Marking the Spring Holiday Season During the COVID-19 Pandemic

By Wheeler Team Members:
Aisha S. Hamid, MPH, CPS, CHES, Program Manager
Melissa Mendez, LCSW, IMH-E, Director of Early Childhood Programs
Laura S. Minor, MS, PA, Staff Development Manager
in collaboration with
Aida Mansoor, MA, MS, Coordinator, Islamic Chaplaincy Program, Hartford Seminary, and
Board Member, Muslim Coalition of Connecticut

“ . . . consider the meaning of the past year, as well as the period you are in, and your hope for the future.”

Holidays such as Passover, Easter, and Ramadan are important observances during the early spring season. This year, the COVID-19 outbreak has changed how these holidays are celebrated in many corners of the world, prompting us to think more innovatively and creatively about how to foster connection with friends and loved ones. Wheeler’s Melissa Mendez, LCSW, IMH-E, director of Early Childhood Programs; Laura S. Minor, MS, PA, staff development manager; and Aisha S. Hamid, MPH, CPS, CHES, program manager, as well as Aida Mansoor, MA, MS, coordinator, Islamic Chaplaincy Program, Hartford Seminary, and board member, Muslim Coalition of Connecticut, offer some ideas to consider.

Bridge the divide with technology. You and your families can gather on digital platforms such as Zoom, Skype and FaceTime for a more personal connection to the holiday and each other. Use your time together virtually to observe your traditions, share memories and music, and engage in meaningful discussion about what the holiday means, and the things in your life for which you are thankful, especially now.

Seek out online resources. A vast array of web content, including news stories, blog posts and webinars is available to guide you and your family with observing your holiday. From virtual seders, to digital haggadahs, and how to build Easter baskets with fewer (and different) items, there are many resources to help you engage in your holiday celebration. Additionally, weekly Friday khutbahs from Islamic centers are being streamed online via Facebook live other platforms. Many mosques hope to provide Qur’anic recitations and halaqas (speaker presentation to a gathering) through the online platforms during the month of Ramadan that begins with the new moon around April 24th, 2020.

Cook at least one traditional dish. Even at a time when grocery store hours and supplies are limited, consider preparation of at least one favorite seasonal dish, which will fill your home with the fragrance of holiday meals past and keep you connected and hopeful about more holidays to come. Remember to laugh and do the best you can.

The Easter ham may not be as large as you’d like, or you may have to substitute another vegetable for asparagus, but you can take comfort in trying. Charoses, a Passover staple made with apples, cinnamon, walnuts, and wine in Ashkenazi (Eastern European/Russian) Jewish families may turn into an Iranian or Egyptian date or fig version. Or maybe, it’s just apple sauce with cinnamon this year. The trick is to go with the flow.

The traditional dish suggestion also is a terrific idea for Muslims preparing for the fast before dawn or breaking the fast at sunset. Many Muslims traditionally break their fast with dates and water and usually start off by eating something light like chicken or lentil soup. It is very important to keep hydrated so remember to hydrate yourself well before you begin your fast at dawn.

Take time to reflect. Aside the from your connection with your family members, take time to consider the meaning of the past year, as well as the period you are in and your hope for the future. Easter is a time of forgiveness and renewal. Part of the Passover tradition is giving charity. Ramadan is a time for sincere and deep reflection, a time of reconnects and contemplating purpose and direction, as well as a time of extra prayer and recitation, and increasing good deeds.

Consider how you will make meaningful contributions. What change do you want to see in the world, and how can you help make this change happen? Is there a need in your community that you can help fill? Perhaps you can donate to the local food pantry or soup kitchen or volunteer your time, within appropriate health guidelines.

Don’t forget the children. As stressed the adults are, your children need to be the focus, especially as they face holidays that may not be what they have come to expect. Children may have a harder time understanding the bigger picture and difficulty feeling “grateful” when they are used to something very different. This is okay and should not been seen by parents as the child being uncaring or unconcerned about those struggling at this time. Young children thrive on routines and family traditions, and any way you can maintain those experiences will be good for young children. Many Muslim families are taking this time to pray the five daily prayers together. Praying together and fasting together is a special blessing this year for those who are with their children. Christian families are rethinking how they will observe religious services, and Easter egg hunts, a much-loved tradition, may be staged differently.

Ask yourself and your families: “Can we plan for grandparents or aunts or uncles to read a story about the holiday through FaceTime or Facebook? Can we all sing together? What can we do to include children in ways that will be meaningful and memorable?” What is most important for children during stressful times are closeness and emotional availability from their parent or caregiver. If you do nothing else but read books, hug, laugh with and hold your little one during the holiday, you have given them a wonderful gift.

Each of us is affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The circumstances, though difficult, are not permanent, and this challenging time will pass. Until then, find creative ways to manage through it, for yourself and your family. You may discover a new ritual or way of approaching the holidays, which ultimately may become part of your long-cherished traditions as well.

If you or a loved one are struggling with anxiety or grief, particularly during this holiday period, call Wheeler’s Navigation Center at 888.793.3500. Learn more about accessing care through our telehealth and telemed services.

Resources

BlooombergNews.com
BuffaloNews.com
Chabad.org
Haggadot.com (Offers downloadable mix-and-match and DIY-available versions of the Passover Haggadah)
Isna.net
Jewishjournal.com
New York Times
Prayer timetable for April 2020
Prayer timetable for Ramadan 2020
RamadanTips.com
ReformJudiasm.org