In an effort to be affirming, reflective, and critical about how we approach and celebrate holidays as school communities, we have curated a list of culturally sustaining and anti-racist educational resources and conversation guides for educators and families. This list aims to provide an inclusive understanding of the winter holiday season and strategies for supporting all students.
While holidays are generally thought of as cultural practices, we also know that non-dominant cultures and religions are often racialized and seen as “other” in the United States. We also acknowledge that this time of year can bring up a mix of emotions for students and families alike. Feelings of anxiety, sadness, and depression are common and can be amplified for families of color and marginalized communities. We encourage educators to be mindful of how this holiday season may impact the young people under their care.
Teaching About the Winter Holidays:
- Teaching About the Holidays in Public Schools – Peter Siegel
- Culturally Responsive Instruction for Holiday and Religious Celebrations – Dr. Cynthia Lundgren & Giselle Lundy-Ponce
- Religious Holidays – Learning for Justice
- One Nation, Many Gods – Learning for Justice
- Religious Holidays in the Public Schools – State of Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction
- Analyzing the School Holiday Calendar (Lesson Plan) – Learning for Justice
- Balancing the Holidays in Your Classroom – Learning for Justice
- The First Amendment in Schools: Resource Guide: Religious Expression in the Public Schools – National Coalition Against Censorship
- Considerations for cultural and holiday celebrations in schools – Erik Herrmann
- Honoring Religious Diversity – Learning for Justice
Christian Privilege, Hegemony, and the Winter Holiday Season:
- 5 Ways Christian Privilege Shows Up During the Winter Holiday Season – Miri Mogilevsky
- 30+ Examples of Christian Privilege – Sam Killermann
- Don’t Believe in Christian Privilege? These 15 Examples Will Leave No Doubt – Maisha Z. Johnson
- The Christian Holiday Cycle – Paul Kivel
Celebrating Kwanzaa:
- Lesson Plan: What Is Kwanzaa? – Learning to Give
- Kwanzaa Teacher Resources – Teacher Vision
- Kwanzaa Lessons, Worksheets, and Activities – TeacherPlanet
- Bring Out the Kwanzaa Kinara – Melonyce McAfee
- Keeping Kwanzaa Simple – Easy Ways to Celebrate – Janice Celeste
- Kwanzaa Educational Videos – watchknowlearn.org
Islam and the Winter Holiday Season:
- Being Muslim during the Christmas season – Farrah Yusuf
- Reflection: Being Muslim During Christmas – DreamOnYouth
- Islam in the Classroom – Lauren Barack
- Why Doesn’t Islam Have a Winter Solstice Holiday? – About Islam
- Access Islam (Lesson Plans) – Thirteen.org
Judaism and the Winter Holiday Season:
- Hanukkah in the Classroom (Books) – Scholastic
- Chanukah Resources – The Lookstein Center
- Being Jewish in a Christian World – Learning for Justice
- Learn Something New Everyday – Learning for Justice
- Using the Hanukkah Story to Talk to Kids About Antisemitism – PJ Library
- Why I Have to Teach My Kid About Both Hanukkah & Anti-Semitism This December – She Knows
- Hanukkah Celebrations Inspire Jewish Joy – NPR
Whiteness and the Holidays:
- Dear white people, the holiday season is the best time to tell our grandparents to stop being racist – Jordan Uhl
- Why is Santa Claus Always White? – Peggy Albers
- Seeing Santa in Black and white – Sa’iyda Shabazz
- Dreaming of a not-white Christmas: Why I’m embracing black Santa and black Jesus – Angela Fichter
- White Christmas, White Santas, White Privilege – Martha Pitts
- Black Lives Matter Wants to Bring Down white Capitalism with ‘Black Christmas’ – Summer Meza
Celebrating Los Tres Reyes Magos (Three Kings Day) and the Winter Holiday Season:
- Three Kings Day Educator Resource Guide – Museo del Barrio
- Happy Three Kings Day! Families Celebrate a Cherished Tradition – NBC News
- Celebrating Los Tres Reyes (Three Kings’ Day): Our Traditions – Modern Mami
- Día de los Reyes Lesson Plans, Books, Activities – Mommy Maestra
- Día De Los Reyes : Three Kings Day Crafts And Activities For Kids – Paula Bendfeldt-Diaz
Mental Health and the Holidays:
- Holidays: Sometimes happy, sometimes not – Morningside Center for Teaching Social Responsibility
- Holiday blues can hit kids, too — here’s how to help them cope – Today.com
- Supporting Children and Teens During the Holiday Season – The National Child Traumatic Stress Network
- How to Support Bereaved Children over the Holidays: A Tip Sheet for Parents and Caregivers – New York Life
- Find Your Holiday Happiness: Manage Anxiety and Depression – Anxiety and Depression Association of America
- 8 Tips For Mental Wellness During the Holidays – CMHA Alberta
- Family and Depression During the Holiday – Psychology Today
- Grief and the Holidays – Grief.com
- Why Does Depression Tend To Increase During The Holidays? – Forbes
- Helping Young People in Foster Care Through the Holidays – Casaforchildren.org
- Go Where You Are Honored During the Holidays – Rest for Resistance
