Teach About Diversity This Holiday Season

Do you ever wonder how to explain what Hanukkah is to your children, if you aren't Jewish? Or Kwanzaa, for that matter? With the Holiday season, we are always surrounded by Christain-themed displays and Christmas markets, etc. But even those start to lose their association with religion after a while and become more about making a buck or two at the end of the day (or millions).

But there comes a time when it is important to teach diversity. We all aspire to teach diversity to others, especially our children. But how can one do that in a society that is so focused only on the Christian aspect of the holiday season? I will admit that the little kids lined up to see Santa Claus are adorable. But having only Christmas trees in the malls, and not decorations for any other winter Holidays is a huge disappointment. If you, like me, want to see more diversity this holiday season, I suggest you find it yourselves (or write to your local malls, asking them to put up menorahs, the Star of David, etc.)

If you want your children to learn about Judaism and the holiday of Hanukkah, perhaps take them to visit a synagogue and meet with a rabbi. Have him explain the holiday to them and what it means. Or you could find videos and books that describe the holiday. There are lots of picture books that offer details and explanations of the holiday. If any of your close friends are Jewish, perhaps invite them to spend Christmas with you and ask if they can teach your children about Hanukkah. If both families spend time sharing their respective holidays, then everyone will learn something new.

When it comes to Kwanzaa, ask a friend, or visit www.officialkwanzaawebsite.org which tells all about the holiday of Kwanzaa.

Many kids love food. To teach them about the different traditions (you can do this with Hanukkah as well, and Christmas if you're not Christian) try preparing a meal like the one that people celebrating Kwanzaa would eat. It's a challenge to get the meal right the first time (or to not kill anyone if you are not that good at cooking).

All in all, it would be fun for the whole family. At the end of the day, if your children know more about other cultures and are more open-minded, it is well worth it.