Holidays, Holy days, and Children

Momma Sandy Says

Holidays, Holy Days, and Children

The fact that today is Memorial Day here in America has a great deal to do with today's blog.  I want to look at how we observe various holidays and what that is teaching our children.  First I want to look at the types of holidays that are celebrated here in the U.S.  Sorry to my Canadian readers, but I think you're smart enough to examine your own (which are largely similar).

   The first holiday in the calendar year (not counting New Years, which I consider to be part of the Christmas grouping) is Martin Luther King Day in January.  It is a Federal holiday to honor a person.

   In February two holidays to honor people (Birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and George Washington) were combined into a Federal holiday called President's Day.  We also celebrate Valentine's Day, which is not a Federal holiday.  It is a secular holiday that honors Love and relationships.

   March is often light of holidays.  Ash Wednesday, a Christian holy day often falls in here someplace.  It is often ignored, except by the religious.  The big holiday is St. Patrick's Day.  Like many other holidays, the original intent has morphed.  It is now a festival to honor Irish-ness, with lots of alcohol consumption.  The message of St. Patrick is largely ignored.

   April often includes Easter and the Jewish celebration of Passover.  Easter, except for the religious, has become more of a celebration of the coming of spring-bunny rabbits, Easter eggs and all.  Although it is not a Federal holiday, many stores do close for Easter Sunday.

  May is the start of the patriotic holidays and is a Federal holiday.  Like others, Memorial Day was shifted some years ago from it's traditional date to become a Monday holiday.  It was originally a day to remember those who have died serving our country (in war).  It shifted to honoring all those who have died who were veterans of the armed forces.  We also honor our Mothers on Mother's Day.  And don't forget Cinco de Mayo, the Hispanic counterpart of St. Patrick's Day.

   June has Flag day, which is not a Federal holiday and is often forgotten now.  June really is about graduations and the ending of the school year (unless your school ends in May).  Father's Day (to honor dads) is about half way through.

  July has the biggest of the patriotic holidays, Independence Day ( the 4th of July).  How we tend to celebrate it now is much milder and much more individual than how it was celebrated in our past.  Look it up.

   August has no real holidays.  There are some religious holy days, but not much else.  I think it's a lovely month for me to have a birthday in.

    September starts with Labor Day.  This is a Federal holiday.  It's seems like no one really knows what it's about.  Workers?  School has either, or is about ready to start.  Again, some important religious holy days.

   October goes from religious holy days early in the month, to Columbus (an individual honored with a day off in many places), to Halloween.  Halloween has changed, in my lifetime from a children's event to a major party related date.

   November has the last of the Patriotic holidays, Veteran's Day.  Since that date is tied to an historical event, it was not changed to a Monday holiday.  Soon after is Thanksgiving, which is a secular holiday, and a Federal holiday as well.  Thanksgiving is usually about family - and food.

   December has several religious holy days, but only one of which is also a Federal holiday, Christmas.  Although Christmas is supposedly a religious holiday, it has morphed into also being a time for being with family and friends, to celebrate traditions, and to give gifts.  Although Christmas Day is the only day off work, the events associated with the holiday last for most of the month. 

   New Years Eve and Day are only a week after Christmas, so some stuff slides into that  New Years Eve day is not a holiday.  January 1st is a Federal holiday.

   So, as I see it, we have days throughout the year to  honor individuals and things, to be patriotic about our country, days usually spent with family, and religious holy days.  As parents, what do we want to teach our children about these holidays?  How are we doing it?

   It all ties into what values we want our children to have.   Do we want our children to grow up to be as free from prejudice as possible?  Then honor MLK Day in January.  Teach your kids to value other cultures.  Think about using the day to explore a culture other than your own with your kids.

  Want your kids to appreciate the history of this country and the sacrifice of others?  Then Memorial Day needs to not be national bar-b-cue day.  Consider also taking the time to take your kids to talk to a veteran (age appropriate).  Take in a Memorial Day event.  Fourth of July can be less individual.  See if there's a military base in your area that has an open house that day.  The one nearest me also shoots off a great fireworks display.  Consider taking your kids to a local military cemetery on Veteran's Day and have them choose a soldier's grave to put flowers on.  There are so many ways we can teach our children to value veterans.  We just have to do it.  It starts with us, as parents, respecting the sacrifice of others.

   I wish parents would teach their children to look beyond the media pressure at our holidays.  Talk to your kids about who St. Patrick was and what he meant to Ireland.  Talk to your kids about what it means to be Irish-the good and the bad.  Teach your kids that Cinco de Mayo is about more than Hispanic culture (though that's important too).  Let them know about the battles that many of the Latin American countries had to become independent and who the heroes were.

   Do what you can to make Halloween a kid safe holiday again.

Teach your kids about love.  Help them to know that romance and love don't just happen on one day, but that love shows it every day.

   In my house, Thanksgiving is not just about family.  It's also about taking in the strays, so that they have family.  Christmas should not be crazy busy, caught up in consumerism.  If you're Christian, take the time to teach your kids the real meaning.  Easter too.  Even little kids can take part in Lent, in small ways.

Are you following my drift?  Take time to look at the holidays of the calendar year with your spouse (or whatever) and decide what you want your kids to learn from them. Not only do it, but model your beliefs in front of your kids.  Add your own family practices.  Growing up, listening to (or watching) the Indianapolis 500 was a part of Memorial Day weekend.  It was separate from the actual day, of course.

   Above all. teach your children to respect the traditions of others.