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Updated 12/26/2009 03:17 PM

Kwanzaa Celebrations Begin

By: NY1 News

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Saturday marked the first day of Kwanzaa, a holiday celebrating African-American culture and coincides with the African harvest.

The week-long celebration ends with a feast on New Year's Eve.

A California State University professor created Kwanzaa in 1966 to encourage African Americans to focus on the seven principles of progress. Each night a candle is lit to mark a principle.

The principles are unity, self-determination, work done with the assistance of neighbors, family and society, purpose, creativity, and faith.