Recognizing DivErsity During the Holidays A kit to allow, enable and observe all that makes us special Public Service Commission Diversity Council Prepared by: The following was prepared by the Public Service Commission’s Diversity Council and is based on a concept from the Labour and Advanced Education’s Holiday Kit. In consultation with: Nova Scotia Public Service Commission’s Corporate Diversity and Inclusion Unit Contact Information: PSC Diversity Council Email: [email protected] Telephone: 902-424-3052 Date: December, 2015 1 Table of Contents 1 Building Awareness and Understanding ......................................................................................................... 3 2 Building an Inclusive Environment .................................................................................................................. 3 2.1 Learn about other celebrations ................................................................................................................ 3 2.2 Make no expectations ............................................................................................................................... 3 2.3 Mark your calendars .................................................................................................................................. 3 3 Some Holidays Observed in December .......................................................................................................... 4 3.1 Hanukkah – December 6-14, 2015 ............................................................................................................ 4 3.2 Bodhi Day – December 8, 2015 ................................................................................................................. 4 3.3 Dōngzhì Festival – December 22, 2015..................................................................................................... 4 3.4 Winter Solstice – December 22, 2015 ........................................................................................................ 5 3.5 Mawlid al-Nabi – December 23, 2015 ........................................................................................................ 5 3.6 Christmas – December 25, 2015 ................................................................................................................ 5 3.7 Kwanzaa – December 26 – January 1, 2016 ............................................................................................. 6 4 Observance Calendar for December 2015 ...................................................................................................... 6 5 Building your Psychological Health ................................................................................................................. 7 5.1 Plan ahead .................................................................................................................................................. 7 5.2 Ask for help, organize and delegate as much as possible ....................................................................... 7 5.3 Beware of overindulgence ........................................................................................................................ 7 5.4 Stay within budget .................................................................................................................................... 7 5.5 Remember what the holiday season is about for you. ............................................................................ 7 5.6 Invite others ............................................................................................................................................... 7 5.7 Connect with your community ................................................................................................................ 8 5.8 Gift-giving made easier and less expensive ............................................................................................ 8 5.9 Remember the weather doesn’t help ..................................................................................................... 8 5.10 Learn stress-busting skills you can use year-round ................................................................................ 8 6 Dealing with Holiday Grief .............................................................................................................................. 9 2 1 Building Awareness and Understanding Millions of us are gearing up for a busy December. We are preparing for family and friends, we are shopping, we are gifting, volunteering and giving back to our communities. Some of us are celebrating Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, or Bodhi Day. Some of us are taking time to recognize winter solstice. And many of us choose not to partake in any particular celebration at all. It is easy to overlook the depth of the diversity present during this season (have you been to the mall lately?). In reality, many special events that are spiritual, religious, and tradition based are being celebrated during these times. And that’s what the PSC Diversity Council would like to gently remind everyone of. We don’t want to change or advocate for any labels or titles, because any and all should be celebrated. This is about taking the time to be with friends and family, and to build an understanding and awareness about all traditions that colour our world. 2 Building an Inclusive Environment You may be asking yourself, “Well, how can I be create an inclusive environment during this time?” Even though we all may have our own ideas, here are some ways to help you get started! 2.1 Learn about other celebrations Curious to learn about another culture? What kinds of foods do different cultures prepare? What traditions are shared? What does it mean? Everyone is encouraged to check out the information within this package and do so some research on your own. Share your learning with others, and use it as a chance to expand the conversation at parties and at the dinner table. 2.2 Make no expectations Realizing that we don’t all celebrate the same way or celebrate anything at all, it is important to be respectful of everyone’s differences. You can do this by taking interest in other people's traditions and making them feel welcome. Don't be afraid to ask people what holidays they celebrate. Find out what they do during this time of the year that is special. Let it be an opportunity to learn about different cultures and religions and the traditions that accompany them. 2.3 Mark your calendars Realizing that we don’t all celebrate the same way or celebrate anything at all, it is important to be respectful of everyone’s differences. You can do this by taking interest in other people's traditions and making everyone feel included. 3 3 Some Holidays Observed in December According to the United Nations, there were 7 billion people living in this world as of 2011. If no two people are alike, that’s a lot of differences we could be celebrating! Let’s take this time to learn, engage and recognize some of the different cultures and traditions observed this month. 3.1 Hanukkah – December 6-14, 2015 Hanukkah is the annual Jewish festival celebrated on eight successive days beginning this year on December 6 to 14. Hanukkah commemorates the rededication of the Temple of Jerusalem by Judas Maccabee in 165 BC after the Temple had been profaned by Antichus IV Epiphanes, King of Syria and overload of Palestine. On each night of Hanukkah, the menorah is lit to commemorate a miracle that occurred after the Jews proclaimed victory over the Syrian armies in 165 BC. When Jews came to rededicate the Temple, which had been defiled by the Syrians, they found only one small flask of oil with which to light the menorah. This flask contained only enough oil for one day, yet the lamp burned for eight days. Read more about Hanukkah here: http://www.history.com/topics/holidays/hanukkah. 3.2 Bodhi Day – December 8, 2015 Bodhi Day is the day that we celebrate the enlightenment of the Buddha. The story goes: Buddha Shakyamuni, after trying to achieve what he was looking for through different methods, practices, religions, etc., finally decided he was not finding what he was searching for and sat down under a huge Bodhi tree in Bodhgaya, India. He vowed that he would not move until he achieved full enlightenment. He sat in meditation for 49 days but went into deep meditation the last 8 days. After 7 days of fasting and meditating he achieved enlightenment on the eighth day. Because of this memorial event, Buddhist observe this day as a very important day in their practice. Read more about Bodhi Day here: http://www.examiner.com/article/bodhi-day-what-it-is-and-how-to-observe-it. 3.3 Dōngzhì Festival – December 22, 2015 The Dōngzhì Festival or Winter Solstice Festival or "The Arrival of Winter" is one of the most important festivals celebrated by the Chinese and East Asian Nations. The origins of this festival can be traced back to the yin and yang philosophy of balance and harmony in the cosmos. It’s believed that the yin qualities of darkness and cold are at their most powerful on the shortest day of the year, but also at their turning point to give way to the light and warmth of yang. For this reason, the Winter Solstice Festival is a time for optimism. In Hong Kong, most people finish work early on the festival and go home for lavish meals with their families. They’ll usually include tong yuan on the menu (a sweet soup with balls of sticky rice) because its name sounds like ‘reunion’. Read more