Healthy Holiday Alternatives: Celebrating and Creating Our Own Traditions

As we gain knowledge of self, our history and culture, we begin to reject the standard issue commercial holidays that come with the season. Layer by layer, we release our attachment to the lies and fairy tales that accompany them. Many times we have to engage or contend with our families, friends and various aspects of life and society as we raise our children and make different choices. How do we do this and stay true to our culture and our values? We now have an opportunity to create our own traditions and celebrations as we enter into the holiday season. We will discuss how the popular holidays were formed and the meanings behind them. We will also discuss the synchronicity with the time of year, seasons, and planetary alignments. As we remember who we are, we must remember that family, community and Spirit are at the core of who we are as African people. It is time to fill the void and celebrate in ways that nurture who we truly are. Celebration and ritual are wonderful ways to do so and instill values that can endure through the generations that are to follow.