The first specifically African-American holiday, Kwanzaa, is a weeklong celebration held in the US aimed at honoring universal African-American heritage and culture. This celebration is observed from December 26th to January 1st every year. It is celebrated with activities including lighting a candleholder with seven candles, a feast, and gift giving.
On this day, December 26, in 1966, Dr. Maulana Karenga, professor and chairman of Black Studies at California State University, Long Beach, created Kwanzaa. He wanted to find a way to bring African-Americans together as a community after the Watts riots in LA. Kwanzaa has its roots in the Black Nationalist movement. Karenga combined various aspects of different harvest celebrations, such as those of the Ashanti and of the Zulu, to form the basis of Kwanzaa. Its first celebration took place in 1966-1967.