The greetings during Kwanzaa are in Swahili. Swahili is a Pan-African language and is chosen to reflect African Americans' commitment to the whole of Africa and African culture rather than to a specific ethnic or national group or culture. The greetings are to reinforce awareness of and commitment to the Seven Principles. It is: "Habari gani?" and the answer is each of the principles for each of the days of Kwanzaa, i.e., "Umoja", on the first day, "Kujichagulia", on the second day and so on.
Gifts are given mainly to children, but must always
include a book and a heritage symbol. The book is to emphasize the African value
and tradition of learning stressed since ancient Egypt, and the heritage symbol
to reaffirm and reinforce the African commitment to tradiion and history.
The colors of Kwanzaa are black, red and green and can
be utilized in decorations for Kwanzaa. Also decorations should include
traditional African items, i.e., African baskets, cloth patterns, art objects,
harvest symbols, etc.