ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — For 25 years, the Winter Park community has come together to celebrate Kwanzaa in a heartfelt and vibrant Umoja candle-lighting ceremony.
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Community Elders hosting the event said the tradition is a spiritual connection, illuminating the shared journey of the Winter Park community through generations.
The event was a stunning testament to unity, Umoja’s guiding principle, as families and friends gathered at the Winter Park Community Center to honor African heritage and culture.
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The event was open to anyone to learn about the holiday. Kwanzaa begins on December 26 and ends on January 1.
“It’s important because we all have to learn how to live with each other. That’s the way of the world. We have to learn to get along with and come from a space and place of love,” said Pamela Bussey, Ambassador of Kwanzaa.
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The event was filled with rhythmic drumming, soulful storytelling, and dancing.
The first candle of the Kinara was lit, symbolizing the importance of togetherness in building strong bonds.
Before lighting the candle, Winter Park Vice Mayor Todd Weaver and State Representative Anna Eskamani gave remarks and awarded December 26, 2024, Kwanzaa Day.
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Community elders shared wisdom and history, while children participated in joyous dances and songs that celebrated their roots.
The event hosted a vendor market with black-owned businesses, where participants exchanged stories and engaged in meaningful discussions about continuing Kwanzaa’s legacy.
“You have to be willing to break bread or have an experience with someone who looks different than you and may have a different religion, but you can always find you have something in common,” said Bussey.
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