Habari gani? Or, to translate the traditional Swahili Kwanzaa greeting: what’s the news?

Well, the news this month is that local Black-led organizations are getting ready to celebrate Kwanzaa — the Pan-African winter holiday celebrating the culture of the Black diaspora — with all kinds of events. Yet, it often feels like the news around Kwanzaa gets lost amid celebration of the two other major December holidays.

Founded in 1966 during the Civil Rights and Black Power movements, Kwanzaa spans from Dec. 26 to Jan. 1, though local events to mark it begin as early as this weekend.

“I think there is a lack of knowledge on Kwanzaa,” says Chiquita Jackson, CEO of Captivating Events by Chi and C.J.E. Consulting, who is hosting Kwanzaa & Kulture Unity Brunch in Greenbelt, Maryland next week. “When I talk to people about Kwanzaa, they automatically assume it’s Hanukkah.”

That could be because one of the main symbols of Kwanzaa is the kinara, a candle holder on which a new candle is lit each day — similar to the Hanukkah menorah tradition. Jackson is one of many organizers who are trying to bring awareness to this somewhat underappreciated holiday, which is based on seven principles, including Umoja (Unity), Kujichagulia (self-determination), and others.

One of the reasons she’s particularly interested in hosting Kwanzaa events in the D.C. region is because there is a large population of Black residents here who originate from different parts of the world.

The significance of Kwanzaa is to give Black Americans a moment to try to get some type of understanding of their African roots, Jackson says. Yet, that doesn’t mean the holiday is exclusive to them.

“It’s not just a Black American thing,” she says. “It’s definitely inclusive to all Black communities, and also non-Black communities, if they’re wanting to learn more about Kwanzaa and the traditions.”

In addition to raising awareness of the holiday, organizers are also trying to diversify and modernize it too. Dance Institute of Washington Creative Director Ashanté Green hopes that their upcoming show, The Spirit of Kwanzaa, will break preconceived notions about Kwanzaa through a variety of performance styles, from traditional dance to spoken word.

“When you hear Kwanzaa, you think we’re celebrating African culture so you’re going to see just African dance,” she says. “No… you’ll see ballet, you’ll see modern, you’ll see hip hop, you’ll see it all.”

Jackson also hopes to bring more young people into the fold to celebrate Kwanzaa. Many younger Black people may associate it with their grandparents, but that doesn’t have to be the case, she says.

“It’s not an old tradition,” Jackson says. “You can come together, have fun and do what you want to do, but just know it’s really about community.”

The Anacostia Arts Center is looking to build that community this month with an Umoja Holiday Market, and Jess Randolph, the associate creative director, says she hopes it, and all the celebrations of Kwanzaa, reflect the vast diversity of the Black diaspora.

“Get with your neighbors and see what they think,” Randolph says. “There is no one Black voice. There is no one Black perspective. And that’s what makes our community so multifaceted and beautiful.”

Jackson hopes Kwanzaa eventually gets the same federal recognition as Juneteenth so that more emphasis can be placed on Black holidays.

“If we don’t continue to celebrate it, if we don’t continue to talk about it, then it’s just going to continue to be that silent Black holiday,” she says. “It’s always been really near and dear to me to make sure that I am understanding my culture and not forgetting the traditions that have been passed down to our communities.”

Whether you’re just beginning to celebrate Kwanzaa or have been celebrating it for years, here are a few ways to mark the holiday around the D.C. region this year.

EXPLORE KWANZAA: If you’re looking for something fun and educational to help teach your children about Black culture and Kwanzaa, hit up the Smithsonian’s Anacostia Community Museum for Explore Kwanzaa. Featuring a guest appearance from Grammy-nominated musician The Culture Queen and craft activities, this event is aimed at shedding light on the “only holiday born in the Black Power movement of the 1960s.” (Dec. 10, 11:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m.; Smithsonian’s Anacostia Community Museum; FREE)

SPIRIT OF KWANZAA: This annual performance hosted by the Dance Institute of Washington dates back to 1996. This year’s production will include ballet, hip hop, and West African dance, among others. Centered on portraying the struggles and creativity within the Black experience, this Kwanzaa celebration promises to immerse you in the diversity of the Black diaspora. (Dec. 16 and 17, 7 p.m.; Howard University’s Cramton Auditorium; $30 for adults, $20 for seniors and $15 for children)

UMOJA MARKET: Want to support Black-owned businesses? Then the Anacostia Arts Center’s Umoja Holiday Market is the place to go. Hosting the likes of Official Royal Watch and Black Squirrel Company, expect to see vendors selling art, food, jewelry and more. There will also be DJs spinning an open mic later in the evening. (Dec. 17 and 18, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Anacostia Arts Center; FREE)

FOR THE CULTURE: Creative Suitland’s Kwanzaa: For The Culture is a two-day event that starts with “Sankofa Harvest Night,” which will feature a pre-show reception, an opening libations ceremony, an avant-garde African fashion show, live performance art show, and performances by the Ni Dembaya African Dance and Drum Ensemble. The second day, “Community Day,” will involve an artisan market, African Dance & Drum workshops, a Kemetic Yoga workshop, and free family art activities. (Dec. 17, 5 p.m.-8 p.m. and Dec. 18, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.; Creative Suitland Arts Center; Prices vary, starting at $15 in advance Sankofa night and other activities, FREE admission to the Saturday market and family activities)

UNITY BRUNCH: Captivating Events by Chi is inviting people to their second annual Kwanzaa & Kulture Unity Brunch at the Greenbelt Youth Center to mark the first day of Kwanzaa. Expect food, drinks, and games at this family-friendly event focused on the principle of Umoja. (Dec. 26, 3 p.m.-7 p.m.;: Greenbelt Youth Center; $25 for adults and $15 for children)

LAKE ARBOR FOUNDATION: Newcomers to celebrating Kwanzaa may benefit from the Lake Arbor Foundation’s Kwanzaa Celebration and Marketplace, a weeklong celebration in Prince George’s County that teaches attendees about the history of Kwanzaa and how to host their own celebrations at home. There will also be a marketplace for you to support local businesses. (Dec. 26 – Dec. 30, 5 p.m.-8 p.m. Lake Arbor Foundation, Mitchellville; FREE)

KWANZAA AT HARRIET TUBMAN: Another family-friendly event, Kwanzaa Celebration 2022 at the Harriet Tubman Cultural Center in Columbia, will provide presentations and musical performances that will explore the creativity, self-determination, and faith of the Black community. Doors will open 30 minutes before the Kwanzaa program so people can tour the building, support their local vendors, and let their children explore the Kwanzaa themed kid’s corner. (Dec. 28, 5:30 p.m.-8 p.m.; Harriet Tubman Cultural Center; FREE)