the assigned person will light the candles on the kinara in the required order.
First, they’ll light the black candle followed by the first red candle to the left of it. Then they would light the first green candle to the right of the black one followed by the second red candle. Then, they’ll light the second green candle to the right of the black candle followed by the third red candle to the left. Finally, they’ll light the third green candle to the right of the black candle. Lighting this green candle represents the commitment to practicing faith in a way to will uplift yourself and others.
When all the candles are lit, the same person will make a statement about the principle of Imani. It will define Imani in a way that everyone can understand so they can discuss it.
Afterward, they may share a poem, passage, story, or song that reflects how they practice Imani in their everyday lives. Those in attendance may also be given the opportunity to discuss how they plan to integrate Imani into their lives. Sometimes, this discussion can center around developing personal vision boards or mantras.
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After the discussion, you will share the libations and move on to the gift-giving portion of the festivities. The intricacy of this section will depend on whether or not you opted to exchange gifts every day of Kwanzaa or wait until the last day.
When all the gifts have been exchanged, the candles will be extinguished to signify the end of the Kwanzaa celebrations for the year.
The seven days of Kwanzaa are meant to be a time of self-reflection while documenting realistic plans for uplifting and supporting the Black community. You don’t need to make huge changes to your life, though. Even small steps can make a big difference when everybody works together.