Observed from December 26 to January 1, Kwanzaa is a seven-day celebration of African-American heritage founded by Dr. Ron "Maulana" Karenga, a black nationalist who first observed the holiday in California in 1966. In the conceptualization of Kwanzaa as an ethnic observance, Karenga envisioned it as a celebration of "Seven Principles of Blackness."

Each of the major principles of Kwanzaa is celebrated on a different day of the festival beginning with umoja. The first day of the celebration of Kwanzaa emphasizes unity in the family, in the community, in the nation, and in the race.

The other six principles of Kwanzaa extol the virtues of self-determination, the value of collective work and responsibility, the benefit of cooperative economics, a sense of purpose, creativity, and faith. The observance of Kwanzaa begins with umoja, however because Dr. Karenga believed that none of the other principles could be realized without that core unity.

In addition to these stated principles, Karenga also described a "seven-fold path of blackness" whose points were, "think black, talk black, act black, create black, buy black, vote black, and live black." (Early critics of Karenga and Kwanzaa found this overt African American nationalism disturbing, particularly after the turbulence of the 1960s in America.)

To celebrate Kwanzaa, families decorate their homes with colorful pieces of African folk art and women especially wear clothing styled from tribal-themed cloth and materials. Organized celebrations include native drumming, the lighting of candles, the sharing of a group libation, discussion of the principles underlying the observance of Kwanzaa, and finally a feast.

Although celebrated by fewer than two percent of African Americans, perhaps five million, the observance of Kwanzaa continues to grow in popularity in the African-American community. Some, including African American leaders, have criticized this "made up" holiday and question its authenticity as purely African since there are so many cultures indigenous to the African continent. (Kwanzaa celebrates African culture collectively.)

Others have expressed concern that celebrating Kwanzaa in some way dilutes or corrupts the Christianity that has always been an important aspect of the African American community. Proponents of Kwanzaa stress that it is not a religious observance but is a cultural celebration and point out that the blending of African cultures in the American setting makes a blended African American holiday not only authentic but completely reasonable.

Increasingly however, African American homes place the traditional Christmas tree side-by-side with kinaras, candleholders designed to symbolize African-American roots and observe Christmas, New Years, and Kwanzaa more or less simultaneously. Kwanzaa greeting cards are available and the celebrations has become more widely known and understood. Undoubtedly as children raised in homes where Kwanzaa was celebrated form their own families the popularity of the observance will spread exponentially.