Happy New Hanukwanzmas

Many people are familiar with Christmas, Ramadan, Chinese New Year, and Thanksgiving, but do you know about Dong Zhi, Inti Raymi Lorhi, Soyal, Yalda, Saturnalia, or the Feast of Juul? With a world so big, why is it that we only know about a few holidays? Our world is a rich place and we should take advantage and learn about different cultural holidays. This time of the year reminds me of my time teaching at Stanford in a pre-Kindergarten class. We had parents from all over the world, some studying and some teaching at the university, and they were all too happy to come in and share the holidays they celebrated at home with the rest of the class. I saw how much the children really enjoyed those presentations and I also took pleasure in learning something new myself. Working with children over the years I have learned that we do not start off noting differences, however, we are taught to see them. Seeing those differences evolves into fear of what is not familiar. How do we break this cycle of cultural fear? I say we start by making the next generation even more openminded than we are. I feel that exposure to more cultural traditions and people from different parts of the world will help to bridge the gap. Adults also have to be willing to make a change in themselves. Children learn by way of example and so we must show them the change we wish to see for our children and their children. You have to lay the foundation at some point, why not now?

Of course it isn’t realistic that we celebrate more holidays on a national level. If we did that we would never work and our children would never go to school There are certainly many opportunities for us to learn and honor celebrations from other cultures. Why not broaden our knowledge? I remember as a child, I knew people from different cultures and religions, but I just saw them as people. When I experienced an unknown holiday or cultural practice did I ask my parents what they were doing. My parents were very open in telling me whatever I was curious about. If there was ever a time when they too did not know what was happening, they would actively seek answers from someone who might be knowledgeable. As children, my siblings and I learned how to ask questions by watching our parents. Seeing them ask those questions made us more comfortable with seeking answers ourselves. We also learned that there are more cultures and religions in the world and that we should be accepting of all of them no matter how different.

I recall having a conversation with one of my friends about Thanksgiving dinner. Every year we have Thanksgiving dinner at our house. I mentioned that I would be in the kitchen with my mother, helping prepare the meal for approximately 50 family members. The first thing that came out of my friend’s mouth was, “What do you guys eat for Thanksgiving dinner?” … let's take a second to look at the phrase “You guys,” she was clearly othering “us” as if we are a different species of humans and she was expecting me to say we eat bugs, mud smoothies and dirt pie. But enough of that, I responded with, “food, just like all the other humans on this planet. WE don’t eat snakes and monkey brains contrary to popular belief (Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom reference).” My friend then felt the need to clarify what she meant by saying, “No, I know that. Are you going to have Indian food?” I then responded with, “Indians will be making the food, so… yes.” After poking fun at her, I then laid out the menu, turkey, mashed potatoes, corn, cranberry sauce, stuffing, etc… As I was saying this she then cut me off by saying, “Oh ok … so like THANKSGIVING dinner!” I thought that’s what we were talking about … THANKSGIVING DINNER, isn’t that the one that happens that time of year? After this scenario unfolded I began to think about the entire situation. What does it matter what is on the menu for Thanksgiving dinner? The point of the holiday, if I am not mistaken, is to give thanks and spend time with those who matter most to us. If we were making Indian food would that have diminished the meaning of the holiday at all?

No matter what you celebrate or how you celebrate it, it is important to broaden your mind and understand other’s customs. Even if you do not believe in what someone else believes in, it is still a great experience to be an observer. Knowing about other people’s holidays, gives us insight into who they are and where they come from. In this experience we will see that we are not so different from one another. We should not fixate on those minor differences of culture and religion, but rather celebrate them with those we love. This simple yet profound act will create a dialogue. Having a dialogue will open the doors to something you have never imagined. You then can go on to teach others so they too can cross the threshold.