As the holiday season approaches and the warm, memorable days of summer leave, I can’t help but think about what it means to be an Asian-American during the holidays. My parents never celebrated American holidays back in India as they do here in the US. Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, and Halloween were non-existent to them. To them, these American holidays really did not mean anything. To me, these holidays are able to capture parts of my cultural identity.
As a kid, I had friends who celebrated and observed Christmas; some were not Christian yet still celebrated. They would ask, “You don’t celebrate Christmas? How? Do you even have any traditions for the holidays?” My parents did not give me presents or put up a Christmas tree because they did not know about Christmas traditions, as it was not celebrated in India. This was the same for Thanksgiving; for my family, was just a long weekend for us to relax.
My parents are immigrants, and they have come to learn of these holidays over the years. Although it took them a while to adjust to the American holidays, it is thanks to them that my brother and I enjoy these very holidays so much now.
In a way, the reason I love holidays such as Thanksgiving and Christmas so much is that my family has combined two cultures that represent me. On Thanksgiving Day, we eat traditional Indian food like tandoori chicken with naan while watching American football. We play board games, spend time with the family, and start looking online for Black Friday deals. We watch both North and South Indian movies due to the fact that my parents are from separate parts of India. On Christmas Eve, my family and I go to a friend’s house for a Christmas party. Ugly sweaters are a must, along with fuzzy socks and slippers. We would spend the night watching Christmas movies and opening presents, as well as partying to Indian songs and eating more traditional Indian desserts. These traditions are now something I look forward to every year. It is thanks to my culture and my heritage that I am in love with Thanksgiving and Christmas. Ironically, while these are American holidays, I would not cherish them so much if not for the bits of Asian culture immersed into the days.
With all this being said, I have learned to value my culture. My cultural identity makes these traditions and holidays part of who I am. I am both Indian and American, and these traditions that I have with my family encompass both of these cultures or backgrounds. Being an Asian American is truly a privilege; the holidays are an opportunity for me to express my love and gratitude for both parts of my identity. It allows me to connect with both sides of my cultural identity.
It allows me to be who I am.
Christo, Heather. Https://Heatherchristo.com/2016/11/06/Asian-Inspired-Thanksgiving-Dinner/, 2016, heatherchristo.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Asian-Inspired-Thanksgiving-Dinner-from-HeatherChristo.com_.jpg