The first day of Kwanzaa has officially begun, kicking off a seven-day celebration of the African American culture and history.

The candle lit on the first day of Kwanzaa symbolizes unity, as did the crowd that gathered for the third annual Motor City Kwanzaa Kinara lighting ceremony in downtown Detroit. Unity, or "umoja" in Swahili, is the most important of the seven principles of Kwanzaa, said Jamon Jordan, the City of Detroit's historian.

Kwanzaa is a seven-day cultural holiday celebrated by African Americans and the pan-African community. It honors family, community and unity among people of African descent.

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Dozens gathered at The Amp at 16 Tech in downtown Indianapolis on Thursday, Dec. 26 to recognize the first day of Kwanzaa, a nationally recognized celebration of African-American history and heritage.

Today is the first day of Kwanzaa, the celebration of African-American culture that continues through Jan. 1. We’ve got some festive events to check out in this round-up. ☁️ Partly cloudy and 56° today.