This holiday season, McMaster's figure skaters put on a holiday show, bringing a celebration of talent, teamwork and holiday spirit to the ice
The McMaster Varsity Figure Skating team hosted their annual holiday ice show on Nov. 23, 2024 from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Westoby (Olympic) Arena. The event showcased the skills of the team's skaters and was open for anyone to attend.
McMaster Varsity Figure Skating competes in three main categories: free skate events, ice dancing and synchronized skating. Rian Cocchetto, co-captain of McMaster Varsity Figure Skating, explained the details of each category.
"Free skate events are your jumps and your spins . . . then there's dance which is ice dancing and resembles a ballroom dancing style. And then there's synchro or synchronized skating which is our big event at the end of competition which has 16 people in it," said Cocchetto.
Catalina Costiuc, co-captain of McMaster Varsity Figure Skating, explained how the roster for the team is selected.
"In September we have an open tryout where we invite anyone who wants to try out to come. And then the coaches . . . are really involved in choosing the roster and once the team of, I believe, 23 skaters are chosen we typically have three competitions in a season," said Costiuc.
The show began with the team's opening remarks and skaters were given five to six minutes to warm up. The skaters cleared the ice and then the performances began shortly after.
"Essentially, we try to split up as much as we can so we have a dance performance then a free skate performance and even an artistic performance which is similar to free skate except you display your artistry and not so much your jumps and spins . . . and we had synchro as the final show number," said Costiuc.
we have a dance performance then a free skate performance and even an artistic performance which is similar to free skate except you display your artistry and not so much your jumps and spins . . . and we had synchro as the final show number.
Catalina Costiuc, Co-Captain
McMaster Varsity Figure Skating
Costiuc emphasized the purpose of the team's holiday ice show. "Because we want to give the opportunity for everyone to skate, we allow people to basically perform whatever they wish. If they have their own solos from their past competitive careers they're free to perform them. It's really just to showcase the hard work that we've been putting into our practices," said Costiuc.
Holly Marini, assistant captain of McMaster Varsity Figure Skating, clarified that the athletes on the team's competitive roster are not the same as those who perform in the show. "Our competitive roster is 18 but at the show we always try and give everyone [team members] an opportunity to skate in front of their friends and family. If they're not on the competitive roster we offer them the opportunity to skate," said Marini.
Cocchetto, Costiuc and Marini all agreed that, despite the nerves they feel before every performance, the anxiety gradually fades as they begin to skate. "I've always felt that nervous energy before I skate. But with that being said, I've always loved to perform, so it slowly fades away as soon as the music starts," said Marini.
I've always felt that nervous energy before I skate. But with that being said, I've always loved to perform, so it slowly fades away as soon as the music starts.
Holly Marini, Assistant Captain
McMaster Varsity Figure Skating
Cocchetto shared that the team does a pre-show ritual as a way to mentally prepare before every synchronized performance including before their final performance at the holiday ice show. "Before we go on for synchro, we line up and we'll massage the person's shoulders in front us and then we'll turn around and do it to the other person," said Cocchetto.
Cocchetto highlighted that Alistair Lam, the team’s sole male member, and Catalina Costiuc, the other co-captain, consistently deliver outstanding performances. "Alistair is always a fan favourite," said Cocchetto.
The show also included a raffle and bake sales where attendees bid on bags containing the team's merchandise and goodies or purchased baked goods. Costiuc emphasized the crucial role of fundraising events in supporting the team.
"We do these shows because we want to obviously show the hard work that we've put in. But we also want to fundraise for our team because fees can get expensive, especially with having ice off campus, that's a big cost to cover. So it's amazing to see all the support and our friends supporting and the crowds cheering on for each event," said Costiuc.
We do these shows because we want to obviously show the hard work that we've put in. But we also want to fundraise for our team because fees can get expensive, especially with having ice off campus, that's a big cost to cover.
Catalina Costiuc, Co-Captain
McMaster Varsity Figure Skating
To support McMaster Varsity Figure Skating, you can attend their upcoming performances. You can stay informed about their events and activities by keeping up with their Instagram.
The Hamilton Academy of Performing Arts highlights why this ballet remains central to the holiday season, year after year
The Nutcracker isn’t just a ballet—it's a timeless tradition, a cornerstone of the holiday season that continues to captivate audiences year after year. With its themes of imagination, connection, and transformation, it has a way of resonating across generations, drawing people into a world of wonder.
