Heritage

Heritage is about inherited traditions and how our past can influence today and tomorrow. It is encouraging that a holiday like Cinco de Mayo has been embraced. Although probably mostly for the wrong reasons now (like drinking tequila and margaritas), it is hard to breakthrough with non American traditions. Cinco de Mayo is seen as a day of celebrating Mexican culture, food and heritage. I invite you to celebrate other cultures and also reflect on your own and how you identify yourself.

It is interesting how the culture of holidays has changed over the years and what they have developed into. Cinch de Mayo has been connected to celebrating Mexican culture and heritage. When the tradition of Cinco de Mayo begun in the US, it was used as a rallying call to show support of Mexican resistance to French rule. In many ways we are celebrating the power of the people. Cinco de Mayo is documented in Mexican history as a day where a battle was won over French invaders. We are celebrating the power of the underdog, the under estimated and the under gunned. It is great to look at patterns; those passed down and celebrated around us. It is also good to know what you are celebrating.

There are so many traditions in this world. Some are related to larger transitions like the changing of the seasons and some are to honor those who came before us. There are others related to religion like Hanukkah. As modern technology continues to escalate, lineage is something that folks are exploring. There are free genealogy programs online and ways to support building a family tree. I like holidays like Cinco de Mayo because it brings out ethnic and cultural perspectives. Some folks in this country do not think in terms of ethnicity and heritage. It adds more layers to a person than just race and gender. The restriction of these categories does not tell an entire story especially if persons have not chosen nor identified these categories on their own terms.

What do you know heritage to be? When and how do you celebrate your heritage? Heritage is defined by what is passed down from preceding generations; about traditions, achievements, beliefs that are part of the history of a group and/or nation. Do you share your favorite things about your heritage with others? What are you choosing to pass down to your children/grandchildren that uphold your heritage? How do you respect and honor the heritage of others in your communities? Although we do not need to live our history, it is good to get to know our history in order to make decisions about our future and how we tell our story.