This is the third installment in a series where Rochester Mom Collective highlights families who are celebrating more than the conventional, traditional Christmas holiday this season. These traditions are usually the result of an intercultural and/or interfaith family. We acknowledge the hard work these families put into merging the traditions from different ethnic and religious practices for the sake of creating holiday magic for their children.
You might find elements of your own family experience reflected in these narratives. It can be reassuring to be hear that there are other families out here who are also navigating the intricacies of celebrating multiple holidays simultaneously. Even if the family experiences described here are very different from your own, these stories could still potentially inspire you with fresh ideas for your family’s festive customs.
Lillian is an amazing mother to two middle school-aged boys. She grew up downstate and is part of a robust Korean-American family. I want to sincerely thank Lillian for her willingness to share her family’s holiday customs with us.
Question: What winter holiday or holidays did your family celebrate when you were a child?
Answer: We celebrated Lunar New Year.
Question: What were some of your favorite traditions associated with that holiday or those holidays when you were a child?
Answer: We all wore our traditional garb, bowed to both parents, and then received money. Then we spent the entire day with the Korean community – eating and just being together. I also remember our white neighbors around us loved seeing us in our garb and taking pictures of us.
Question: What winter holiday or holidays does your family celebrate now?
Answer: Very bare bones Christmas holiday celebration. Nothing extravagant. Just tree and few presents.
Question: Which holiday traditions do you still practice with your children now as a mother?
Answer: We still do a Lunar New Year dinner and wear customary garb. And the kids bow down literally to me. (Author’s Note: Lillian is laughing here. In Korean culture, children do a ceremonial bow to their elders on Lunar New Year. In return, they are given an envelope of money.)
Question: What new traditions do you participate in with your children now?
Answer: Nothing. The Asian community isn’t large enough here. We keep it very simple.
Question: Any words of wisdom or advice for other mothers as they navigate this holiday season?
Answer: Make it your own. Don’t commercialize. Less is more and keep it simple.
I’m starting to see a trend in how women are responding to this last question. I’m hearing moms giving each other permission to savor the season and ignore the pressures to “do it all”. Thank you for validating how many of us are feeling, Lillian! Happy Holidays!
*Author’s Note: Many people refer to Lunar New Year as ‘Chinese New Year’. Lunar New Year is the general term for the holiday which marks the start of a new year according to the lunisolar calendar. It is celebrated by an estimated two billion people in over 11 different countries.
