Every year, right around Halloween and until after Christmas, the same conversation pops up in our Muslim communities – Should my child be going trick-or-treating? Can we make gingerbread houses? Is it okay to celebrate mainstream holidays?
Parents are thinking about whether their children will feel left out–and maybe whether this whole thing is really that big of a deal? A lot of parents are concerned with making the right decision to set the tone for their kids at a young age.
We wanted to dig into this topic a bit more. What’s the big deal with holiday celebrations anyways?
How is it different if you have young kids versus teenagers?
What should parents consider as they navigate these decisions during the holiday season?
About the Hosts:
Duaa Haggag is a Community Educator at The FYI and works in private practice as a child, adolescent, and family therapist at Silent Sunlight Counseling. Duaa is also the writer behind one of our most popular projects, the Meaning through Movies series.
Dr. Madiha Tahseen is a Research Fellow, Community Educator, and Research Translation Manager here at The FYI. She has a Ph.D. in Applied Developmental Psychology and will be bringing that perspective and her research on Muslim youth and identity, into our conversation today.
Mahnoor Faheem is an intern at The FYI. She is a senior at the University of Texas at Austin majoring in biology with a minor in human rights and social justice and hopes to pursue a career in healthcare. She is passionate about making healthcare accessible for all and ensuring that the Muslim community’s emotional, social, and spiritual needs are considered.