For over 23 years, the Hamilton Academy of Performing Arts has been connecting people through ballet. Dec. 6 and 7, 2024 marks their 10th annual rendition of The Nutcracker at the McIntyre Performing Arts Centre, blending classic elements with creative touches to create a memorable experience.
Melania Pawliw, co-founder and artistic director of the Hamilton Academy of Performing Arts, shared how for many families, The Nutcracker is a holiday tradition and a first step into the world of live theatre. “For young audiences, The Nutcracker is usually their first introduction to the ballet,” said Pawliw.
For young audiences, The Nutcracker is usually their first introduction to the ballet.
Melania Pawliw, Co-Founder and Artistic Director
Hamilton Academy of Performing Arts
Tchaikovsky’s iconic score and the enchanting story of Clara and her Nutcracker Prince invite audiences to dream, telling a tale that feels as fresh as it does familiar. Pawliw shared that while The Nutcracker is performed year-round in Europe, in North America it has become synonymous with the holiday season, embodying a sense of community and celebration. “[In Europe] it’s just a ballet like any other ballet.” said Pawliw.
What makes the Hamilton Academy’s production distinct is its ability to marry tradition with accessibility. “Any ballet we do, we stay close to the original storyline and choreography,” shared Pawliw, “We always adapt the choreography to add so many new parts, because it creates more opportunity for children to be in the production.”
Drawing inspiration from Vasily Vainonen’s original choreography, this rendition introduces fresh elements such as a live orchestra and choir, elevating the performance in new and exciting ways. “We always look for ways to expand the production.” explained Pawliw.
Community involvement is at the core of the Hamilton Academy’s approach. With over 100 roles available, dancers from Hamilton and surrounding areas audition to take part, including both young students and seasoned professionals. This mix of backgrounds creates a unique environment where children can gain experience that inspires personal and artistic growth.
Pawliw shared that the most rewarding part of her job is watching young dancers evolve from smaller roles to leading characters over time.
For those new to ballet, The Nutcracker presents a lively and immersive experience. “It’s a holiday celebration that brings people together,” said Pawliw. From the elegance of the Sugar Plum Fairy’s dance to the mesmerizing Waltz of the Snowflakes, every detail is designed to delight. The live orchestra brings Tchaikovsky’s score to life, surrounding the audience with the richness of his timeless music.
It's a holiday celebration that brings people together.
Melania Pawliw, Co-Founder and Artistic Director
Hamilton Academy of Performing Arts
As the Hamilton Academy of Performing Arts continues its annual tradition of bringing The Nutcracker to life, it reaffirms the arts’ power to connect and inspire. They have not only kept the tradition of The Nutcracker alive but have also expanded its impact, making the ballet a shared experience that connects people through the beauty of performance and the holiday spirit.
The Nutcracker invites everyone to celebrate the season’s joy together. Performances will take place on Dec. 6, 2024 at 7:30 p.m. and Dec. 7, 2024 at 2:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.. Don’t miss this classic holiday tradition!
The Holiday Market has quickly become a beloved tradition, bringing good cheer and holiday spirit to campus
The McMaster Holiday Market took place in the arts quad and McMaster University Student Centre from Nov. 25 to 28, 2024 and was open from 12:00 to 6:00 p.m. each day. Speakers playing holiday music and a variety of light displays were set up around the arts quad to create a festive atmosphere. This event was run as a collaboration between the MSU, MSU Campus Events, the Alumni Association and the Student Success Centre.
The market had vendors both outdoors in wooden cabins and at tables in the student centre. MSU Campus Events offered student vendor tables for $10 per day and advertised the application form on their Instagram in early November.
In an interview with The Silhouette, Thomas Saab, the MSU Campus Events director, shared that the planning for the market starts in September. “I meet with AVTEK and we go over, we walk through the space and based on our notes last year look at what we want to change as far as the decorations and the layout, so all the physical spaces,” said Saab. The next stage of planning involves coordinating with the SSC and Alumni Association to plan entertainment and activities.
According to Saab, new to the market this year are fireplaces and propane heaters, additional decorations and a snow machine. “I love the snow machine. I think it adds a completely new layer to the event. It just makes it a little bit more magical. That was my vision going in, I wanted to go from a cute little event to a magical event,” said Saab.
