So, it´s December, that month of seemingly never-ending celebrations, parties, and holidays. You may love it or hate it, but what you can´t do is ignore it (and if you can, please share your secrets!).
Now, everyone will have their own individual traditions in terms of how they celebrate, which holidays they celebrate (if any), and within your own home and family, the chances are that you all celebrate in a similar way. It may even be the case that you have a mix of cultures and traditions in your household, so you´ve learned to blend different traditions together in a way that makes everyone feel included, which is great.
The challenge can come outside of your personal realm, especially within the workplace, where you may encounter religious or cultural holidays that you are less aware of. Navigating these different traditions can feel like a minefield, especially if, like most of us, you want to make sure you´re respectful. So how do we ensure that we can enjoy the holidays that we celebrate, whilst embracing and including those that don’t? Well, I think the first step would be to know a bit more about each holiday and what they signify to those that observe.
Full disclosure, I was raised in a Christian household in Europe, so the big celebration for me was always Christmas. Even now, although no longer practicing, it´s still something we celebrate as a family, albeit without the religious aspect. I can´t pretend to be an expert on the other holidays, but I´ve spoken to people and done some research, so I´m just going to give a short breakdown of some of the religious and cultural holidays observed in December, to hopefully open up the narrative.
So which holidays are celebrated in December that we should be aware of?
Christmas - Seems obvious to point out, but let´s be honest, it´s pretty much in your face from November onwards. Obviously, its roots are as a Christian holiday, celebrating the birth of Jesus (yes I know about the pagan thing!), although nowadays it´s celebrated well outside of its religious significance, having grown into a cultural celebration, especially within Western cultures. In the UK for example, over 88% of the population surveyed said that they would be celebrating, despite no more than 51% identifying as a Christian of any kind.
Hanukkah - The dates of Hanukkah change from year to year (much like Easter) as it´s based on the lunar calendar. This year Hannukah began on Thursday 7th December, and will end on Friday 15th. Hanukkah is a Jewish festival commemorating the recovery of Jerusalem and subsequent rededication of the Second Temple. The most important of all the traditions is the lighting of the menorah with one candle lit every night until the eight day celebration is over. Again, the tradition is to meet with family and friends, share food and spend time together.
Kwanzaa - I won´t lie, this was an entirely new one for me, but then it is for everyone (relatively speaking). Kwanzaa is a cultural rather than religious holiday, created in 1966 to celebrate African American heritage and culture. Taking place from the 26th of December until the 1st of January, the holiday is based around the seven principles of Nguzo Saba. Candles are lit each day and the holiday culminates in a celebration on the 31st of December with music, food and gifts.
There are other holidays that take place during December including Bodhi, but these are the three most prominent (especially in the USA). Now I understand that, generally speaking, people will concentrate on the celebrations that they partake in. It makes sense, of course, but I think it´s important to be aware of other holidays and celebrations, especially when they have a deep religious or cultural significance.
So how do I respect the traditions that I´m not a part of?
Well, in the same way that you would for anything else (hopefully)It´s important to remember that these are genuine celebrations, religious and cultural, and you can´t just approach it in the way you would a new years eve party. Even Christmas, which is celebrated much more widely with no religious significance for many should be approached with respect. For example, I wouldn´t dream of attending a Catholic Christmas mass unless I was going to respect the deep significance it has for the people there. It´s not just an excuse for a party. The same goes for Hanukkah and Kwanzaa.
If you´re fortunate enough to be invited to partake in the celebrations, then do so with the respect for the traditions and beliefs that are expected. These celebrations are supposed to be a time of great joy and an opportunity to unite with family and friends and the best way to achieve that is by making sure everyone feels welcome.
So, ask questions, be curious, be interested, but above all, be respectful. And let us know which traditions you celebrate!
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