The kinara is the candle holder used in Kwanzaa

Kwanzaa

Kwanzaa is a week long celebration held in the United States honoring universal African-American heritage and culture, observed from December 26 to January 1 each year. It features activities such as lighting a candle holder with seven candles and culminates in a feast and gift giving...

 celebrations in the United States

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

. During the week-long celebration of Kwanzaa, seven candles are placed in the kinara - three red on the left, three green on the right, and a single black candle in the center. The word kinara is a Swahili word that means candle holder.

The seven candles represent the Seven Principles (or Nguzo Saba) of Kwanzaa. Red, green, and black are the symbolic colors of the holiday.

During the week of Kwanzaa, a new candle is lit on the kinara each day. The center black candle is lit first, and the lighting alternates between the red and green candles beginning with the outermost red candle and moving towards the center. In this way each day of Kwanzaa is dedicated to the contemplation of one of the Seven Principles.

The ritual of lighting the kinara closely resembles that of the Menorah during the Jewish holiday of Hannukah.

Each of the candles also have a meaning.The black one symbolizes African race, red stands for African blood shed, and green stands for the land of Africa.