I love the snow machine. I think it adds a completely new layer to the event. It just makes it a little bit more magical. That was my vision going in, I wanted to go from a cute little event to a magical event.
Thomas Saab, Director
MSU Campus Events
New programming for the event includes a live reindeer petting zoo, taking place this afternoon and a screening of Home Alone happening tonight at 7:00 p.m. in the Hub. This year’s market also featured live ice sculpture carving and caroling performances from members of the McMaster University Choirs.
The SSC partnered with Hospitality Services to offer a special Taste of Home menu, available at La Piazza from Nov. 25 to 29. The SSC asked international and exchange students to submit traditional dishes from different cultures. The selected dishes were rajma chawal, jollof rice with chicken and plaintain, lasagna Bolognese and stir-fried beef noodles
The SSC also set up a wood and plexiglass dome in the arts quad, which served as a spot for students to take photos. Students could enter a draw to win a dinner in the dome through a form on the SSC website. The winning student got to enjoy dishes from the Taste of Home menu with three of their friends.
Saab shared he had hoped to include a maple taffy station. “We wanted to do maple taffy [like in] the old village and Quebec. We wanted to include that but it wasn’t within the budget this year so hopefully next year we’ll be able to add that as a fun snack for students,” said Saab. Saab estimated that the MSU contributed over $20,000 towards the budget for the market.
With its impressive array of decorations, vendors, food and activities, the McMaster Holiday Market is a must-visit event. Stop by the arts quad today to kick off your holiday season!
Yoohyun Park/Production Coordinator
How migratory grief makes the holiday season difficult for some immigrants
Immigration has the power to perplex many components of an immigrant's life and celebrating the holidays is one of them. While most people enjoy the New Year's and Christmas break with their friends and family, immigrants are often left feeling puzzled.
Time and time again, people tell us to be thankful for the opportunity that we have.
They tell us we have the luxury of living in a first-world country filled with freedom and liberty. They tell us we are living the dream of our people back home. They instruct us not to complain as we are the privileged ones compared to our fellow "third worlders."
They tell us we are living the dream of our people back home. They instruct us not to complain as we are the privileged ones compared to our fellow "third worlders."
KIMIA TAHAEI, OPINIONS STAFF WRITER
Constantly hearing these bitter statements makes an immigrant feel as if they can't possibly be upset about anything. No one dares to discuss the brutal reality of migratory grief.
Migratory grief is significantly different from other types of grief, with the main difference being there is no actual disappearance. In most cases of grief, there usually involves a complete disappearance of someone or something.
However, with migratory loss, no one has disappeared and you're merely mourning the separation from the country of origin, which is still there. Perhaps because there is no physical disappearance, no one addresses the doleful aftermath of departing from your home country.
One of the hardships that often gets swept under the rug is the difficulty of celebrating a holiday that is so foreign to you.
To begin with, the celebration of Christmas and New Years is simply strange to most immigrants since we celebrate at a completely different time of the year. Moving past the sheer confusion, the customs that often accompany these holidays are also challenging to follow. Christmas is a package that comes with traditions such as receiving gifts, decorating trees and cookies with milk. Not only are most of these rituals unknown to an immigrant, but they are also costly.
Most first-generation immigrants are struggling financially and simply trying to make it day by day and Christmas shopping is the last thing on their minds. As a result, an immigrant often can't even partake in these festivities because of their financial circumstances.
Consequently, Christmas and other holidays become just a regular day — a regular day filled with disappointment, uncertainty and embarrassment. And to make things worse, you can't complain because others will label you as ungrateful.
Consequently, Christmas and other holidays become just a regular day — a regular day filled with disappointment, uncertainty and embarrassment. And to make things worse, you can't complain because others will label you as ungrateful.
KIMIA TAHAEI, OPINIONS STAFF WRITER
Another factor that adds to the mix of these unpleasant feelings is the reminder of how your own holiday is just another day in this country. While most are celebrating Christmas, first-generation immigrants are thinking about their traditions back home and how much they miss them.
However, as mentioned above, you have no right to complain about such an “insignificant issue” as this should be a small price to pay for liberty and freedom.
