Recognizing diverse holiday traditions

photo by leyla dumke

With the quickly approaching holiday season, recognizing the diversity in family traditions and perspectives on holidays is important. Part of this is recognizing not everyone’s holiday is filled with spirit and excitement, as some have lost close family members. 

While some people’s holidays are filled with family and spirit, others may experience the opposite and loath the time of year. Some choose to avoid every situation involving family and friends because it makes their grieving process circle back to the start, but some may agree that being with family is better for someone who has lost a loved one rather than staying in alone. 

Losing a loved one during the holiday season isn’t easy, but accepting it can be a beneficial start. Setting realistic expectations for yourself is important and can help you not underestimate your feelings. You may feel the temptation to cancel the holiday; it’s okay to avoid situations you may feel you’re not ready to handle, but know that isolation will not solve the problem. 

Playing loved ones’ favorite music, movies, or activities may bring you joy, but it’s important not to tuck away your feelings. Allowing yourself to feel the feelings your body is holding will heal you quicker than if you hold it all in. 

Some families experience the best time of year during the holiday months, and that’s great. Holding onto those moments will grow your gratitude and appreciation for the time you have. And though this is true, holding sympathy for those dealing with loss is just as important. 

Many holiday traditions involve family, and that may be hard for some. It's imperative to allow yourself to go through all the motions, even if it may be hard.        

You may find yourself intrigued by the idea that a vast majority of people have different holiday celebrations and feelings about them. Always remember to have patience with the people that are going through something in the holiday seasons—you may not know what they’re struggling with, but simply practicing patience and understanding can be more of a gift than you realize.