CHICOPEE, Mass. (WGGB/WSHM) - A celebratory flag raising was held Tuesday morning in one local community in recognition of Kwanzaa.

Mayor John Vieau along with other elected officials in Chicopee, shared this event at City Hall to recognize the cultural significance of the holiday.

Western Mass News spoke with the Kwanzaa Collective which helped put on the event and other Kwanzaa events throughout the area.

They told us events like this are important to the community.

“People are coming out more, they’re celebrating it more, we’re seeing people saying ‘you know what, I celebrated it last year because of you. I’ve participated in Kwanzaa events because of the collective.’ And so what we’re seeing is just what we wanted to see, is people participating, celebrating it, and becoming aware of what it is,” a representative said.

Kwanzaa is a week-long cultural celebration observed from December 26th to January 1st each year, honoring African American heritage, family, and community.

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