CHRISMAHANUKWANZAKAH

 

   

Should Chrismahanukwanzakah be Allowed in Public Schools?

Happy Chrismahanukwanzakah! Chrismahanukwanzakah is a blend, in word and concept, of three holidays: the Christian Christmas, the Jewish Hanukkah and the African American Kwanzaa. Chrismahanukwanzakah is meant to be an inclusive celebration around December holidays for friends and family of diverse, interfaith backgrounds. It’s often used playfully, though, as a way to offset the dominance of Christmas in culture (Dictionary.com, 2021).

Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa have always been celebrated at my school. I grew up with my grandmother on my father's side. My grandma was a Jehovah Witness. I was always jealous going to my friend's house around the holidays and seeing all the beautiful decorations. When I was young, I never understood why we couldn't decorate as they did. I would bring home the holiday things we made in school and put hang them up in the house. And the next morning they would be gone. 

So, should public schools be allowed to celebrate Chrismahanukwanzakah? This is an on-going question that has been presented to public schools for many years. Some schools say yes, while other schools say no. There are many mixed opinions about the topic. Students see all the holiday decorations all over the stores and on TV, so why shouldn’t the same be allowed in public schools. And some public schools have holiday performances or pageants. 

According to Heubeck (2022), potential legal consequences notwithstanding, some educators suggest that holiday-themed decorations or activities don’t belong in public schools during December, period. Students who do not celebrate the holidays should not be allowed to sit in a class and try not to take it all in. It may cause the child to not want to come to school, so they do not have to deal with seeing the decor and coming home to an empty non-decorative place. Even some Christian families see these as pagan appropriations that trivialize one of their two most important holy days of the year (Anti-Bias Education and Holidays: Making Thoughtful Decisions, n.d.). There are even some parents who are upset with the holiday because it has been turned into a something that is different from their true beliefs and values. 


While on the other hand it is a teaching moment for students to be taught about other cultures and beliefs. This exposure not only educates students but also promotes empathy, understanding, and respect for diverse cultures (Pros and Cons of Celebrating Holidays in School- EducationalWave, 2024). Students are allowed to get to experience a different culture and sometimes be introduced to different foods, that are eaten during the holiday. There are also some similarities between the holidays that can be discussed, such as the meaning of lighting a candle.

Do you feel that Chrismahanukwanzakah should be in the schools?

https://sites.google.com/eagles.cui.edu/marilyngubac/blogs


 References

Anti-Bias Education and Holidays: Making thoughtful decisions. (n.d.). NAEYC. https://www.naeyc.org/resources/blog/anti-bias-and-holidays

Dictionary.com. (2021). Chrismahanukwanzakah. In Dictionary.com. https://www.dictionary.com/e/pop-culture/chrismahanukwanzakah/

Heubeck, E. (2022, December 9). Do holidays belong in public schools? It’s a controversial question in December. Education Week. https://www.edweek.org/leadership/do-holidays-belong-in-public-schools-its-a-controversial-question-in-december/2022/12 

Pros and Cons of celebrating holidays in school - EducationalWave. (2024, November 18). EducationalWave - Pros and Cons Explained. https://www.educationalwave.com/pros-and-cons-of-celebrating-holidays-in-school/

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