorites. For the appetizers, try hot wings, spicy cheese balls and succulent crab cakes. Dinner can consist of grilled red snapper, shrimp gumbo or even Southern fried chicken. Great sides include African carrot salad, macaroni and cheese, green bean casserole and warm, fluffy dinner rolls. Dessert can consist of sweet treats like sweet potato pie, banana pudding and red velvet cake. You can even make Kwanzaa cookies by first making rectangular shaped sugar cookies then adorning them with black, red and green colored icing.

Activities

Prayer, meditation and the giving of thanks are all traditional activities to enjoy before lighting the kinara. Explain to your guests each tenet of the Kwanzaa holiday and ask everyone to say a little something about what each tenet means to them.

Games

Your party games can include classic favorites like limbo set to African music, card games, and even board games. Party goers can even create fun Kwanzaa skits that celebrate each of the seven values. Have children write Kwanzaa poems or make Kwanzaa artwork.