Religious Observances

View Full Calendar

Kwanzaa (Interfaith, African-American)

Event Type
Religious/Cultural
Sponsor
The Office of the Vice Chancellor for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Date
Dec 26, 2024 - Jan 1, 2025   All Day
Contact
Ross Wantland
E-Mail
diversity@illinois.edu
Views
14

Kwanzaa is an annual seven-day African-American and pan-African holiday celebration that takes place from December 26 to January 1. For seven days, a principle (Nguzo Saba) is reflected upon such as unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity, and faith. The final day climaxes with gift-giving and a feast called Karamu Ya Imani. The festival is a nonreligious holiday inspired by West African harvest celebrations. The word Kwanzaa means “first fruits.”

Need to request religious accommodation? 

Employee Religious Accommodation Information

Student Religious Accommodation Information

This calendar contains Religious Observances and is maintained by the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion for consideration by those planning campus events, as well as to build awareness of religious and cultural observances.

link for robots only