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Growing up Canadian While Living Abroad
by Geraldine Mac Donald-Moran



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Celebrate our world with holiday culture ~ a time to explore and reflect
Culture is everywhere during the holidays, as we celebrate society through the vivid display of beliefs and values at special times throughout the year.

Many holidays worldwide, embrace and transmit spiritual or religious beliefs while others unite shared viewpoints; celebrate the changing of earth's seasons, or acknowledge a human need for merriment.

Observing global celebrations is enlightening and helps us discover the importance of diversity from a new perspective.

Around the world, we make clear statements of our differences when we classify and communicate our experiences through: language, art, music, religion, dress codes, culinary habits, social mannerisms, group and individual tendencies, habitat, lifestyle; traditions, customs, and rituals.

Consider these kinds of cultural expressions, as an approach to enhance your family culture and make it last beyond the holidays.

But why bother to explore different cultures and their forms of celebration?

Has your child ever asked you why someone in his or her school classroom looks, acts, or speaks differently? Has your child ever commented that someone from the neighborhood celebrates different holidays or doesn't seem to celebrate the same way as the rest?

Exploring other cultures gives you the perfect opportunity to answer your child appropriately, honestly, and more effectively. You can then cultivate values such as tolerance, respect and acceptance; it's educational and helps generate deeper cultural recognition and family roots, which can help children form stronger self-identities; and it lets us ponder our own cultures and enhance our particular celebrations even more.

Take time to reflect upon the depth of your traditions and their relevance to your lives today, and to recognize the variety of ways to celebrate our world, through culture.

What, and how, will you celebrate during the upcoming 'holy day' season?

Mexico's Day of the Dead- A mix of Pre-Hispanic and Catholic celebrations
November 2nd


Create an altar, to entice your dead relatives back to earth, and invite ancestral spirits to mingle among the mortals once again? If this sounds intriguing then welcome to Mexico's Day of the Dead: a tradition filled with folklore, humor and mockery of death, to kick off the holiday season. It's worthwhile to mention, that many customs are influenced (sometimes adulterated) by commerce, trade, and marketing in developing nations like Mexico. Proximity, increased relations with the rest of North America, and globalization have caused a growing shift from what was once an atypical, colorful, local festival, to a typical North American, Halloween-like invention. Although many combine the two celebrations, the risk for cultural confusion is high because of the temptation to combine and celebrate both, rather than one, of these fun-filled festivities. Originally celebrated in churches and graveyards, altars were constructed to commemorate the dearly departed: rich with history and living traditions, the festival permeates Mexican society and altars can be enjoyed in schools, offices, local parks and homes; as well as churches and cemeteries, of course. No matter where the altars are built, families and friends gather to tell jokes, recite poems in tribute to the deceased and to each other; sing or bring mariachis to the departed souls, share their favorite foods and beverages; spend time reminiscing and celebrating the joys of life. Families with small children generally share traditional sweet 'Bread of the Dead' with frothy cups of hot chocolate, and tell tales, on the eve of November 2nd.

Divali-Hindu celebration worldwide
Generally observed during the last week of October and the first half of November


This Hindu 'festival of light' is celebrated as a means to bring light where darkness prevails: celebrate the triumph of good over evil, justice over injustice, and intelligence over ignorance. The festival is heralded by the belief that light is life and symbolizes the divine. Divali also marks the culmination of weeks of fasting and cleansing, and takes place on the darkest night of the year, during the new moon of the Hindu holy month (Kartik). Mother Lakshmi, the goddess of light, wealth and beauty, is worshipped during the celebrations; she is associated, too, with prosperity, financial wellbeing, luck, abundance and generosity. Religious significance is great for the devotees of the Divali celebration, since Mother Lakshmi is honored and worshipped by Hindu prayer, singing and the chanting of mantras. In celebration no meat is prepared but there are many dishes to be shared with family and friend guests, once they are first offered to Mother Lakshmi; by placing small portions next to her image, mixing them together and then placing them into the fire. Customarily, a small portion is then returned to the pots in which they were prepared as a form of further blessing.

Chanukah-Jewish celebration worldwide
December 15th-22nd 2006


Yearly, this eight-day 'festival of lights' is celebrated by the Jewish, to commemorate events that took place over 2,300 years ago in the land of Judea, now Israel. The celebration marks victory over the Syrians, who wanted the Jewish to renounce their God, and beliefs, and worship Greek Gods; but some refused to renounce their beliefs. These Jewish men led a fight against the Syrians and reclaimed their temple after a three-year battle. Following the cleaning and rededicating of their Temple of Jerusalem, they wished to light an eternal light but found only a small lantern with enough oil to burn for one day. When the lamp burned continuously for eight days, they believed it miraculous; thus, an eight-day festival was born. The only religious observance connected to this celebration, involves prayer and blessings on the lighting of each candle; since the religious significance of the celebration is far less than with other Jewish holidays like Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, or Passover. The Chanukah celebration involves decorating homes, eating special foods, lighting the menorah candles, giving and receiving gifts, and receiving or entertaining guests.

