Kwanzaa, a weeklong celebration of African-American culture, is observed from December 26 to January 1. To help you honor the holiday’s seven core principles—unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity, and faith—we’re bringing you three paper crafts you can create as a family. Each one is easy to make and features the traditional colors of red, green, and black. Use recycled or repurposed materials to make them eco-friendly!

Handprint Wreath
We found this Kwanzaa wreath project on the DLTK’s Crafts for Kids blog. You can personalize it by adding family members’ names and photos. http://www.dltk-holidays.com/kwanzaa/mhands.html

Cardboard Kinara
Candles are a centerpiece of the Kwanzaa celebration, and the candleholder is called a kinara. This one from the PBS Kids blog is made out of cardboard tubes. http://www.pbs.org/parents/crafts-for-kids/kwanzaa-kinara/

Kwanzaa Placemat
This craft represents the straw placemat (called a mkeka) traditionally used on the Kwanzaa feast table. You can use construction paper or any other type of paper you have around the house. http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/article/kwanzaa-mkeka-mat-craft