JEANERETTE — The Lambda Iota Zeta Chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc. hosted its annual Kwanzaa celebration Wednesday for Jeanerette and surrounding communities at the King Joseph Recreation Center.

This year was the sorority’s fourth time putting on the ceremony and, according to chapter president Cynthia Greene-Alexander, the program has gotten bigger and better each time it has taken place.

“It is important that we become a unified community and that is what this program seeks to do,” said Alexander.

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“The seven principles of Kwanzaa are ones that we should be living anyway.”

Guests at the Kwanzaa program enjoyed musical performances, dancing by Chloe Bello and Kaitlyn Marks and poetry selections read by Jackie Davis that were inspirational, humorous and educational.

Cultural expressions centered around reflections of a man, woman and child were also told by Clifton Tate, Dwan Delahoussaye and 14-year-old Paige Richard.

First celebrated in December 1966, the primarily U.S.-celebrated holiday was founded by Ron Karenga as a means of remembering African-American culture and as an alternative to the traditional American Christmas.

The week-long annual celebration of Kwanzaa features activities such as gift giving, feasting, candle lighting and pouring of libations and is observed from Dec. 26 to Jan. 1.

“(Karenga) wanted us to appreciate our heritage and learn about our culture,” said program mistress of ceremonies Janice Thornhill Tate.

Sarah Allen, of New Iberia, said she experienced a Kwanzaa celebration for the first time Wednesday.

“I was invited here by a friend, and I had no idea that I would learn so much about my culture and heritage,” said Allen. “It’s inspiring.”

Jeanerette resident Norma Bazar attended the Kwanzaa celebration with her six foster grandchildren.

“I found out about the program from the newspaper, and I thought it was a wonderful thing that I didn’t want to miss,” said Bazar.

“I think it’s important, especially for children, to be exposed to this type of thing.”

Guests feasted on black-eyed peas, red beans and rice, plantains, fruit, sweet potatoes, cornbread, chicken and salad at the end of the Kwanzaa ceremony.

“We put in a lot of work to get this together, and we hope that next year it grows to where it will flow over into the halls,” said Tate.