The day after Christmas each year marks the start of another winter tradition: Kwanzaa.
The annual, weeklong holiday celebrates African American heritage, culture and community. Its name — derived from the phrase “matunda ya kwanza” or “first fruits of the harvest”— and its guiding principles are taken from Swahili, one of Africa’s most widely spoken languages.
Modeled after African first fruits harvest festivals, Kwanzaa takes place over seven days, representing the holiday’s seven principles: umoja (unity), kujichagulia (self-determination), ujima (collective work & responsibility), ujamaa (cooperative economics), nia (purpose), kuumba (creativity) and imani (faith).
A time for learning and fellowship, Kwanzaa has been celebrated in Philadelphia since the late 1960s and continues to thrive each year with kinara lightings, storytelling, gift-giving, music and more.
The region hosts a variety of events from the longstanding festival at the Penn Museum (now in its 41st anniversary) to a Black-owned business shopping bazaar at Franklin Square to the weeklong celebration hosted by the African American Museum in Philadelphia.
Kwanzaa is officially celebrated from December 26 through January 1 each year, though in 2024, Philadelphia’s celebrations start as early as December 10.
Read on for our guide on where to celebrate Kwanzaa in Greater Philadelphia in 2024.
Note: Events in this article are arranged chronologically.
