Established in California by Dr. Maulana Karenga in 1966, Kwanzaa is a 7-day festival celebrating the African American people, their culture, history, and community. Kwanzaa, which means "first fruits of the harvest" in the African language Kiswahili, has gained tremendous acceptance and is now celebrated all over the world--especially in the U.S., Africa, and the Caribbean. Despite some misconceptions, Kwanzaa is neither political nor religious in nature and is not a substitute for Christmas. Kwanzaa begins on December 26th and continues until New Years Day, January 1st.