KWANZAA GETS UNDER WAY FRIENDS, FAMILY MARK SEVEN-DAY CELEBRATION.

Byline: Holly Andres Staff Writer

Lighting a black candle in the middle of a Kinara today, African-Americans will begin the seven-day celebration of the 36th-annual cultural festival of Kwanzaa.

``Kwanzaa means 'first fruits of the harvest' in Swahili and basically it's a time for family and friends to look at some of the major things that keep families united. That's what it means for African-Americans,'' said the Rev. Zedar E. Broadous, president of the Valley branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and a pastor at Calvary Baptist Church in Pacoima.

Maulana Karenga, a professor of black studies at California State University, Long Beach, created the celebration of African heritage in 1966. Kwanzaa, observed primarily by millions of people of African descent worldwide, is based on African harvest festivals and is rich in symbolism.

``Some people think Kwanzaa involves a deity. It does not. Some people think it's only for African-Americans,'' Broadous said. ``I would say it's a celebration of life and family that anyone can celebrate. The seven principles that we talk about during Kwanzaa are found in all our cultures. We can look at them and see how they affect all of us.''

The seven principles of Kwanzaa all focus on strengthening family and community ties. The principles, discussed in turn for the seven days, include: unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose to set goals, creativity and faith.

Each night of Kwanzaa a candle is lit on the seven-branch candle holder called a Kinara. Each candle represents one of the seven principles.

The candle colors also have meaning.

A black candle, symbolizing the people of Africa, is lit on the first day. Three red candles to the left of the black candle symbolize the struggles of people and three green candles placed to the right symbolize hope for a better future.

Candles are lit each day, starting with the black candle and alternating with the red and green ones until all seven are lit Jan. 1. The reason for alternating between the red and green candles is to symbolize the chronology of reward following life's struggles.

Broadous said Karenga's original idea was for the African-American community to have a holiday it could call its own. It's a time of the year when families can look at African culture and take pride in traditional values of their homeland.

Kwanzaa always begins Dec. 26. The date was chosen, Broadous said, to coincide with a time of year when many African-American children are home from school and are able to spend more time with their families.

``Kwanzaa is an identity that is ours. It wasn't made up by somebody else,'' said Valerie Moody. ``It's a cultural holiday. Our own Afro- American celebration.''

Moody, who works as a child-care center director for the Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks, said she was skeptical when a friend first introduced her to Kwanzaa in the 1970s.

``I was wondering, What is this? But after reading about the values I became very proud to celebrate Kwanzaa. The seven principles are very good,'' Moody said.

It has been a tradition to exchange handmade gifts on the last day of Kwanzaa. Whatever the gift, Broadous said, Kwanzaa is not about spending lots of money. He said that in the past his gift to his family has been to play his saxophone.

Moody has her own tradition of giving two types of gifts. One is an educational gift, like books, and the second is a cultural gift that might be artwork or tickets to an African-American play or dance performance. Her handmade gifts have included quilts, batik prints and recipes.

``Kwanzaa is received warmly. When people get together and they are dressed in African attire there's a feeling that it belongs to you,'' said Moody. ``It's good for children to know about who they are. Kwanzaa reminds them that we were and we are strong people.''

CELEBRATING KWANZAA

Kwanzaa Gwaride Festival and Parade will be held from noon to 10 p.m. today through Jan. 1 at Leimert Park Village, Crenshaw Boulevard and 43rd Street, Los Angeles. Candle lighting from 6:15 to 6:45 p.m. each day. The festival will include food, entertainment and traditional and contemporary crafts. Kwanzaa Parade, with the theme ``Connecting Our Spirits,'' will be held from 10 a.m. to to 12:30 p.m. Saturday. Parade will begin at Exposition and Crenshaw boulevards and go south to Leimert Park. Call [phone] or www.kwanzaafestivalla.com.

Kwanzaa celebration: Dinner, dancing and a ``Best Dressed African Costume'' contest will be held from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. Saturday at Fairway, Hansen Dam Golf Course, 10400 Glenoaks Blvd., Pacoima. Tickets: $45 per couple, $25 for singles. Event benefits the Ladies First and II Hype, a dance, drill and gospel team. Call [phone] or [phone].

A Kwanzaa workshop will be held at 2:30 p.m. Saturday at KidSpace Children's Museum, 390 S. El Molino Ave., Pasadena. Children 4 years and older will design and make a Kinara, the Kwanzaa candle holder. Admission: $6 for ages 3 and older. Call [phone] or www.kidspacemuseum.org.

Kwanzaa in the San Fernando Valley: The Youth Council of the Valley branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People will celebrate with a ``pot blessed'' feast from 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday at 12550 Van Nuys Blvd., Pacoima. Call [phone].

Lula Washington Dance Theatre will present its sixth annual ``Kwanzaa Celebration 2002'' at 8 p.m. Monday at the Luckman Fine Arts Complex, California State University, Los Angeles, 5151 State University Drive, Los Angeles. Tickets: $22.50 to $32.50. Call [phone] or www.lulawashington.com.

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Photo:

From left, Patricia Young, Edward Kussman, Valerie Moody, Angel Brooks, Raphaela J. Rawls and the Rev. Zedar E. Broadous prepare for Kwanzaa at a bookstore in Pacoima.

Phil McCarten/Staff Photographer

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CELEBRATING KWANZAA (see text)