Kwanzaa has officially started!
The annual seven-day holiday will bring joy to homes through January 1, highlighting African-American culture and traditions throughout the African Diaspora. Kwanzaa is not associated with a single religion, so people can celebrate Christmas or other holidays and practice Kwanzaa. That “allows people to be unified rather than divided on religious beliefs,” Kelly E. Navies, an oral history museum specialist at the National Museum of African American History and Culture, told USA TODAY.
In each of the seven nights of Kwanzaa, a different value is celebrated: Umoja (unity), Kujichagulia (self-determination), Ujima (collective work and responsibility), Ujamaa (cooperative economy), Nia (purpose), Kuumba (creativity) and Imani. ( faith). These values are marked by lighting candles in a holder called a kinara, which contains three red candles, three green candles, and a black candle in the center.
Hallmark, the channel known for its extensive lineup of Christmas movies, promised to include more representation, and part of that shift brought a light-hearted movie that incorporates both Kwanzaa and Christmas.
What to know:What is Kwanzaa and when is the holiday celebrated?
What to see this holiday weekend:From the exaggerated ‘Babylon’ to the sequel to ‘Puss in Boots’
Holly Robinson Peete’s “Holiday Heritage” is one of the most recent film or television projects about Kwanzaa.
Read on to see the Kwanzaa specials currently available to stream:
‘Holiday Heritage’ (2022)
Ella (Lyndie Greenwood) reunites with her ex-boyfriend Griffin (Brooks Darnell), who helps her mend her broken family over the holidays. The couple brings her family together for Christmas and Kwanzaa celebrations.
Where to look: Hallmark and Philo (airs again at 10am ET on December 29), streaming on fuboTV
‘The Black Sail: A Kwanzaa Celebration’ (2008)
Poet Maya Angelou narrates MK Asante’s documentary on the history and traditions of Kwanzaa from its African roots to its connection to the Black Power Movement in the 1960s.
Where to look: Apple TV+, peacock, Amazon Prime Video and Tubi
“Everybody Hates Chris: Everybody Hates Kwanzaa” (Season 3, Episode 10)
Julius (Terry Crews) decides to boycott Christmas in favor of Kwanzaa. His motive has less to do with culture and more to do with cutting vacation costs.
Where to look: Hulu, Paramount+, Peacock TV, and Tubi
Related:How the Great American Family and Candace Cameron Bure are hunting for Hallmark’s Christmas movie crown
‘The Proud Family: Seven Days of Kwanzaa’ (Season 1, Episode 11)
Trudy Proud (Paula Jai Parker) and Penny Proud (Kyla Pratt) meet a homeless family: Joseph (Samuel L. Jackson), Margaret (Vivica A. Fox) and their daughter Stephanie (Raven-Symoné), while doing Christmas shopping and invite them for Christmas dinner. Days later, they return and teach the Proud Ones about the seven days of Kwanzaa.
Where to look: Disney+
‘Rugrats: A Rugrats Kwanzaa’ (Season 8, Episode 16)
Susie Carmichael (Cree Summer) and her family receive a visit from her great-aunt T (Irma P. Hall). T takes care of her, throws a big Kwanzaa party and educates Susie on her family history.
Where to look: Paramount+
Collaboration: Marina Pitofsky
