Missouri Botanical Gardens Is Teaching The History And Traditions Of Kwanzaa

By Julie Bierach 

St. Louis, MO - Celebrate the contemporary African-American holiday of “Kwanzaa: Festival of the First Fruits” at the Missouri Botanical Garden on Tuesday, Dec. 30 from noon to 4 p.m.

Kwanzaa is a non-religious holiday that derives its name from the Swahili term matunda ya kwanza, meaning “fruits of the harvest.” The annual event honors African traditions and history, with storytelling and music to celebrate the harvest feast before the dry season. A table of fruits, vegetables and grains will be displayed.

Kwanzaa is traditionally celebrated for seven days, each dedicated to a guiding principle: unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity and faith. A ceremony at noon and 3 p.m. will explain the holiday’s origins as one symbolic candle on the kinara is lit for each principle. Following each ceremony, Janice “Mama” Katambwa will tell stories of Africa using costumes and percussion.

Renata’s African Influences, Ajanaku Jewelry and Mama Katambwa’s Boutique will offer Kwanzaa crafts and jewelry for purchase. The Garden Gate Shop also offers an assortment of African-made crafts and music CDs.

The event is included with Garden admission ($8 adults; St. Louis City and County residents, $4 adults and $2 seniors age 65 and over). Garden members and children age 12 and under are free. 

For general information, call the 24-hour recorded hotline at (314) 577-9400 or toll free 1800-642-8842, or visit www.mobot.org.

The Missouri Botanical Garden’s mission is “to discover and share knowledge about plants and their environment, in order to preserve and enrich life.” Today, 149 years after opening, the Missouri Botanical Garden is a National Historic Landmark and a center for science, conservation, education and horticultural display.

The Missouri Botanical Garden is located at 4344 Shaw Blvd. in St. Louis, just south of I-44 at Vandeventer-Kingshighway (exit #287B). Open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day except Dec. 25. Grounds open at 7 a.m. every Wednesday and Saturday. Admission is $8; free children ages 12 and under and Garden members. St. Louis City and County residents are $4 and free every Wednesday and Saturday until noon (exception: special admission rate events). Park for free on site and two blocks west at the Shaw-Vandeventer intersection. (Note: the Garden’s main vehicle entrance at 4344 Shaw Blvd. will be under construction from Oct. 2008 through Mar. 2009 for improvements. Follow signs to temporary parking lot entrances around the corners at 2019 Tower Grove Ave. and 1940 Alfred Ave.) The Garden is easily accessible by taking the MetroLink commuter rail line to the Central West End station and picking up a Metro bus (www.metrostlouis.org). For general information, log on to www.mobot.org or call the 24-hour recording at (314) 577-9400 or 1-800-642-8842. For membership information, call (314) 577-5118 during weekday business hours. For volunteer opportunities, call (314)-577-5187 or visit www.mobot.org/volunteer. The Missouri Botanical Garden is a tobacco-free environment.

(Note: A section of the I-64/U.S. 40 highway is under construction through 2009. Before traveling, check www.thenewi64.org for updates or visit www.GetAroundStL.com for other helpful information.)