Today marks the start of Kwanzaa, a seven-day observance devoted to African-American history and culture; and some of those traditions were passed along to students in the Knoxville School District before the holiday break.

Second graders in Ms. Shawn Helle’s class at West Elementary learned details about the holiday, the name Kwanzaa is derived from the Swahili term for “first fruits of the harvest,” and Ms. Helle tells KNIA/KRLS News each day of the celebration is devoted to honoring particular principles.

“There are seven principles, and they all have to do with living a really good life; and from what I’ve read the professor that developed the holiday for African-Americans wanted to develop pride in their culture and pride in their ancestry; and so that’s what I’m hoping to instill in the students,” Ms. Helle says.

Prof. Ron Karenga from UCLA originally developed the holiday in the 1960’s during the civil rights movement, as a way of instilling pride in African-American culture.

The week involves daily gatherings to light the kanara, which holds seven candles representing each of the main principles — unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity and faith. There are also traditional meals, and exchanging of gifts.