America's Byways® Press Room
December 20, 2007 - Kwanzaa Display along the Illinois River

While traveling along the Illinois River Road in December this year, stop by the Luthy Botanical Gardens in Peoria, Illinois to learn more about the African harvest festival, Kwanzaa.

Come learn the significance of Mishumaa Saba and Zawadi at Luthy’s annual Kwanzaa display. Kwanzaa is a non-religious celebration of family, community and culture has been celebrated annually since its formation by Dr. Maulana Karenga, a professor in the Department of Black Studies at California State University, in 1966. The holiday is meant as a means for reaffirming and restoring the African culture and values in all people of African descent. The origins of Kwanzaa date back to ancient Egypt’s harvest celebrations called matunda ya kwanzaa, meaning “first fruits,” from which it takes its name. Learn about this African-American holiday and see the display of African plants while you enjoy the beautiful holiday surroundings of the Luthy Botanical Gardens.

This article was summarized from peoriamagazines.com. To read the entire article click here.

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