As we look east over the Atlantic Ocean, we know that West Africa is our Motherland.
It wasnt until my parents generation, however, that a holiday was created to honor the African experience.
Kwanzaa is a relatively new American holiday.
Simply Recipes / Hennie Haworth
When I ask friends whether they celebrate it, their response is sometimes a wary no.
Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years are a few short weeks apart.
Do we need to addanotherholiday to the lineup?
Then theres the question about food rituals.
The ink is dry on other traditional holiday menus throughout the year.
Chocolate is gifted on Valentines Day.
And after the egg hunt, deviled eggs are served on Easter.
The grills are fired up for hot dogs and barbecue on Independence Day.
Turkey is the centerpiece on Thanksgiving and Christmas tables.
But when it comes to dishes to serve during theweeklong Kwanzaa festivities, the menu is still being written.
My family doesnt celebrate Kwanzaa.
Its a holiday that I only incorporated into my life once I was living on my own.
My rituals are inspired by friends.
These social events are how I remember most Afro-centric celebrations, including Kwanzaa.
It would be the first time I would taste dishes from other cultures of the African diaspora.
We were treated to a cacophony of music, drummers, poetry and singing.
Jeans, colorful West African prints, and dashikis weaved in and out of the crowd.
The ticket to attend was one fruit (unless it was grapes or berries) per person.
She would cut the fruit into pieces and place it into a large bowl.
It was her example of how much can be achieved when we work together.
Everyone received a cup of fruit salad, and she always had leftovers.
Compared to other holidays, Kwanzaa is a spiritual, purposeful reflection as I transition into a new year.
Our Kwanzaa traditions and rituals have evolved through the years.
The Christmas tree is decorated with global and Afro-centric ornaments.
On the first day of Kwanzaa, Umoja, dinner is leftovers from Christmas.
For the other days, we discuss the daily principle over morning tea or coffee.
Or we open a bottle of wine during the evening.
We dont have large celebratory dinners every night.
Occasionally, were invited to a friends house or an event.
Both dishes are permanently on my menu because they symbolize good luck and fortune.
The salad is topped with toasted nuts, coconut, and cultured whipped cream.
This is a new addition to the traditional menu.
When our ancestors landed in the Americas, languages and cultures were lost.
We are descendants of survivors.
The people who celebrate it are reconnecting to their African heritage and sharing their varied experiences.
Kwanzaa is an American holiday celebrating its African ancestors who built the foundation for Americas food cultures.
