How to Celebrate the Holidays in an Interracial Marriage

Posted by Anonymous , 9/5/2007 Tags:CelebrateHolidaysInterracialMarriage
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How to Celebrate the Holidays in an Interracial Marriage

Introduction

The holidays are the perfect time to navigate your differences and celebrate this season in your own unique way.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately challenging

Steps

1

Step One

Begin thinking about your holiday celebrations well in advance, so you have time to come up with a plan that you both feel comfortable with.
2

Step Two

Take the time to talk to each other about how you celebrated the holidays as children.
3

Step Three

Identify the traditions that hold meaning for you and incorporate them into this year's activities.
4

Step Four

Focus on your common spiritual and moral beliefs, such as worshipping a higher power, raising your children with good values, or including family in your holiday plans.
5

Step Five

Invite both of your families to join you for the holidays. This way, they can get to know each other and feel comfortable with your relationship.
6

Step Six

Be prepared to make compromises. While you may be used to a big turkey dinner on Christmas Day, perhaps your spouse usually eats a native food from another country. You may want to try it his or her way this year.
7

Step Seven

Work on your communication skills so you and your partner will be able to talk about needs and what is important to each of you. This is crucial, especially during the holiday season, when stress levels are high and there are lots of demands on you.
8

Step Eight

Create traditions that have meaning to you as a couple. This could be as simple as starting a photo album of pictures you take during the season, or making eggnog on Christmas Eve and toasting each other's health.
9

Step Nine

Remember to respect each other's beliefs, even if they go against those that you were raised with as a child.
10

Step Ten

Take the initiative to learn more about the customs your spouse was raised with. This gesture will go a long way.
11

Step Eleven

Raise your own children to respect and feel comfortable with both of your customs. If you do this successfully, your children will get the most out of the holiday season.

Tips & Warnings

  • Explore each of your backgrounds together. You might research a family tree or read up on the history of your race.
  • Understand that while you will inevitably be forced to make some choices about how you will celebrate, these types of decisions are also faced by other couples, even those of the same race.
  • Remember that negotiating differences is an ongoing process that takes a lot of work, compromise and patience. But the results are well worth the effort.

Overall Things You'll Need

  • Holiday Decorations
  • Scrapbooks
  • Holiday Greeting Cards
  • Holiday Cookbooks
Tools: |