Make your own paper kinara to celebrate Kwanzaa! This Kwanzaa kinara craft is easy to make with our free candle printable below. Learn about holidays around the world and get the kids making their own holiday decorations at home or in the classroom. Kwanzaa is a fun opportunity for crafts and activities for kids!

HOW TO MAKE A KINARA FOR KWANZAA

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WHAT IS KWANZAA?

Kwanzaa is a celebration of African-American culture that lasts for seven days, and ends with a communal feast called Karamu.

Kwanzaa was created by activist Maulana Karenga first starting in 1966, who based the celebration on African harvest festival traditions. It runs from December 26 to January 1st of each year.

Kwanzaa is an important part of the year’s end for many African Americans. It is a special time to celebrate African culture and connect to their roots.

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The Kinara is a seven-branched candle holder used in Kwanzaa celebrations in the United States. The word kinara is a Swahili word that means candle holder.

You will find the Kinara used as the centerpiece on a table decorated with the harvest symbols of Kwanzaa. Each day a candle will be lit starting with the middle black candle. then moving from the left red candles to the right green candles.

The black candle symbolizes the African people, the red candles their struggle, and the green candles the future and hope that comes from their struggle.

Each candle on the Kinara represents the principles of Kwanzaa – unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity, and faith.

Make your own kinara craft with our printable instructions below for Kwanzaa.

CLICK HERE TO GET YOUR PRINTABLE KINARA CRAFT!

KINARA CRAFT

Lighting candles is also important in other holiday celebrations around the world, like Diwali and Hanukkah.

SUPPLIES:

  • Kinara template
  • Paper plate
  • Markers
  • Scissors
  • Colored paper
  • Tape
  • Glue stick

INSTRUCTIONS:

STEP 1: Print the Kinara template.

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STEP 2: Cut your paper plate in half.

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STEP 3: Use colored markers to make a Kwanzaa themed design on the paper plate.

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STEP 4: Now cut out the Kinara candle shapes from colored paper, using the template as a guide.

You will want 3 red candles, 1 black candle and 3 green candles.

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STEP 5: Tape your candles onto the back of the paper plate to complete your Kwanzaa Kinara!

Remember, the kinara gets put together with 3 red candles on the left, 1 black candle in the middle and 3 green candles on the right!

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STEP 6. Glue the flames to the top of each candle to finish.

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MORE KWANZAA ACTIVITIES FOR KIDS

We have a growing list of various holidays activities for the season. Click on the links below to find more free printable Kwanzaa projects too!

MAKE A KINARA FOR KWANZAA

Also learn about prominent African-Americans like Mae Jemison and Alma Thomas, with hands-on STEM and art projects. Click on the link or on the image below.