WATERLOO - There's a lot to be said about the seven-day holiday of Kwanzaa. But it's mostly unclear, hearsay or outright untrue.

That's because, unlike other religious holidays in December, not many people in the area publicly celebrate Kwanzaa, though locals say several families celebrate privately. Some years, one or two public observances will occur.

Usually, the United Sisters will be behind those, said radio station KBBG-FM director Lou Porter. In years past, the women's group has recorded messages for each of Kwanzaa's seven days, highlighting each principle in turn, on the local radio station. This year, the messages from last year will be played again.

"(It's) just to make sure that the community can share in something that they might not know about," Porter said.

That's because, unlike other holidays, Kwanzaa is somewhat mysterious. It's not tied to any specific religion, is a relatively new observance and seems to compete with other major holidays like Christmas and Hanukkah.

And yet, Kwanzaa is celebrated by millions around the globe every year since its inception in 1966. Beginning Dec. 26 and running through Jan. 1, Kwanzaa stresses the importance of family, culture and community among African Americans and others of Pan-African descent.

Maulana Karenga, who founded Kwanzaa in 1966, came up with the idea of a holiday for blacks who felt disenfranchised by traditionally European holidays like Christmas and Hanukkah.

Today, however, Karenga stresses the holiday can be celebrated in conjunction with, not in replacement of, these and other holidays. In this way, Kwanzaa is a cultural holiday, and not a religious one, and does not have to conflict with religious precepts.

Kwanzaa comes from the translation of "matunda ya kwanza," meaning "first fruits" in Swahili, and reflects the traditions of "first fruits" harvest celebrations common in ancient Africa.

Despite its emphasis on African heritage and culture, the holiday is officially open to celebration by people of any ethnicity.

According to Karenga on his Web site, www.officialkwanzaawebsite.org, "It is rooted in African culture, and we speak as Africans must speak, not just to ourselves, but to the world. This continues our tradition of speaking our own special cultural truth and making our own unique contribution to the forward flow of human history."

Kwanzaa is based on seven principles, known as Nguzo Saba. Those priciples are unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity and faith. Each has its own day and is celebrated in order Dec. 26 through Jan. 1.

Decorations for Kwanzaa typically include the colors black, red and green, and participants wear colorful African cloth and give greetings in Swahili. A typical greeting is, "Habari gani?" which means "What's the news?" Another person can reply with the Swahili word for that day's principle, such as "Umoja" for "Unity" on the first day.

A table is decorated with a candelabra featuring seven candles representing the seven principles, ears of corn representing children in the household, a Unity cup which is used for pouring libations for one's ancestors, and other items like African art and books.

In all of these traditions, however, Karenga makes note that participants must not forget the true reason for the celebration.

Kwanzaa, he said, is "an act of cultural self-determination, as a self-conscious statement of our own unique cultural truth as an African people. That is to say, it is an important way and expression of being African in a multicultural context."

KBBG's Porter said educating yourself about Kwanzaa is like educating yourself about any aspect of another culture.

"I think the more we know about other people, the more we communicate, gives us a better understanding," Porter said.

Contact Amie Steffen at (319) 291-1464 or amie.steffen@wcfcourier.com.