Starting a New Tradition
Shantelle Davis is a nine-year-old gir1 in New York. On a cold night in December, her family is
standing around the kitchen table while she lights a candle. The table is decorated with baskets of
fruits and vegetables and ears of corn for Shantelle and her two brothers.
" This candle represents umoja, an African word that means being together," Shantelle says.
"That's the most important thing for a family. "
Tonight is the first night of Kwanzaa, and Shantelle is spending me holiday with her family.
More than 5 million African Americans celebrate Kwanzaa every year from December 26 until
January 1. Its a time when they get together with their families to think about their history and their ancestors in Africa.
Kwanzaa is very unusual because it was started by one man. In 1966, an American named
Maulana Karenga wanted a holiday for African-Americans to honor they culture and traditions. So he used words and customs from Africa to create a new celebration. He took the name Kwanzaa from the words for "first fruits" in Swahili, an African language. At first , a few American families had small celebrations at home. Now there are also Kwanzaa events in schools and public places, and Kwanzaa has spread to other countries like Canada and Jamaica.
The main symbol of Kwanzaa is a candleholder with seven candles, one for each of the
principles of Kwanzaa. Each night, a family member lights one of the candles and talks about the
idea it represents: being together, being yourself, helping each other, sharing, having a goal,
creating, and believing. The candles are red, black, and green, the colors of Kwanzaa. The
parents also pour drinks to honor family members who have died, On the last night of Kwanzaa,
there is a big dinner with African food , and children receive small presents.
Today people can buy Kwanzaa greeting cards and special Kwanzaa clothes. Stores sell
Kwanzaa candles and candleholders. Some people don't believe that Kwanzaa is a real holiday,
because it's so new. But other people say that customs and celebrations are always changing and
that Kwanzaa shows what is important in people's lives.
Shantelle Davis says she likes Kwanzaa because it's fun. "But I also learn new things every
year，’she says.
詞彙：
ancestor n. 祖宗，祖先 be decorated with 由……所裝飾
honor vt. 尊敬，使榮幸;n. 榮譽，尊敬 ears of corn 玉米穗
candleholder n. 燭臺
註釋：
's a time when they get together with the families to think about their history and their
ancestors in Africa. 這段時間裡他們和家人待在一起緬懷他們的歷史和非洲的祖先。
2. …shows what is important in people's lives ……展現了人們生活中重要的東西。
練習：
1. Kwanzaa is celebrated at the end of the year.
A. Right B. Wrong C. Not mentioned
zaa is a holiday for African-Americans.
