Welcoming Diversity Just Like Halloween
In my country, there are two poles - one is the choice of diversity, and the other is rooted in imposed, outdated perceptions. I feel that some people forget that holidays are meant for joy and a break from routine. Instead of enjoying them, each year, they repeat the same mantra - questioning the origins of holidays like Halloween or Valentine’s Day, looking for ways to distance themselves! And later, some will say, "I feel lonely." Well, of course they feel lonely; instead of coming together with others, they look for ways to pull away. I wonder, are they preserving their authenticity? For whom and for what? Or are they afraid to do something new, just sliding along on outdated dogmas out of habit...
Choice is considered a fundamental characteristic of a free person - the freedom to make your own choices without depending on others. But what are we actually choosing? All of us make choices throughout our lives. Whether they are personal or communal, we make them. To have the right to choose is something few people truly know how to handle.
My choice is to let go of extreme nationalism and embrace globalism. I choose to gather in my hands the things that different cultures offer, which align with my worldview. Yes, the world is one big village, and we are all part of it.
So, if someone from a different culture chooses to wear a Bulgarian kuker mask and joins in the Kukeri dance - a powerful, pre-Christian ritual to chase away evil spirits, honored by UNESCO - I will gladly welcome them!
I choose to celebrate diversity. I choose the 'foreign and new' in defiance of old and rigid thinking. I choose that part of the world that inspires my creativity and reveals new possibilities for a day that has not been wasted - because, as someone once said, a day without laughter is a completely meaningless day. I choose to welcome comfort into my life.
Happy Halloween! 🍬