With the holidays here, many of us are seeing family and celebrating our holiday traditions. I remember my first year away from family in California and celebrating Thanksgiving alone with friends. We were all multicultural, and came from a variety of backgrounds, but found ourselves all together at the table. It was wonderful to have each person share one of their favorite holiday memories or traditions. I learned so much that year about customs I had never heard of but enjoyed celebrating none-the-less. Each of us holds a richness that can be shared and appreciated with each other.

Ever since that Thanksgiving I have found that holidays are more universal to me. I try to learn about new traditions as well as celebrating the old ones. Christmas is my favorite holiday and it is fun to see how others share their traditions. One my family did when we were kids, was to drive around the neighborhoods and find our favorite light displays. We would give awards to the one with the best tree, the most Christmas spirit, the best nativity scene, etc… We would put the homemade awards in their mailbox back then. But now, as an adult, I like to have us all go up and ring the doorbell and give them their award. We have had amazing reactions from people. They are elated and so proud of their red paper ribbon, glitter-glued with writing that says, “First Place for Best Angel!”

Many people work hard to decorate their house and share the holiday spirit with others in the neighborhood. You can tell some neighborhoods develop a theme and the spirit of coming together comes out in each home. It is the time of remembering to share and that we are all part of something bigger than us. Traditions teach us about giving and that we all are a part of the family of man. We all have the same God, though it is viewed in many different ways.