Kwanzaa, a Swahili term meaning "first fruits," takes its name from African societies that hold large festivals to celebrate the harvesting of the year's first big crop.

Swahili words and phrases are used to emphasize the African connection to the holiday born in America.

Customarily, a candle is lit each day and activities are done to reinforce the principle of the day.

However, some families such as the Wardfords have one big Kwanzaa celebration during the week. This year's celebration will be Friday.

They invite family and friends for a gathering at which all the candles are lit, each principle is discussed and various activities express the principles ranging from storytelling, tributes to their ancestors, entertainment by their children and others, and sharing of food.

"Every year it's a little bit different, and we all look forward to it," Jean Wardford says.

As their children have gotten older they've taken a more active role in leading and participating in the planning and discussion.

"I think I was in about the fourth grade when I really began to appreciate and understand what it was all about," says Jeff Wardford Jr., 19, a student at Dillard University in New Orleans. "That was the year I memorized all the principles and it started to click."

The annual celebration has grown in numbers as well, ranging anywhere from 60 to 100 people.

In addition to paying tribute to their ancestors and those of the guests gathered, their ceremony also includes praise for accomplishments of the past year, such as graduations, weddings and births.

"We lift each up, talk about and express thanks for our blessings and the blessing of our extended family," Jeff Wardford says. "We also offer prayers of protection for those in special need, such as a niece who's serving in the Peace Corps in Honduras."

The seven principles begin Tuesday

with Umoja, which stands for Unity.

Umoja is the principle that re sonates most with their oldest son, Damon, 34.

"It's just so important in our families and in our communities," Damon says.

Robert, 17, says the Umoja principle also means a lot to him because unity is one of the things he seeks to accomplish through his involvement in youth activities. He's president of his senior class at University Prep High School in Detroit and serves on several youth advisory boards.

Taylar, 13, the Wardfords' youngest child and only daughter, says Kuumba is her favorite principle because it's about creativity. "I like that one because I like expressing myself creatively. I dance. I enjoy creating sculptures and I paint."

Jeff Wardford says since Kwanzaa is a cultural holiday — not a religious one — it readily allows people of various religions to come together. For example, their oldest son, Damon, 34, and his wife, Huda, 29, are Muslim and enjoy the holiday as much as other family members who are Christian.

In some ways, the Wardfords say, Kwanzaa is no different from the family gatherings common in African-American homes for generations.

"There's always been an emphasis on families coming together and spiritual values," Jeff Wardford says. "We talk about 'it takes a village.' This is about building a village in our homes and in our hearts."