In what order do you light Kwanzaa candles?

Kwanzaa is an annual African-American cultural event that runs from December 26 to January 1 and culminates with a communal feast called Karamu on the sixth day.

Kwanzaa was founded by American Maulana Karenga in 1966 as a uniquely African-American holiday in the aftermath of the Watts riots.

Karenga stated that his purpose was to “offer blacks an alternative to the existing Christmas holiday and an opportunity to honour themselves and their history rather than simply emulate the dominant society’s practice.”

Kwanzaa families decorate their homes with works of art, bright African fabrics such as kente, especially kaftans worn by women, and fresh fruits that signify African ideals. Children are traditionally included in Kwanzaa festivities, and ancestors are respected and thanked.

In what order do you light Kwanzaa candles?

The official lighting procedure is to start with the centre black candle and work your way left to right, beginning with the leftmost red candle. Some people choose to light the centre black candle first, then alternate between red and green candles, starting with the leftmost red candle, then the rightmost green candle, and so on, working inwards from the outer candles.