.png)
Week Six ThinkEDI 12 Weeks of Festive Allyship
Angela Griffith
November 2024
Embracing and Celebrating Different Family Structures This Christmas
The festive season is traditionally portrayed as the time of year when families come together - but what does family mean today? Families can be single parent, blended, chosen, extended, childless, etc. Regardless of what ‘kind’ of family you have - change is a big part of families - marriage, divorce, addition of children, aging family members or the loss of a loved one - and these differences can be difficult to acknowledge during the festive season.
This week, we will be discussing how to ease the pressure of having a “perfect family Christmas” and how to celebrate diverse family structures and traditions this Christmas.
How to Be Flexible at Christmas
Growing up between two households, I know how challenging the holiday season can be. My advice is to ease the pressure of traditional Christmas celebrations by being flexible. My family didn’t worry about celebrating exactly on December 25th - especially with so many different schedules to attend to. Instead, we had multiple Christmas celebrations and chose dates that worked for everyone. This made the holiday season much less stressful - and who would say no to having two Christmas dinners? It also means that, even now, when most of the siblings are grown up, we can have a shared Christmas at a time that works for everyone’s working schedule. Last year, we celebrated our sibling Christmas on the 2nd of December!
Family around a table celebrating, everyone is smiling and about to cheers with a glass. A range of food is presented on the table.
Don’t Make Assumptions!
Families don’t always look or sound alike, and it’s important to remember this during the festive season. Never make assumptions about families, especially at Christmas, when many family gatherings occur. I come from a multicultural family - both of my stepsiblings are Indian, and I am of British/Polish heritage - so we don’t look anything alike. While we are out as a family, others sometimes assume that my stepsiblings are friends - or even worse - partners! Thankfully, this horror has only happened on two occasions - but it would have never happened if people hadn’t made any open assumptions regarding our family. It’s a reminder that the shape of a family isn’t always immediately obvious, and that assumptions can be hurtful and create uncomfortable moments.
Two fathers running along happily swinging their happy daughter. The background is set in a garden.
Week Six ThinkEDI 12 Weeks of Festive Allyship
Focusing on Acts of Kindness & Talking About It
The key to enjoying and celebrating the Christmas season is to focus on simple acts of kindness. No family is the same, and Christmas does not have to be one specific, traditional way. Ask about different festive cultural traditions in your family and blend these diverse elements. For example - share some recipes, listen to different holiday music, or adopt customs. These small acts of kindness - not just giving gifts - but sharing, and appreciating one another will bring everyone closer together. Create an open space for conversation and understanding - acknowledge changes that have happened in the family, and ask others how they feel about it. Celebrate the uniqueness of your family and create new traditions, together.
This advice goes for beyond the family. When you make an effort to be kind to others during the holidays, it spreads a sense of joy that can lift the spirit of anyone..
So, no matter who you’re celebrating with - with traditions, or no traditions in sight - happy holidays!
Think Equity Diversity Inclusion