Celebrate cultural diversity this holiday

Multicultural families are becoming more and more common -- and that's something to celebrate! Don't let cultural diversity cause stress this holiday season. Instead, take the opportunity to honor and celebrate traditions from each culture represented in your multicultural family. Read our expert advice to ensure happy holidays for multicultural families this year!

Recognize each holiday

Ellen Zimmerman of Jewish Holidays in a Box, LLC, suggests bringing family together by merging traditions from each holiday. "The more you can bring everyone together, with joy and laughter, the more you can bridge the divides," she says.

"A great way to weave together various traditions is to plan a cookie-baking afternoon where people bake a mix of Hanukkah and Christmas cookies. In families where there are young children, choose recipes that work well for little hands. For instance, little ones can roll balls for Danish wedding cookies for Christmas -- or sprinkle colored sugar on Hanukkah cookies. At the same time, older children can create stained glass paintings for both holidays. Set all the cookies together on a big platter -- and enjoy!"

Feast your eyes on these decadent holiday cookie recipes >>

Recognize cultural etiquette

Laurie Brown, international trainer, coach, speaker and author, notes that Americans interact with people much differently than people of other cultures. To help build a rapport with culturally diverse extended family, consider these tips:

• Don't assume everyone wants to be greeted with a firm handshake, a broad smile and direct eye contact. While we seem to assume everyone wants that in America, it is not necessarily true for people outside of America.
• Touching some people, in any way, can be extremely offensive.
• Simply shaking hands or touching the shoulder of traditional Middle Eastern or Japanese women can be the equivalent of assault in their country.
• It is important to let the other person take the lead.
• Some people will hug you and kiss you on both cheeks, which is why it is always important to let them take the lead.
• Be aware that personal space varies among different cultures. Some people bow, shake hands and then take a step back. Other cultures may prefer to stand even closer than Americans.
• Smiles convey different meanings as well. In America, we view it as friendly. In other countries, a smile can be used to cover grief or to hide embarrassment.
• Direct eye contact is considered rude and intrusive in some cultures.

In all cases, it is best to let the person of a different culture take the lead.

Read up on 10 holiday etiquette don'ts >>

Recognize the lesson

Holidays present the perfect opportunity to help kids understand the importance of different cultures and their traditions and beliefs. Talk to your children about the various cultural celebrations that your family recognizes.

You can also help them learn about diverse cultures via lessons such as the Alphabet Kids series, a set of six books created by EMMY award-winning producer Patrice Samara and Allegra Joyce Kassin. The books follow a group of six kids -- each from different backgrounds -- on fun adventures, and at the end of each story, the characters learn something about a different culture's beliefs and traditions via music, food, language or behavior. The series is designed to teach kids tolerance and promote a more understanding generation, and it can be a great tool when helping your multicultural family understand one another's beliefs and traditions.

Read more on ideas for a happy, stress-free holiday

4 Ways to cope with holiday stress
When the holidays aren't happy: Handling holiday depression
Energize for a happy holiday season: Four tips for moms

08 Dec, 2011

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Source: http://www.sheknows.com/parenting/articles/848417/celebrate-cultural-diversity-this-holiday
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