ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The first night of the weeklong celebration of Kwanzaa kicked off in Pinellas County with a Kwanzaa at the Farm event hosted by St. Pete Youth Farm and Gallerie 909, complete with drumming, food harvested from the farm, and a discussion of the seven principles that are key to the holiday.

What You Need To Know

  •  Monday marked the first day of the weeklong celebration of Kwanzaa

  •  Kwanzaa is a non-religious holiday created in 1966 that celebrates African American culture

  •  Each day of the holiday focuses on one of seven key principles

  • A key organizer with Kwanzaa St. Pete says there's a particular focus this year on educating the public about the holiday

"I came out because the first day is umoja, which is community, and you can't really celebrate that by yourself," said St. Pete resident Nicole Houston.

Houston said this is the second year she's celebrated at Kwanzaa St. Pete events, but she began observing the holiday at home a few years ago.

"It's something that is important to my values as a Black person, or an African person here in America. It helps us to unite ourselves as a community," said Houston.

A kinara on display at a Kwanzaa celebration at the St. Pete Youth Farm on December 26, 2022. (Sarah Blazonis/Spectrum Bay News 9)

“It’s not at all about religion. It’s more about this cultural celebration and sharing with the younger people the fact that it’s about the harvest, it’s about this time of year, of remembering the importance of the economics and supporting businesses within the community," said Carla Bristol, a key organizer for Kwanzaa St. Pete and collaboration manager for the St. Pete Youth Farm. 

Each night focuses on one of seven key principles - umoja (unity), kujichagulia (self-determination), ujima (collective work and responsibility), ujamaa (cooperative economics), nia (purpose), kuumba (creativity), and imani (faith) - with the lighting of candles in the kinara. A black candle representing unity sits in the center, with three red candles representing past struggle on one side and three green candles representing the harvest and the future on the other. 

"What you'll see is people from all nationalities," said Bristol. "I'm Guyanese, so it's not, 'Oh, you have to be an African American in America.'"

The seven principles of Kwanzaa are discussed at an event at the St. Pete Youth Farm. (Sarah Blazonis/Spectrum Bay News 9)

Bristol said there's a particular focus this year for Kwanzaa St. Pete of educating the community about the holiday - particularly young people. Not only will this year feature events each night of Kwanzaa, but Bristol said there's been an effort to branch out with locations. This year's include a barbershop, church, and mosque. 

Houston attended the youth farm event with her 10-year-old son.

"I think that it is important to be African-centered mind, body, and spirit, as well as communal, so it's something that's very important to me to pass on," Houston said.

For information on upcoming events, visit Kwanzaa St. Pete's Facebook page.

Attendees of a Kwanzaa celebration at the St. Pete Youth Farm play drums.