It is the festive season all around the globe as we reach the end of the year. Starting with Christmas Eve, the holidays have begun for many people. It is not just the festival of Christmas, but also the observance of Kwanzaa. It is a week-long annual celebration held in the United States and other nations of the African diaspora in the Americas which honours the African heritage in African-American culture. Kwanzaa 2019 begins the next day after Christmas, ie on December 26 and go on till January 1. Ahead of this festival, we tell you a little more about the meaning of the word and how to exactly pronounce the name of this festive celebration. Kwanzaa 2019 Date: History, Significance of the Festival That Celebrates African Heritage.

What is Meaning of Kwanzaa?

Kwanzaa is a Swahili, an Eastern African language word that means "first". It signifies the first fruits of the harvest of the season. Kwanzaa is a harvest season celebration to welcome the first harvests to the home. The celebrations of this festival began in the year 1996 in the United States created by Maulana Karenga, an African-American professor of Africana studies, activist and author. Merry Christmas 2019 Wishes Trend on Social Media, Netizens Share Happy Christmas Messages, Xmas GIFs and Season's Greetings to Mark The Joyous Occasion.

How to Pronounce Kwanzaa?

For someone who hasn't heard of this festive observance, the name can be a little difficult. So here's a video which will tell you how to pronounce this festive name.

The observance of Kwanzaa began as a way to bring African Americans together and celebrate their culture. Every year, the harvest or 'first fruit' is a memorable moment celebrated all over Africa as a time to express gratitude for all the good things.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Dec 26, 2019 08:30 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).