How to Make a DIY Kwanzaa Kinara with Hand-Painted Candles
Last updated August 21, 2024
Riche Holmes Grant is designer, executive producer and host behind “The Riche Life” inspirational how-to web series and blog for women. Topics include home decor, cooking, entertaining, DIY, self-care, personal growth, and all of the other beautiful things in her life that make her rich (pun totally intended!). Riche lives between the Washington, DC area and Los Angeles, CA with her husband and daughter (#Miniboss).
A Note From The Home Depot
When gathering for the holidays, adding a personal touch to traditional pieces can help us celebrate our different cultures. Read below to see how Riche Holmes Grant of The Riche Life adds a beautiful accent to her Kwanzaa Kinara!
Table of Contents
What is Kwanzaa?
Celebrating Kwanzaa in Style
Product/Tool List
Directions:
Let the Kwanzaa festivities begin!
What is Kwanzaa?
Kwanzaa is a cultural holiday celebrated by many African Americans and people of African descent from December 26-January 1 to honor our history, culture, communities, and families. The word “Kwanzaa” means “first fruits of the harvest” in Swahili and each day of Kwanzaa represents one of seven principles: “Umoja” (unity); “Kujichagulia” (self-determination); “Ujima” (collective work and responsibility); “Ujamaa” (collective economics); “Nia” (purpose); “Kuumba” (creativity); and “Imani” (faith).
Celebrating Kwanzaa in Style
Since my family celebrates both Christmas and Kwanzaa, I’m always up bright and early on the morning of December 26th to transform our traditional Christmas buffet into our Kwanzaa table, where we display the seven symbols of Kwanzaa. The focal point of the table is always the “kinara” (candle holder), which holds the red, black, and green candles that each represent one of the seven principles of Kwanzaa.
This year, I decided to add a stylish DIY twist to our traditional kinara by hand-painting our Kwanzaa candles and replacing the single carved wooden candelabrum with seven individual black cast iron candle holders to add a modern, chic vibe to the table.
*Note: These painted-candles are for decorative purposes only. Use unpainted candles when lighting for Kwanzaa.
Product/Tool List
• Colorshot Acrylic Paint (Rainbow)
• Rubbing Alcohol
Directions:
Prep the candles by rubbing the alcohol along the surface with a small piece of lint-free cloth
This step removes a layer of sheen from the candle to make it easier for the paint to adhere to the surface.?
Decide which of the stencils you want to use as a guide to create your design. You won’t be able to use the stencils directly on these candles due to their size and curved shape, so be sure to select a pattern that you feel comfortable painting freehand.
- Use one of the thin paintbrushes to paint your base color. For most of my candles, I started with white. I found this process easiest to do while painting with one hand and using my other hand to hold the candle in place. If you make a mistake while the paint is wet, gently rub it off with a few drops of rubbing alcohol on the lint-free cloth. If the paint is dry, try scraping it off with a craft stick or the dull edge of a butterknife.
Stand the candle in one of the holders to allow it to dry completely. Add additional coats as necessary to get an opaque finish (in most instances, this meant two coats for me).
Add unique details to your design with additional colors and shapes that complement the candle color, base color, and stencil pattern. I loved using Colorshot’s metallic collection in this step! Let each new addition to the candle dry completely before adding more embellishments.
- Once you finish painting, place the red and green candles into the small holders and the black candle into the large holder. If you find that the candles aren’t standing up straight, try adding craft putty inside the holder to keep them in place.
Let the Kwanzaa festivities begin!
To display your kinara, place the three red candles on the left, the black candle in the middle, and the three green candles on the right. You can place them in a straight line or place the black candle slightly in front of the others to add visual interest.
Remember that these Kwanzaa candles are for decorative purposes only, so when it’s time to light your kinara, remove the painted candles and replace them with the remaining unpainted candles in each pack.
On the last night of Kwanzaa, invite your family and friends to celebrate with a big feast called a “karamu!”
This post was created in partnership with The Home Depot. The author may have received compensation for this article and associated images or video, potentially in the form of products and/or services. All expressed opinions and experiences are the author’s own words.
