Rethinking the holidays from the perspective of community and social awareness – Ateneu

The holidays arrive and with them, a constant bombardment of idyllic images: homes decorated to perfection, families snuggled around a full table, cuddled up under warm lights and shiny gifts wrapped in love. This story, as widespread as it is unrealistic for many people, builds a unique expectation of Christmas, where joy seems mandatory and consumption, inevitable.

But what happens to all those people who do not fit into this narrative? For those who live in solitude, for those who suffer grief or loss, for those who cannot bear extra expenses, for those who live with violence or for those who simply do not feel that this story speaks to them?

The social and solidarity economy invites us to pause and look beyond the postcard. It reminds us that the holidays can be an opportunity to put life in the centernot consumption. To care, share, rethink, connect with other realities and experience Christmas from a more communal and conscious place.

There are all over the territory cooperatives, collectives and entities that propose alternatives: open popular meals, meeting spaces for single people or people without a network, community activities without a commercial purpose, non-sexist food and toy collection campaigns, or simply proposals to recognize that emotions – of all kinds – also take place on these dates.

From the Ateneu Cooperative del Baix Llobregat, we support this transformative view and join those voices that they want to break the idealized story of Christmas to pave the way for a more plural, empathetic and inclusive experience. Because not everyone experiences it the same way, and precisely here lies the importance of networking and supporting each other.

Maybe this year we can give time, company, care. Maybe we can do Christmas an open and shared spacewhere everyone belongs and where the celebration is not an imposition, but a diverse possibility.

To break the story is not to deny the holidays, but to make them more humane. And this is also transforming.

Albert Rodríguez Hilario