As first-generations grow up and successfully integrate into Western society, the holiday season does not bother them as much as before due to the power of adaptation. However, I believe that it would have been great if we were given the room to mourn the loss of our country, traditions and customs as children.
Although we get over it after some years, the acknowledgement of our struggles as immigrants on a new land would have given us a smoother start.
Photo by Ainsley Thurgood/Photo Assistant
Four delicious recipes you can try this holiday season
I know the holiday season is here when I begin to see Christmas Pillsbury cookies at Fortinos. During my first year at McMaster University, my friends and I went through over a dozen boxes of Pillsbury cookies and it was always an intense battle to get our hands on them at the grocery store. I still remember the smell lingering in our communal kitchen all throughout December finals.
I’ve never been much of a baker myself but during the pandemic I have been cooking and baking more fresh food. This year I’m especially looking forward to making winter holiday treats for my family and friends. I’ve gathered below a few beginner and budget-friendly recipes from friends and fellow Mac students.
The Recipe: London Slices
The Chef: Una Pasagic, a human behaviour student, shares her Bosnian family holiday recipe.
Ingredients:
Dough:
Filling:
*Allergy warning: walnuts
Directions:
Dough:
Filling :
Assembly:
The Recipe: Vegan brownies
The Chef: Emma Sood, a student studying psychology, neuroscience and behaviour, shares her favourite vegan dessert recipe.
Ingredients:
Directions:
The Recipe: Toblerone cookies
The Chef: Subin Park. This is a recipe I learned from a friend. You can never have too many chocolate chip cookies!
Ingredients:
Directions:
Yoohyun Park/Production Coordinator
Get into the winter spirit with these events during your break from school
With orange and red leaves falling off trees and midterms coming to an end just before exams, the winter season is quickly approaching. As the seasons change, winter seasonal and holiday events are coming back to the Hamilton area. For students currently living in and around campus, here are eight events to get you into the spirit of the season in December.
Winter Wonders at the Royal Botanical Gardens
From Nov. 24 to Jan. 9, Hendrie Park will be transforming into a wonderland at the Hamilton Royal Botanical Gardens — complete with festive lights and nature at every turn.
As you stroll through the gardens, there will be festive music as you go along the 1 ½ kilometre walk, which should take around an hour to complete. Student and youth admission is currently on sale at a discounted rate.
The Nutcracker
Ballet Jӧrgen will be carrying on the time-honoured winter tradition with this year’s production of The Nutcracker, held at the FirstOntario Concert Hall. Located at George Brown College, Ballet Jӧrgen is a Canada-wide touring company founded and directed by acclaimed choreographer Bengt Jӧrgen.
The show will feature costumes designed in collaboration with Kleinburg’s McMichael Canadian Art Collection and backdrops inspired by 20th century Canadian landscapes. Tickets are now on sale for the show on Dec. 4.
Centre[3]’s Small is Good Show and Sale
Centre[3]’s annual holiday show and sale will return this year after being postponed last year. The exhibition will run from Dec. 10 to 31 and it will feature a range of works from the artist-run centre’s members.
Ancaster Craft Show
Local vendors and small businesses will be gathering at the Ancaster Fairgrounds on Dec. 11 for the annual Ancaster Christmas Craft Show. Admission costs five dollars and provides community members with access to the mistletoe and tinsel lining the hall and all of the local vendors this year.
Holiday Night 2SQTBIPOC Market
The third and final event in Black Owned Hamilton’s Holiday Pop-Up series, their Holiday Night 2SQTBIPOC Market will be held on Dec. 4 from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the Side Door Bar. The market will feature Black, Indigenous and people of colour and queer vendors and is being held in collaboration with community organization Fruit Salad, which aims to expand space dedicated for 2SLGBTQIA+ women and gender nonconforming folks.
Cranky Celtic Christmas
The Westdale’s Hamilton Originals series is continuing with a holiday concert featuring Celtic Christmas tunes. The Westdale is a historical Hamilton theatre and registered not-for-profit charity located in the heart of Westdale Village.
Musicians Wendell Ferguson and Scantily Plaid will be performing, with the event hosted by Mike McCurlie. Though the concert will be happening in-person at The Westdale’s theatre, the entire event will be live-streamed over Youtube and Facebook. Tickets are on sale for the concert on Dec. 20.
