Celebrating Kwanzaa

The Countdown Calendar

Waiting for a holiday is very difficult for young children. The following activity makes the time go by faster as your child anticipates each day and sees actual progress toward the long-awaited celebration.

Glue Hershey's Kisses on the face of a length of ribbon (about one yard long by one and one-half inches wide should do). You will need 26 ribbons for your Kwanzaa calendar. Glue a jingle bell to the bottom of the ribbons (glue guns work great for this task, but only under adult supervision). Print the following poem on an index card and attach to the top of this candy calendar. Hang the completed craft on the wall where the child can visit it daily.

December 1st 'til Kwanzaa is the longest time of the year. The thoughts of homemade gifts and treats hoping to be near. How many days 'til Kwanzaa? It's mighty hard to count. So this little candy ribbon will tell you the amount. Remove a KISS every night when the sandman casts a spell. And Kwanzaa will be here by the time you reach the bell.

Mosaic Kwanzaa Candles

Kwanzaa candles represent the past, present, and future of African-American culture. To make your own Kwanzaa candles, first draw a kinara, or candle holder, on Manila paper (younger children will need help from an adult). You'll need to make seven candles for your Kwanzaa celebration: three red candles (for past suffering and struggle), a black candle for the center (representing the people), and three green candles (for hope for the future). Have your child cut small rectangles of construction paper to build each candle. Glue the candles onto the Manila paper with the kinara drawn on it. Use yellow crayons to color the flames.