PSA Gentle Holiday Reminders: Not Everyone is "Celebrating"
- Veronica Carpenter
- Dec 19, 2025
- 2 min read
❄I get that asking people at the grocery store cash register about their holidays (especially in the winter season) is a normal, well-intended thing. People are trying to be friendly, kind, and human.
💜And, it’s also a bit presumptuous to assume that everyone celebrates Christmas, or even celebrates holidays at all.
💜For some of us, this season is complicated. As someone who doesn’t have much connection with blood family, has had real trauma around Christmas, and doesn’t classically celebrate most traditional American or religious holidays, seemingly simple questions can open up a lot. Especially when I’m literally just doing my regular food shopping.
💜This is why I’m naming it.
💜In the past, this time of year has been deeply triggering for me, walking into stores bombarded with Christmas music the day after Halloween, being wished a "Merry Christmas" when I could barely drive down the street without feeling overwhelmed by the lights, decorations and reminders. This year, I’m the most stable I’ve ever been during this season. And it hasn’t always been that way. I know I can’t be the only one.
This time of year carries grief, loss, trauma, sadness, loneliness, longing, and quiet survival for a lot of people, including those you’ll never know anything about. A grocery store cashier, a stranger in line, the person standing next to you, they may not be able to hold what gets stirred up by a well-meaning question.
✨If you want to connect, it can be neutral.
✨Things like: “I hope your day is going okay.” “Hope you’re staying cozy this winter.” “If you celebrate any holidays this season, I hope they are warm and bright.” Or simply, “Take care.”
💜Those kinds of words still offer kindness and connection, without assumptions attached.
💜I’m not sharing this to shut people down. I’m sharing it because awareness matters. You never know what someone is carrying while they’re just trying to get through their day.
💜Warmly,
🦋Veronica | Yoga Therapist, Self-love Cheerleader and Earth Angel
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