LET THERE BE LIGHT! Bring back the Christmas Tree, Menorah, and more to Glen Rock.
Diwali, Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa
It’s not a coincidence that lights are a core component of Diwali, Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa and Yalda. Each of these holidays occurs when the days
get shorter and our nights become darker earlier.
Let’s “bring back the lights” to Glen Rock for the Holidays!
After reading various Facebook posts this weekend about the lovely “Winter Wonderland” hosted in downtown Glen Rock the past few years and various HS rumors about the Grinch stealing Christmas (or something like that!), I felt compelled to write this.
I’m asking you, my fellow Glen Rockers ~ how would you feel about the Borough acknowledging Diwali, Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa, and other holidays as distinct celebrations rather than under the homogenous umbrella of a “Winter Wonderland”?
Let’s bring back the CHRISTMAS TREE, and the MENORAH. Let’s add KWANZAA Lights and other secular symbols ~ Santa, reindeer, etc. as seen in many, if not most of the towns surrounding Glen Rock to our holiday display at Borough Hall.
I believe we are a town that welcomes, accepts and CELEBRATES everyone – people, cultures, holidays, religions, and customs. Let’s listen and LEARN from our High School students mentioned above. I find the current generation of kids to be awesome in the way they accept, encourage and embrace differences among each other and in the World. The new Diwali Celebration at Central School and the Multicultural Event at Hamilton School are just two examples that readily come to mind about celebrating and learning about our differences.
Instead of “homogenizing” the holidays, let’s recognize and celebrate ‘em all!
It’s certainly a way to “move forward” while providing opportunities for the Glen Rock Community to come together.
Whether you agree, or even if you don’t, please consider sharing your views with the Council.
I’ve taken the liberty of creating a short informal survey just to get a sense of Community sentiment prior to approaching the Council with my idea. (I’m admittedly data driven – it’s both a blessing and a curse! ☺)
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ZF2B78G
If interested in opining, please take 60 seconds to take the Survey. Thanks neighbors!
Eileen Maher Hillock
Glen Rock
