By Dahiru Waziri
All over the world, November marks the beginning of celebrations and holidays in many cultures. It is a time that most use to gather with family and embrace traditions, whether they are common to their country or something specific to their family. At Eagan Immigration, we asked some of our colleagues to share some of their holiday traditions. From Secret Santa video calls to making wishes on grapes, our team has a wide range of traditions that reflect the diversity of our company.
In early November, many people celebrate Day of the Dead , a celebration with origins in Mexico. It is a popular festival where people gather to honor their deceased loved ones. Traditions range from solemn rituals that pay homage to departed family members to brightly colored celebrations with incredible costumes and face painting.[1] It is an occasion that is marked in many homes. One of our coworkers described how this occasion is celebrated in her house. Photos of loved ones are placed on an altar by candlelight with Cempasuchil, flowers, also known as cempasúchil, which are only used for this special occasion. They decorate the altar with Papel Picado the colored paper. Finally, his family prepares Bread of the Dead, or sweet bread, with a unique flavor that is served especially on this occasion. It is a tradition meant to honor loved ones, and she describes what it means to her, saying…
“ Honestly, I think it is one of the most beautiful traditions we have in Mexico, it gives us time to remember all the people we love and care for and who are no longer with us here, but we will never forget them.
In late November, the American holiday of Thanksgiving is celebrated. According to a recent YouGov poll, many people in the United States consider Thanksgiving to be their favorite time of the year.[2] As Thanksgiving holiday approaches, many people have large family gatherings. A coworker describes how her family prepares a big Thanksgiving meal, often starting the preparation the day before.
“I always cook a HUGE Thanksgiving dinner (and I mean big, we have turkey, all the casseroles, bread, potatoes, desserts, tons of sides, we have so much that we have leftovers for DAYS after).
On Thanksgiving morning, they watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade before spending time with family and friends.
As the Christmas holidays approach, many of our coworkers in North and South and North America are looking for ways to connect with their loved ones. One of our coworkers and her family are scattered all over the United States, so finding time to connect with them is important. Every year, as the “Head Elf,” she organizes a Secret Santa where each family member sends a gift to another family member. On Christmas Day, they have a video call where they open their gifts. As she says...
“It is nice the effort we all always make to connect, even when we are not together!”
Other coworkers also participate in Secret Santa gift exchanges. A coworker shared how he and his family have dinner before opening their Secret Santa gifts.
Another popular tradition in many homes is decorating the Christmas tree. A colleague shares how she unwraps the tree ornaments and lets her kids place them anywhere they want before her husband helps a child put the star on the tree. She also describes some of the activities her family participates in, such as having gingerbread house contests or making snow angels and having snowball fights. Finally, she reads “The Night Before Christmas” to her children every year on Christmas Eve, noting that “To me, it doesn't feel like Christmas without this tradition.
A common event among many of our coworkers mentioned was enjoying a cozy movie night or sharing seasonal holiday snacks with their loved ones. One of our colleagues mentions her aunt's cheese ball, while another appreciates a tradition started by her grandmother, who ordered special cookies from a local bakery for Christmas Eve celebrations. It's a tradition they still observe to this day, and she describes it by saying: “It's a small thing, but a happy tradition for us!” Another colleague shares how she and her kids open special gifts just for Christmas Eve. The gifts are usually a new storybook, pajamas, cozy socks, and a toy. She and her kids get comfortable and enjoy a movie together. Afterward, she puts them to bed and reads them the new story, as well as “The Legend of Santa’s Beard.” To end the evening, she makes time for herself, adding…
“I pour myself a glass of wine, put on The Nutcracker ballet (I love ballet), and take out all her gifts. It is one of my favorite traditions.
As we approach New Year's Eve, some of our colleagues were also happy to share how they welcome a new year. In the days leading up to the New Year holiday, a colleague shared how she used this time to reflect on the past year and what she and her family are grateful for. On New Year's Day, they write down their goals and bucket list items for the coming year. Another colleague was eager to share how she throws a bucket of water over the doorway at midnight on New Year's Eve to ward off any bad luck from the previous year. A colleague describes how on New Year's Eve, his aunt prepares 12 grapes for everyone to eat at midnight. They make a wish for each grape. Adding a personal touch, this coworker saves the largest grapes for the most important wishes. He shares how successful this activity has been for him so far...
“I am happy to report that I successfully got my dream car with one of those grape wishes, using one of the big ones.
The holiday season is an opportunity for many people to connect with their loved ones and share the traditions they enjoy. Common themes among all the shared traditions were the sense of family, togetherness, gratitude, and reflection that our colleagues share in their examples. From everyone at Eagan Immigration, we wish all our clients and readers a happy holiday season, however you celebrate!
References:
[1] Journey Mexico, ‘Day of the Dead in Mexico explained’, June 2023, <https://www.journeymexico.com/blog/day-of-the-dead-in-mexico>
[2]Oana Dumitru, ‘Qué vacaciones disfrutan más y menos los estadounidenses’, YouGov.Com, (February 2024) <https://today.yougov.com/society/articles/48626-which-holidays-do-americans-enjoy-most-and-least>