Like us on Celebrations
’Tis the season! Many holidays are right around the corner. Which
ones does your family look forward to most? St. Nick’s Day? Kwanzaa? Hanukkah?
Solstice? Christmas? New Year? Holidays can bring families closer together as
they look forward to, plan, and work together to create a celebration. During
times of family stress, they can provide shelter and
predictability.
Rituals don’t need to be complex to be meaningful. Look closely at your current customs to see what’s working and what can be improved. Consider:
ü Place
– Where
do your celebrations take place? Having a safe, nurturing, predictable place can
add meaning to your ritual. To see this, ask your child what he would think if
Thanksgiving were no longer held at his grandparents’ home. You may be surprised
about how that sense of place gives children a sense of belonging and
predictability.
ü Food – Which foods are associated with your holidays or occasions? How can the
dietary needs of all be met? Asking everyone to bring a dish to share not only
cuts down on the workload of the host but assures that all will have something
that meets their dietary needs.
ü People – Think of ways to encourage people of different generations and families to
talk and share time together. And plan a way to honor the absence of someone,
whether that person is deployed for a military assignment, is sick, or has
died.
ü Cultural
connections – Many families include recipes, rituals, songs, and activities from their
ancestral roots. Whether a family eats Indian curry, Mexican tamales, or
Scandinavian lutefisk, these connections anchor the family to their cultural
heritage.
ü Decorations
– The
way you decorate adds meaning to the holiday and are visual symbols of what’s
important.
ü Roles –
Get everyone involved in helping. Even young children can create decorations or
help with setting the table, wrapping gifts, or suggesting items for the menu.
ü Activities – Which activities mean a lot to you and your kids? Some families play card or board games on holidays. Some go for walks through the neighborhood. Some volunteer together. Find activities that get people connecting, laughing, and enjoying being with each other.
Monthly Messages are brought to you by:
The Community Coalition for Healthy Youth
Each
monthly message is provided by coalition board members. If you have further
questions or comments about this message or would like information on how to
become involved with the Community Coalition for Healthy Youth, please email ahendrix@tompkins-co.org
Thank you in advance for sharing this monthly message with
your networks.
Community
Coalition for Healthy Youth
320 W. State/MLK Jr. Street
Ithaca NY 14850
