Setting the Musical Mood for the Holidays

With the holidays upon us, seasonal soundtracks are playing repeatedly everywhere we go. You often see people humming or toe-tapping down the aisle to a favourite tune. From our local gift shops to big box stores, grocery stores and elevators, the sounds of the season are upon us — but do they represent all of us?

This morning, our EQU team discussed what the winter holiday season represents in Canada today. For cultural and religious families and communities across the nation and in First Nations, we see a diversity of celebrations. In the late autumn, we see several Islamic Calendar holidays honoured, as well as Day of the Dead and All Saints Day; then St. Nikolas Day, Yule and Winter Solstice, Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and the New Year in December; through to Chinese New Year, Lent and Mardi Gras as the snow begins to melt.

Yet, in our public spaces, we seem to promote one brand and theme: Christmas.

At EQU, we think a lot about how we can inspire more literacy and connection across spiritual beliefs and cultural practices in our communities, schools, workplaces and neighbourhoods. But when we searched for inclusive holiday playlists on common music apps and Google, the only ones that came up were secular (or non-religious).

While we honour people with no religious affiliation and want to boogie through our darkest winter days into the light, we also want to include the voices and beats of all sorts of cultures and beliefs that can warm our hearts. So many celebrations and ceremonies of Canada’s winter season come from ancient traditions across many lands. They bring sparkle and hope to battle real-life struggles like Seasonal Affective Disorder, loneliness, and trudging through icy slush.

Below are some uplifting recommendations to add to your holiday playlist. (Do you have favourites to add? Let us know!)

It’s also worth remembering, as Lisa points out, that the holiday songs that are part of our family cultural traditions can sometimes get lost in translation (check out Kling Glöckchen, Klingalingaling, for example — we don’t generally encourage children to open doors to strangers ringing the bell!). Just like the human spirit is evolving, so can our taste in timeless classics. Time to add some new voices to our holiday medleys!

We look forward to ringing in the New Year (by the Gregorian calendar) with you in 2023!