Subject
title
Proclamation Declaring December 26, 2025 - January 1, 2026, as Kwanzaa in Rockville, Maryland
end
Department
City Clerk/Director of Council Operations Office
Recommendation
Staff recommends the Mayor and Council read, approve, and present to Ms. Jacki Dupuy, a City of Rockville resident.
Discussion
Kwanzaa (which translates from Swahili to mean “First Fruits”) was introduced in 1966 during a turbulent time during the civil rights era in the United States. Dr. Maulana Karenga created this African American Cultural Celebration to help evoke a sense of pride and create a unique tradition for African Americans in the United States.
First-Fruits festivals occur in Southern Africa and are celebrated in the December/January timeframe during the southern solstice. During the early years of its observance, it was intended to be an alternative to Christmas; however, now many families celebrate both. The celebration consists of 7 days, from December 26 - January 1; with each day symbolizing a specific principle:
1. Umoja (Unity): To strive for and to maintain unity in the family, community, nation, and race.
2. Kujichagulia (Self-Determination): To define and name ourselves, as well as to create and speak for ourselves.
3. Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility): To build and maintain our community together and make our brothers' and sisters' problems our problems and solve them together.
4. UJAMAA (Cooperative Economics): To build and maintain our own stores, shops, and other businesses and to profit from them together.
5. Nia (Purpose): To make our collective vocation the building and developing of our community in order to restore our people to their traditional greatness.
6. Kuumba (Creativity): To do always as much as we can, in the way we can, in order to leave our community more beautiful and beneficial than we inherited it.
7. Imani (Faith): To believe with all our hearts in our people, our parents, our teachers, our leaders, and the righteousness and victory of our struggle.
One of the most significant symbols of Kwanzaa is the Kinara, which consists of 7 candles (Mishumaa Saba) one black, three red, and three green. One candle is lit each day of Kwanzaa. Other symbols of Kwanzaa are crops (mazao), corn (Mahindi), unity cup (Kikime cha Umoja), and gifts (Zawadi) that are exchanged.
The greeting for each day of Kwanzaa is “Habari Gani?”, which means “How are you?”
Many people of African descent in Canada celebrate Kwanzaa; however, most Generation Z-ers do not celebrate Kwanzaa or are not familiar with this tradition. The Principles of Kwanzaa can be celebrated by all cultures in America, as they are principles that we can all enjoy!
Source: Wikipedia and writings of Maulana Karenga.
Mayor and Council History
The Mayor and Council present this proclamation annually.