LIGHTING FESTIVE KWANZAA CANDLES HONORING FAMILY, 'SEVEN PRINCIPLES'.

Byline: Holly Andres Staff Writer

PACOIMA - Gathering around a festive table draped with a colorful cloth from Africa, and set with a mat called a mkeka, a chalice and a candle holder called a kinara, people of African heritage worldwide celebrate the seven-day cultural festival of Kwanzaa, beginning today.

Kwanzaa, Swahili for ``first fruits,'' is based on African harvest festivals and seeks to strengthen family and community ties.

Kwanzaa was created by Maulana ``Ron'' Karenga, a professor of black studies at California State University, Long Beach, in 1966. Kwanzaa always begins on Dec. 26.

``Kwanzaa is a time of reflection and recommitment to family and community,'' said the Rev. Zedar E. Broadous, president of the San Fernando Valley branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and a pastor at Calvary Baptist Church.

``It's a cultural holiday to bring families and the community together to discuss where we are and where we can be. Even though a lot of people tend to confuse it with a religion, Ron (Karenga) interestingly did not involve a deity when he created Kwanzaa.''

Broadous, the president of the Los Angeles County Commission on Human Relations, said he sees a beauty in observing Kwanzaa that its founder may not have foreseen.

``I think it transcends just being an African-American celebration,'' Broadous said. ``The seven principles - unity, self-determination, cooperative economics, collective work, creativity, setting goals and faith - are principles of life for everyone. Kwanzaa was a seed that was planted and whose roots have now grown up.''

Placed on the mkeka, a mat that symbolizes African traditions and history, is the seven-branched kinara candleholder. A black candle, symbolizing the people of Africa, is always lit on the first day.

One new candle is lit each day, starting with three red candles placed to the left of the black candle and then three green candles to the right, until all candles are lit on Jan. 1.

Each candle represents one of the seven principles. The red candles symbolize the struggles of people and the green candles symbolize hope for a better future.

The red candles are lit first in symbolic recognition of endeavors and struggles of people, followed by the lighting of the green candles on the last three days to symbolize life's rewards.

In turn, each day of the festival, one of seven principles is discussed. Broadous said he feels that young people would really benefit from their families coming together and really discussing each principle during Kwanzaa.

``For example, cooperative economics - I have a friend who had his children pay all the bills on that day,'' said Broadous. ``When his children ask for money now, they know where the money is coming from and how it's managed.''

Sharon Flanagan, who works in the Los Angeles County Probation Department, remembers observing Kwanzaa when she was in high school in 1968.

``I enjoy attending festivals where 'black as a people' are celebrated,'' said Flanagan. ``I remember the message back then being that we as a people needed to read more and that you can't get anywhere without reading. Books and reading are what we can emphasize to children during Kwanzaa.''

A gift exchange, usually something homemade, is the tradition on Jan. 1. Broadous said his sister's family often has a gift exchange where items a family member doesn't want or need are picked up by another family member instead of the item being thrown away.

Barbara Henton is relieved that gift giving isn't the focus of Kwanzaa. She recalled that her now teenage daughters made little cards to give her on the last day when they were young.

``Kwanzaa is a legacy for our kids; it's something that our kids can consider their own,'' said Henton, who works at Valley College. ``I think it's really important for black families to have a cultural ritual.''

Holly Andres, [phone]

holly.andres(at)dailynews.com

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Photo:

Celebrating Kwanzaa together are Deja Jones, 5; Shamika Vincent, 9; Melba Gilkey; Betty Nelson; the Rev. Zedar Broadous; George Pierce; Thomas Hayes and Sharon Flanagan.

Phil McCarten/Staff Photographer