Holiday Historic Cooking Workshop: Victorian Delights
The Dundurn National Historic Site is also offering a Holiday Historic Cooking workshop on Dec. 3 and Dec. 12. In Dundurn Castle’s 19th century kitchen, participants will learn how to prepare seasonal desserts from two Dundurn cooks.
Tickets are on sale now. Participants will be socially distant, masked and asked to show proof of vaccination before entering.
Christmas Tree of Hope Lighting
The City of Hamilton and the Downtown Hamilton BIA will light the city’s Christmas of Hope, in Gore Park, on Dec. 3 at 6:15 p.m. This year there will be both in person and virtual viewing options, with in-person attendees being asked to mask and maintain social distance.
Live on the stage in the park, Little Peter and the Elegants will kick off the event at 5:30 p.m., with a live stream being available from 6:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. through Cable14’s website and 9000 CHML’s social media channels. There will also be ferris wheel rides in the park, starting on Dec. 3 and lasting until Dec. 23.
Proceeds from the event will go to the Children’s Fund to support families who may be struggling during the holiday season.
Students looking for opportunities to get into the winter spirit have many events in Hamilton to choose from this upcoming December. Take advantage of these opportunities as the semester comes to a close.
Advice from holiday movie characters on how to spend this winter break
With COVID-19 restrictions heightening around Ontario and beyond, this holiday break will be like no other. Thankfully, some of our favourite holiday movie characters are prepared with tips on how to manage this winter break.
The Grinch: Create a daily routine
To manage the long days spent in his cave, the Grinch follows a daily routine (though he always stays flexible for special events).
4:00 – Wallow in self-pity
4:30 – Stare into the abyss
5:00 – Solve world hunger (tell no one)
5:30 – Jazzercise
6:00 – Dinner with me (can’t cancel that again!)
7:00 – Wrestle with my self-loathing
Creating a daily routine is helpful while staying home and will benefit your physical and mental health. Though parts of the Grinch’s schedule are not ideal, he definitely has the right idea in scheduling time for exercise and eating. Making your own daily routine may help to ease some uncertainty while staying at home this winter.
Buddy the Elf: Find some at-home entertainment
From snowball fights in the park to covering the house in a ridiculously large number of paper snowflakes, Buddy from Elf has some great ideas on how to stay entertained at home this holiday break. Why not try some elf-inspired recipes while you’re at it (spaghetti and maple syrup, anyone?).
Some Buddy-inspired activities include: building a snowman, having a snowball fight, making winter-themed decorations to hang them up in your room, trying a new recipe (or inventing one) and building a gingerbread house.
Kevin McCallister: Have a movie marathon
Kevin McCallister from Home Alone infamously uses old movies as ammunition in his fight against the burglars trying to break into his home. Why not kick back (with a tall ice cream sundae) and have a classic movie marathon for yourself? You could also invite a few friends to watch with services such as Zoom, Skype and Teleparty.
The Miser Brothers: Call a friend or relative
The title characters of The Year Without a Santa Claus are brothers in conflict who use video chat to reconnect from inside their caves. Though this winter may not be conducive to gathering with friends and family, setting up video chats and phone calls is a great way to connect and catch up with family and friends.
Cindy Lou Who: Support your community
Cindy Lou Who is a young girl who bravely refuses to leave the Grinch out of the Whoville holiday celebrations. It is easy to feel disconnected while isolating at home but as Cindy Lou shows, it can be mutually rewarding to support your community. Whether you check-in on your neighbours or support local small businesses, reaching out to your community is a great way to feel connected and spread positivity.
How do you spend the holiday season?
Rachel Lieske: My friends refer to me as the Grinch. The older I get, the more I realize how important Christmas is to others, and how insignificant it is to me. My sister and I set up a Christmas tree every year, even though my family never exchanges presents. I would wake up early like my friends, but instead of rushing to open presents, I would watch TV. The first year of university was the first year my parents didn’t put up a tree, and the second year we only had four family members over for Christmas, this year is undecided.
