Making Space for Every Tradition: Supporting Diverse Families During the Holiday Season

​As the holiday season approaches, conversations about togetherness and tradition become more visible. But for many intercultural and multilingual families, this time of year does not follow one familiar script. In this blog, Yvette Ahonen, Peer Support Coordinator, reflects on what it means to make space for different traditions, languages, and ways of celebrating, and why recognition, choice, and respect are essential when supporting diverse families.

The holiday season is often associated with warmth, togetherness, and familiar traditions. At the same time, for many families, especially intercultural and multilingual ones, this period can look very different from what is usually assumed. Traditions, languages, and ways of celebrating vary widely, and not all families experience this season in the same way. Making space for these differences is an important part of supporting families and creating a sense of belonging.

Supporting diverse families during the holidays starts with recognition: there is no single way to celebrate, and there is no “default” tradition.

​One of the most important things we can do is avoid assumptions. Not everyone celebrates the same holidays, and even when families do, the meaning, customs, or level of importance may differ. Asking open questions, or simply leaving space for families to define what matters to them, helps create an atmosphere of respect and belonging.

​Language also plays a central role during this time of year. For many families, traditions are closely tied to their home languages. Children’s sense of identity and belonging can be deeply tied to their family traditions. The ways families celebrate, mark important moments, and pass on customs all shape how children understand who they are and where they belong. Allowing children and parents to use the language that feels natural to them, at home, in community spaces, or even in organised activities, sends a powerful message: your language belongs here. Even small gestures, like using inclusive wording or acknowledging multiple languages, can make a big difference.

​Another key aspect is choice. Participation in holiday-related activities should always be an invitation, not an obligation. Some families may prefer to engage fully, others partially, and some not at all. All of these choices are valid. Respecting boundaries helps families feel safe and seen, rather than pressured to fit into a single narrative.

​It is also worth remembering that traditions are not fixed. They travel, change, blend, and evolve across generations and borders. Many families create new ways of celebrating that reflect their current lives rather than their past alone. Honoring tradition does not mean preserving it unchanged; it means respecting how families live it today.

​Often, support comes down to small, everyday actions: listening carefully, pronouncing names correctly, showing curiosity without judgment, and acknowledging difference without ranking it. These moments may seem minor, but they build trust and belonging over time.

​As the year comes to an end, supporting diverse families means making space for different languages, different traditions, and different ways of experiencing this season. When families feel that what they carry is welcomed, belonging becomes something shared, not something they have to explain or defend.

Photos below (left to right): Our Christmas tree, Our Nacimiento (Nativity Scene)- typical in latino families, holiday wishes at Familia's Candle Party, book we use with our trilingual children (we have this in Finnish too).  

Written by: yvette ahonen