This December, I've run across two types of people: The ones that give a wiggle and a fist pump and say, "Yes! 2020 is over!" and others that bemoan the fact that the holidays have drastically changed this year, interrupting all of their traditions. I can empathize with the traditionalists. Last weekend, at the outdoor mall, I watched a child shout his Christmas list through a mask, six feet from Santa. "Should have made a zoom appointment with him," a woman muttered behind me. Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus, but this year you will need high speed internet or PPE to get to the old guy.
COVID can be blamed for many things this year. But, in all fairness, holiday traditions morph and develop with or without a global pandemic. Take for example, my nemesis: the elf. You know, the creepy doll in red that sits on a shelf and loses its magic if touched.
The Elf on a Shelf is a picture book, written in 2005, about an elf that hides in your home and reports back to Santa everything that was done that day (today we call her Alexa). For years I felt pressure to create an alternate universe in which the elf was found in amusing and clever locations. Almost daily, before Christmas, I faced the accusations of my children. "My friend's elf was found in a pile of flour, next to fresh baked cookies," my oldest announced. "Our elf hasn't moved from the top of the refrigerator in three days." I'm not ashamed to admit, I looked into those sweet, idealistic eyes and baldly lied, "Well, one of you must have touched him," creating an instant, onesie-clad fight club.
Elf aside, winter holiday traditions evolve. History.com published How 25 Christmas Traditions Got Their Start. Traditions change for many reasons: Families evolve (think divorce, remarriage, blended families, etc.), beliefs evolve, and societies evolve. In 2013, the Pew Research Center reported that 40 percent of millennials (those born between 1981 and 1996) see the holiday season as more of a cultural celebration than a religious celebration.
To be more inclusive, the workplace is also evolving, recognizing that the holidays are more than just Christmas. December hosts celebrations that include Hanukkah, Kwanza, and Bodhi Day. December can be a stress bomb without COVID. How to Make Holiday Celebrations More Inclusive offers some tips on making employees feel included and how to not inadvertently offend or exclude anyone.
In general, I'd say if you are looking to toss an old tradition (like, say, an elf), this is the year to do it. A couple of years ago, the Today show, motivated by Seinfeld's Festivus, published some unusual holiday traditions. I thought they were more interesting than some of the lists out there (I click past any list that includes "write out personal notes on your holiday cards." If I can't move a toy elf every day, personal notes are never going to happen). Or, if you want to integrate something new, you can go global and adopt some unusual traditions from around the world.
December, and 2020, is coming to a close. Do what you need to do to make the best out of this holiday season. Embrace traditions. Modify traditions. Toss a few traditions out. Who am I to judge? Our elf disappeared a few years ago under suspicious circumstances.
From all the library staff, have a safe and relaxing holiday!