The Alexandria Black History Museum hosted its annual Kwanzaa “How-To Workshop” Dec. 9, teaching attendees the origins, concepts, practices and foods of Kwanzaa.

Kwanzaa is a seven-day cultural celebration that begins Dec. 26 and ends Jan. 1. The celebration was created in 1966 by Maulana Ndabezitha Karenga, a Maryland native who designed the celebration as a way for African Americans to reaffirm their heritage and culture and their bonds to one another as a community.

Karenga chose the Swahili word “Kwanzaa,” meaning “first fruits of the harvest,” to identify the celebration and to express seven principles that came from the African American value system for life: Unity (Umoja), Self-Determination (Kujichagulia), Collective Work and Responsibility (Ujima), Cooperative Economics (Ujamaa), Purpose (Nia), Creativity (Kuumba), and Faith (Imani)

Cathy Riddick described the meaning of the various Kwanzaa principles and symbols before lighting the Kinara, a seven-pronged candle holder. Isis told the story of Kwanzaa, which was followed by crafts and activities.