Razan Samara: One of the perks of growing up as a Muslim in North America is having opportunities to partake in the seasonal festivities without necessarily feeling the pressure of the holidays or any affiliated expectations and obligations. I typically take advantage of the time off to reconnect with long-distance friends or spend quality time with family. Coincidently, my siblings’ birthdays are on Dec. 25 and 28, so there’s always a reason to gather the family and celebrate. For me, the holiday season is all about community. Last year, I spent a day with a couple friends cooking at the Hamilton Farmers’ Market. I have fond memories of chef Grant from Best on Bread teaching us how to make a delicious stack of bruschetta for a friend’s holiday party.
Steffi Arkilander: Usually, I spend the holidays with my family. Because I’m biracial, holiday gatherings are usually a mix of both sides of my family. I get to see family members I haven’t seen in a long time, and we learn about what everyone has been up to in the past year. New Year’s is special too because my Chinese side of my family values a fresh start [and] going into the new year with good intentions.
Jessica Gelbard: Most of my holiday season is spent spinning wooden toys, spending time with family and stuffing my face with jelly-filled deep fried doughnuts. In order to celebrate the miracle of a tiny drop of oil lasting eight nights, I get pretty lit. And by getting lit, I mean I light a candle for each night of [Hanukkah] amassing a fully lit menorah by the last night!
Trisha Gregorio: I don’t have any particular holiday season staples or routines. My family consists of my mother, my younger brother and myself, and we spend Christmas quietly without exchanging gifts or holding Christmas parties at home. I find that in the lack of any concrete traditions Christmas feels lacklustre relative to the whirlwind of the days preceding it. Instead, I enjoy the lead-up to the week of Christmas — the hustle and bustle at stores, the neverending Christmas carols, the holiday drinks — more than I do Christmas Day itself, so a lot of the holiday season is spent basking in that Christmas atmosphere.
What parts of your identity or culture influence your holiday traditions?
Rachel Lieske: Neither of my parents has strong familial ties with their immediate family, and neither do I. Inherently, I don’t have that strong nostalgia that lets the holiday tradition live on for kids my age, despite our impending adolescence.
Razan Samara: One of my religious holidays includes Ramadan — a month of fasting from sunrise to sunset, reflection and prayer. Sometimes I miss a few days of fasting during Ramadan and I like to make them up during the winter holiday season. I typically have more time to focus on my spirituality and wellbeing, which is important when it comes to facing the winter blues. The days are also much shorter and fasting becomes easier. I especially enjoy it when I get to break my fast alongside friends celebrating their own holidays and traditions over dinners — there’s a collision of diversity that’s incredibly empowering. Since Islamic holidays are observed on a lunar calendar, then every 30 years or so Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr (festival of breaking fast) end up coinciding with other winter holidays. I can’t wait to shop for Eid gifts during Boxing Day in 2033.
Steffi Arkilander: I often get together with the two sides of my family — my white side and my Chinese side. We usually have two dinners for each side of my family, whether it’s for Christmas or New Year’s. One dinner is definitely considered more “traditional” to Western culture, where we all eat together, but my Chinese side often holds a hotpot or some form of Chinese food. We usually have a prayer in both English and Chinese. As gifts, red pockets with lucky money are often given from the elders of our family to the younger ones to celebrate Christmas or going into a new year. My family also usually cleans on New Year’s Day as it represents a “fresh start”.
Jessica Gelbard: Most of what influences my holiday traditions comes from my Jewish identity and European culture. For example, the holiday of Hanukkah itself, emanates from the story of the Maccabean revolt, in which the Jews defeated their Syrian-Greek oppressors in 160 BCE. So that comes from my Jewish identity. On the food side of things however, potato latkes, generally associated with Hanukkah, come from my European culture!
Trisha Gregorio: I grew up in the Philippines, where the Christmas season lasts from September to early January. While very little of the customs I had then remain with me [now], habits from childhood still inform my expectations for the holidays (that instinctive anticipation is probably why I like the pre-Christmas season so much). Christmas in the Philippines was also heavily religious, marked by week-long dawn vigils and multiple masses per day, and while my relationship with religion has only gotten more complicated the more I’ve come to terms with my identity, Christmas Mass is the one holiday tradition that my culture will always anchor me to.
How do ideas around a “traditional holiday experience” influence your traditions?
Rachel Lieske: Not being absorbed in the “traditional holiday experience” has given me a lot of anxiety about going home for the holidays. Motivated by FOMO [i.e. fear of missing out] and worry surrounding how I will spend such a long time in a town that doesn’t feel like home is daunting.
