Why I Say Happy Holidays
As the toy booklets and advertising tells us, the holiday season is quickly approaching. My first, of five, Christmas trees went up on November first. I have an endless number of Christmas traditions that I hold dear and celebrate with my family each year. On Christmas Eve you’ll find my family eating lamb, Christmas morning we will be in our matching holiday pajamas, and in each stocking you’ll find a book. While I create a Christmas explosion of red, green, and gold in my home each year you will rarely hear me say Merry Christmas. Instead, you’ll hear me say Happy Holidays.
I don’t say this because I dislike Christmas, in fact the opposite (as my 10 tubs of Christmas décor can attest to). I use Happy Holidays as a way to create a safe, welcoming space for a diverse group of individuals in my life. Now, I’m not ascribing negative attributes if you say Merry Christmas. I simply think that this step includes enormous variety of people in a warm winter greeting. The holidays are a time for joy and acceptance. By changing the words you use you can create a meaningful impact in your immediate surroundings. This isn’t the end all solution of an inclusive holiday season, but it is a great start.
Just a small list of holidays celebrated from November to January:
1. Diwali
2. Kwanzaa
3. Hanukkah
4. Chinese New Year
5. St. Lucia’s Day
6. Dia de los Muertos
7. Las Posadas
8. Chung Yeung Festival
9. Lohri
10. St. Nicholas Day
11. Omisoka
12. Mardi Gras
13. Boxing Day
14. Dia de la Tradicion
15. Bon Om Touk
16. Dia de Candelaria
17. Lantern Festival
18. Waitangi Day
Kelzye Bedwell
Inclusivity Committee Member