Kwanzaa-African American and Pan-African celebration worldwide
December 26th to January 1st


The very special, seven-day celebration of family, community and culture is an ancient and living tradition celebrated by African peoples globally, that reflects and reaffirms the dignity, beauty and integrity of human beings in their environments. A profound concern with the values behind the celebration is central to its meaning, and for that purpose Kwanzaa was created to introduce and reinforce seven basic values, core to the African culture, which are: the crops, the mat, the candle holder, the corn, the seven candles, the unity cup, and the gifts. These symbols represent concepts that are entwined and contributive to the African community and people. The Kwanzaa flag and poster, depicting the seven principles, may also play key roles in the commemoration. Special greetings, in Swahili, are used to reinforce the meaning behind the symbols, gifts are given to children during the celebrations, and decorations generally follow a color scheme (black, red and green) to depict: black for the people, red for their struggle and green for their hopeful future. To truly honor Kwanzaa, the celebration should not be mixed with any other celebratory practices from other cultures. A central place in the home is selected to place the seven symbols and the most beautiful objects available should be used to represent them. The order and location of each symbol placed, is also ritual and highly significant. The last day of the celebration is the first day of the New Year (January 1st), and is a time to assess things done and all things left to accomplish; promoting self- assessment and reflection in order to recommit oneself to their highest values.

Christmas- Christian worldwide celebration
Usually December 24th and/or 25th


Most are familiar with how this Christian 'holy day' originated, to commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ in a humble manger so many years ago. Churches that follow the Gregorian calendar celebrate 'Christ Mass' on the 25th of December, while Eastern Orthodox Churches follow the Julian calendar and thus, celebration dates can vary. Honored by most of the Christian faith denominations, though particular traditions differ depending on family origin, regions, and countries, Christmas usually involves the customs of letter writing and gift giving to children by a mythical Father Christmas, Father Frost, St. Nicholas, Saint Basil, Santa Claus; the Baby Jesus, or the Three Kings; attending midnight or candlelit church services, displaying manger scenes; decorating the home and indoor trees, family gatherings, partaking of special foods and beverages, singing holiday songs, reading traditional or folkloric tales; and the enjoyment of winter sports and festivals where climate appropriate. Variations occur in these Christmas celebrations, on a global scale, particularly in the timing of gift giving; which, may occur on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Day (January 1st) or The Three Kings day (the Epiphany, for example).

What are some of the more unique history or traditions celebrated at 'Christ Mass' worldwide?

In Finland, Christmas Eve dinner follows a visit to the steam bath, where everyone dresses in his or her best, clean clothing afterwards. Santa Claus usually delivers gifts in person and may be accompanied by twelve elves. The traditional dishes are white codfish and roast suckling pig, and the birds and wildlife are also invited to special treats of nuts, seeds, and sheaves of grain placed in the garden.

In Germany, where the tradition of tree decorating seems to have originated, real candles were used to light the tree.

In Greece, forty days of fasting precedes the Christmas feast. Children visit homes on Christmas Eve, to offer good wishes and sing songs, and are rewarded with sweets and dried fruits. Although trees are not typically decorated in Greek homes, the main symbolic decoration at this holiday season is a wooden bowl with wire rim that suspends a wooden cross; wrapped in a sprig of fresh basil. It is said that the basil, kept fresh, dipped daily in holy water and then sprinkled around each room, will help mother to keep mischievous goblins and sprites away from the home. Gifts are usually exchanged on St. Basil's day (January 1st).

In Italy, children wait until the Epiphany (January 6th) for their presents; delivered by an ugly witch on a broomstick. It is said that when the Three Kings told the witch Befana that the baby Jesus was born, she was busy and delayed visiting the newborn King. Later, while attempting to find the bright star that would lead her to Jesus she lost her way; since then, she has been flying around leaving presents in homes where there are children, in case Jesus is there. She flies down chimneys and fills stocking or shoes for the good children and leaves lumps of coal for those who have misbehaved.

In Mexico, during the weeks prior to Christmas, the act of requesting room at the Inn by Joseph and Mary is re-enacted in the form of a traditional festivity called a Posada. Here, the guests are divided into two groups (one representing Mary and Joseph and the other, the Inn keeper), they hold candles to light their paths, and they sing a traditional song in parts. Children customarily break star shaped piñatas that are filled with mandarin oranges, sugar cane, nuts and candies: Guests drink hot fruit punch, eat tamales, and share fluted fritters sprinkled with cinnamon and sugar.

How will you choose to celebrate the holidays? Why not try them all, or simplified versions of some, to fill your home with light, warmth and culture this year and always!



© Geraldine Mac Donald-Moran


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