Razan Samara: My ideas around a “traditional holiday experience” come from watching the Home Alone franchise and feel-good Hallmark films. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve realized how representation of the holidays in the media are almost always monopolized by Christmas and White American culture, so it’s no surprise that my own traditions tend to fit into this “picture-perfect” representation of Christmas. I walked by the Santa Claus parade in Hamilton and Toronto last week, listened to Christmas carols while cooking dinner with a friend a couple nights ago, and I have plans to check out the Toronto Christmas Market for the first time. While I do enjoy my cup of eggnog, I’m hoping to learn more about other holiday traditions this year.
Steffi Arkilander: I think that traditional holiday experiences can come in forms we may not necessarily consider traditional. Although my experience with the holidays may seem unique and different, it’s always been my normal to celebrate the holidays twice and to embrace both sides of my identity as not separate, but whole. Maybe my celebration of the holidays isn’t Western, but it doesn’t mean it’s not traditional. This is a tradition in my family and a tradition within many Chinese and even biracial communities. Although my celebrations may not be the majority, it doesn’t mean they aren’t any less meaningful.
Jessica Gelbard: I’ve notice in recent years, that in order to partake in “mainstream holiday seasons,” many Jewish people have taken to the idea of a “Hanukkah Bush” to replace a “Christmas Tree.” While the idea is cute, I think it adds to the unfortunate reality of assimilation. I too however, partake in events such as Christmas markets, and listening to Christmas music (obsessively I may add!) to feel apart of what society has deemed a “traditional holiday experience.”
Trisha Gregorio: The “traditional holiday experience” presents this ideal where all is cheerful and light-hearted during the holidays. As heartwarming as that can be, I also think it places a particular burden on those of us who don’t have access to the picture-perfect scene that Christmas ads present. For some, the holiday season may have its complications, whether it might be seasonal depression, or someone having to be around homophobic relatives, or simply having to spend Christmas alone. Not everyone has what counts for a warm, “complete” family, either, nor has the financial means to afford a big dinner. It isn’t so much that traditions are affected by this ideal; more than anything, it’s that this expectation of existing traditions isolates those who don’t have any.
What’s one takeaway you want readers to walk away with?
Rachel Lieske: Not having strong holiday traditions can be isolating at times. Just know that many people are on the same page as you, those who may have distant family relationships that don’t call for celebrating. This holiday I’m taking advantage of my free time and expending my energy on what’s important to me, and that’s okay.
Razan Samara: The holidays can be overwhelming. Whether you’re facing challenges, or your life seems to have been taken over by festive stress, it’s important to recognize when you need to take a break and focus on your own wellbeing. In the past, I’ve definitely been caught up in all the great expectations of the holiday season while also feeling quite lonely when I don’t see my own cultures and identities well represented. Whether you want to celebrate or not, I encourage you to seek out meaningful connections with your communities — it’s made a world of difference for me.
Steffi Arkilander: Biracial communities often have mixed celebrations and traditions that have shaped how we’ve grown up. I am not just 50 per cent Chinese and 50 per cent white. I am 100 per cent mixed and that is a different experience altogether. My culture can be seen through my meals, holidays and languages (or lack thereof) and they help shape my identity and who I’ve come to be today.
Jessica Gelbard: While the holiday season is often portrayed with a heavy focus on Christmas and the mainstream idea of Christmas, it’s important for us to have pride and joy in our own cultural and religious holidays at this time of year! We should be sharing our holiday joy and knowledge with others as well, so they too can join in the recognition and celebration of our respective holidays. Celebrate your holiday with pride, and reflect on your family’s history as these holidays have been celebrated over the generations before you.
Trisha Gregorio: Don’t get me wrong: Christmas is my favourite part of the year! I think that even at its most simple, the holidays can be a quiet, lovely period to take a break from life. However, while it’s important to channel the Christmas spirit, it’s also worth keeping in mind those who might not be spending Christmas like you are. This doesn’t mean you’re not allowed to be happy — you are, and despite everything, I encourage liveliness during the holidays whenever possible. It’s simply that one aspect of Christmas means extending that helping hand, so if you know someone who might be spending Christmas alone, or someone who will be going through a tough time attending family parties, it won’t hurt to send a message or two.
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