Viewpoints: Thanksgiving Traditions

Each week in the Viewpoints feature FāVS asks its writers to respond to a timely question about faith and ethics.

This week’s question comes on the heels of Thanksgiving:

What pieces of advice would you pass on to the next generation as they establish their own Thanksgiving (holiday) traditions?

Andy Castrolang: Right off the bat I would say this: focus FIRST on the relationships, and only after you prioritize the people, then you can focus on the food, the dishes, the pretty decorations.

Too many meals are ruined by perfectionism, some “ideal” that has been put in the heads of the hosts by magazines, by pictures. Get rid of them and focus on friendship, laughter, human connection.

Luke Grayson: Family is the people you have built, not always the ones you’re born into. Going home for the holidays can be stressful, so it’s good to do something a few days after to build yourself back up.

For my kids this means we do queer Thanksgiving the Saturday after, where they all come home, hang out with their chosen/adopted family, and get reminded that being who they are doesn’t make them worth any less or any less lovable, and that their chosen names will always be respected. It means that they will always be loved as they are, and they will never be asked to dull down who they are to be accepted in our home.

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About Andy CastroLang

Andy CastroLang is senior pastor at Westminster Congregational United Church of Christ. She is deeply committed to civil discourse between individuals and throughout our community; in interreligious conversation, private conversation, intergenerational conversation and yes, even in political conversation. She has been a supporter of SpokaneFaVS since its inception because she supports this creative effort at thoughtful community conversation.

• On this holiday, let’s vow to heal America - July 4, 2020
• We’ve heard you outside Planned Parenthood. Now will you listen to me? - March 3, 2020
• Jesus didn’t yell into the “echo chamber” - September 10, 2019
• Becoming a warming center because of people willing to help - December 21, 2018
• Raising Men Who Reject Toxic Masculinity - May 31, 2018
• Silence the anger and add forgiveness, mercy to the media conversations - April 10, 2018
• Viewpoints: Thanksgiving Traditions - November 29, 2017
• “Prayer is my communion” - November 25, 2017
• Showing up for our young people - September 27, 2017
• Generosity and compassion appear at the most unexpected moments - May 24, 2017

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• About the Author
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About Luke Grayson

Luke Grayson is a 20-something nonbinary transperson who has been in Spokane since 2012 and is an advocate for the LGBT community and for transgender youth.
He is currently helping raise kids and trying to make schools more inclusive and accepting of transgender youth. He is also attempting to help make the local community more inclusive of both the LGB and transgender communities.
Luke is also a slam (performance) poet who went to Atlanta for National competition last year as a part of a team representing Spokane.
Luke uses he/him or they/them pronouns.

• This Election, I Have No Empathy - November 18, 2020
• Even with SCOTUS ruling, trans lives still under attack - June 23, 2020
• We can’t call it “The Chinese Virus” and here’s why - March 21, 2020
• An Obligatory Faith - March 10, 2020
• We need to destigmatize mental health - February 22, 2020
• When poor health makes you question God - July 25, 2019
• Fear of school shooting is real, but can’t teach our kids to fear the world - May 10, 2019
• #WhyIDidntReport – we need to treat survivors better - September 25, 2018
• Father’s Day was hell for asylum seekers - June 18, 2018
• Chase Youth Awards recognizes Freeman High - March 19, 2018

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