| There is a holiday approaching which millions will | | | | from recycled telephone wires in wide range of lively |
| celebrate yet little is known about it in the | | | | colors. |
| mainstream This holiday is Kwanzaa. It basically | | | | - If you are looking for a more natural texture with |
| means first fruits of the harvest, in Swahili, the East | | | | detailed and colorful patterns, use a Swazi Sisal |
| African trade language. It beens a holiday for years | | | | basket made in South Africa. These are usually |
| yet only now is it starting to become popular among | | | | well-made and thicker using a wicker style basket |
| the masses. | | | | than a Zulu one. |
| Kwanzaa is celebrated by sitting down each day to | | | | - Find some different themed items to fill up your |
| discuss then celebrate each one of the holiday's | | | | Kwanzaa basket. The celebration of Kwanzaa is |
| seven principles a day. There are times when gifts | | | | derived from ancient African harvest celebrations. It |
| are exchanged, but not all the time so that it does | | | | is this theme that you are looking to capture with |
| not become commercially driven like many holidays | | | | your gift basket. |
| have become. Actually, if gifts are exchanged that | | | | - You want to show off your harvest theme by |
| are only done so to to children and be handmade or | | | | giving the impression of a plentiful and abundant |
| hold some cultural relevance. | | | | harvest by filling the basket up with different African |
| One great way to show your Kwanzaa spirit is by | | | | fruits and vegetables such as apples, grapes and |
| making a gift basket filled with the vibrant items | | | | citrus fruits. If you are looking for different African |
| fabrics, cloths, and fruits of Africa. You can even | | | | items to set in the basket, some grocery stores |
| customize the basket to represent your own family's | | | | offer sections dedicated to certain sections of the |
| African culture. Here are a few tips to help you | | | | world. You can also go online and simply do a search |
| create the best looking Kwanzaa gift basket: | | | | for different African foods. |
| - Before you go build any kind of basket, you better | | | | - Go shopping around some various places to find |
| get yourself in the holiday mood and to do this you | | | | fabrics of brocade and kente cloth which are symbols |
| need to surround yourself with all things African | | | | of African heritage. You are going to use these |
| during Kwanzaa. Only by decorating your home for | | | | clothes to line your basket with. They will give it a |
| Kwanzaa can you truly build a traditional gift basket. | | | | textured look. If you are looking for a colorful and |
| - Your first decision involves what type of basket | | | | strong cultural look, make some mats with the same |
| you are going to use a base to build everything from. | | | | fabrics. This way nothing goes to waste. |
| You can do this by picking yourself up a African | | | | - Go to the grocery store and find items such as |
| made Zulu basket. It will give your work an authentic | | | | African gourmet coffee or bags of beans and rice to |
| and traditional cultural look and feel. Make sure the | | | | make African soups and meals out of. Lastly, you |
| basket is made from traditional materials like native | | | | cannot forget to line your basket with the seven |
| plants and grasses. I've seen some stores offering a | | | | candles of Kwanzaa in red, green and black. |
| more modern version of a Zulu basket that is made | | | | |