Christmas is on Dec. 24. Hanukkah begins Dec. 6 in the evening. Kwanzaa begins Dec. 26. Image courtesy of forkidsbooks.com

Now that December is upon us, I can’t help but think about my family and the holiday traditions we share. We’ve never been a family that has “normal” holiday traditions. For us, making a big plate of nachos together is perfectly fine. I love thinking about these traditions on holidays especially because no two families are alike. No two experiences are the same and that’s a beautiful thing.

I went to the library today and I saw a really cool tree. People shared their seasonal family traditions in cards that covered the tree. I read one after the other and became engrossed in people’s stories. Some made me laugh because I could relate to them. Others were new experiences I thought were swell. This tree symbolizes much more than family traditions, though. It shares stories that can bring a whole community together in one place.

Every card on the tree had something in common: The community-shared joy and love they experienced from people they have spent time with during their holiday traditions. It was endearing to see the excitement expressed through words and how much people were willing to share. I think it is often overlooked that everyone has a unique way of enjoying the holiday season. While it may be different for all of us, there will always be things that we can relate to one another with.

These stories symbolize what I believe is the true height of the season: Being around people you love and care about. For some, it may not be immediate  family. It could also be a partner, a best friend or a surrogate family. But whoever you share the season with, it is all about spending time with the people you love.

I thought of the tree as a common connection for all those who shared their stories. While the traditions were different, they were hung at the same place. We are all human, and even when we experience the world or holidays in a wide array of ways, there can still be some shared similarities.

These signs of tradition were hung side by side. It was a beautiful sight and encouraged me to think about the possibility of love being expressed further. I say this because it seems during the holidays, we often forget people come from a variety of backgrounds. Within those backgrounds comes enlightenment and the ability to brighten one another’s lives. I especially look forward to taking that aspect and putting it into practice.

We all have our individual experiences and traditions, but let’s not forget everyone has their own as well. We can learn a lot from such stories of one another’s holiday adventures. It’s enjoyable to learn from others and recognize that holiday traditions and beliefs can coexist.

Amina Chinnell-Mateen is a staff writer for The Dakota Student. She can be reached at [email protected]