Many years ago, on a damp December day in downtown Astoria, I was confronted with a parenting failure-to-educate moment. On that fateful morning I walked with my young son past several retail storefronts, all adorned with traditional Christian nativity scenes. Suddenly, my then-four-year-old hollered out in ear shot of passersby, “Mom, who’s that baby I keep seeing around everywhere?”
Suffice it to say I immediately raced to the library and checked out a book about the religions of the world to read to him. While I was raised as a Catholic, my nuclear family didn’t adhere to an organized religion, leaving my son rudderless in the sea of Christianity that surrounded him in this small coastal town.
Santa Claus, he would discover, was not everyone’s winter superhero.
Without formal religious education, I realized my son needed to have a clue—and an open mind—about the various religions and associated cultural traditions practiced around the world. Santa Claus, he would discover, was not everyone’s winter superhero.
Understanding the beliefs and traditions of others is helpful in bridging disinformation gaps that serve to divide us. With that in mind as this winter holiday season descends upon us, it’s a good time to ponder how we can educate ourselves, and our children and grandchildren, about the richness of cultural celebrations—religious or secular—that are not just Christian nor focused on a bearded, jolly, gift-bearing guy in a red suit coming inexplicably down one’s chimney.
There are many books available to help children learn about the religions and cultures of the world. These are just a few ideas; check with you local bookstores and the library for more.
Susan Trabucco is editor of this newsletter. She and her husband, Peter, have called B-W home for 10 years. She’s passionate about tropical-ish gardening (a nut, really), cooking, and getting people together. Contact her by emailing susan@trabucco.biz or Editor@BWNApdx.org