The Holidays Minus Racist Iconography & Rampant Consumerism

The holiday season is a great time to stay cozy, spend time with loved ones, and take some much-needed time for rest and relaxation. But many thoughtful and conscious people today are starting to take a real issue with the days being celebrated during the winter months.

Between the racist and oppressive connotations of Thanksgiving and the religious and consumeristic overtones of the Christmas season, it is hard not to think about these moral issues when trying to get into the holiday spirit.

Be that as it may, there’s a reason that this time of year has been celebrated even since the days of the pagans. When it is dark and cold outside, in order to stave off feelings of loneliness and depression, humans find it necessary to band together, celebrate life, keep things cheerful and festive indoors, and feast to keep themselves warm and snug during months that encourage hibernation. And inherently, these basic ideas behind the time of year aren’t anything to be opposed to; everyone can get behind things like love, unity, giving back and staying safe, warm, and well-fed.

Here are a few ways to celebrate the holidays with a non-traditional flare that will inspire creativity as well as warmth and good vibes.

Deck the Halls

Just because you don’t celebrate Christmas or another traditional December holiday that doesn’t mean you can’t decorate and keep your house warm and festive during the cold winter months. If your idea of decking the halls means hanging Pride flags and banners everywhere or keeping your Halloween decorations up all year long, do you and keep things colorful and happy inside. This will help stave off winter depression during long, cold months indoors.

Feast, Cook, and Share Food

This is also a great time of year to get together with loved ones and share awesome meals. You don’t have to cook the traditional holiday fare; go ahead and give it a vegan spin, keep it gluten-free, or make (or order) traditional cuisine from other countries if you’re tired of American food. Whatever you do, just make sure you’re eating and having a good time with people who you care about. And if you’re on a hardcore diet, that means no sweets or carbs, consider cheating a little for the good of the holiday season.

Surround Yourself with Love

This time of year can be particularly rough for those who feel they don’t really have a home to go to during the holidays. Whether you dread trips home because you aren’t out to your parents or feel you have to be someone you’re not around them, or you just can’t afford a plane ticket back home, linking up with extended family isn’t in the cards for everyone every year. If this is you, then spend extra time with a significant other or others, and keep your friends and colleagues close. Even consider having a party or get-together for those you love who might be sticking around without their extended families this year. You’ll feel great and closer to everyone, and the weeks and days off will fly by instead of drag on.

Give Back, Give, and Spread Joy

Another aspect of the holiday season, namely Christmas, that gets an especially bad rap is gift giving. Somehow, Christmas has turned into a commercial bonanza in the US, with a whole lot of focus on buying a bunch of crap you don’t need to give away on Christmas day. Instead of just participating in this cycle, take your extra cash or food this winter and give back to a charity or drive. This will help brighten things up for others during the cold months and it will definitely put you in a good mood. Also consider exchanging cheap or homemade gifts with friends. Making something from the heart or playing a fun gift exchange game is a good way to get closer to friends without feeling like you’re buying their affections.

So this year, when you hear those first Christmas carols on the radio and want to punch a hole in the wall, stifle your inner Scrooge, put in some headphones to block out the noise, and start planning some fun activities for your unique holiday season.