With the many celebrations of light that happen during this time of year, the Sanford Civil Rights Team is determined to acknowledge all holidays
Submitted by Civil Rights Team members Grace Pearson, Allie Herring and Cassidy Rivard
December 4, 2024
SANFORD, Maine – The Civil Rights Team is an organization dedicated to helping our school community feel welcome in our school by having conversations about all religions, races and skin colors, gender identities and expressions, national origins and ancestries, disabilities and sexual orientations.
This month focuses on the various celebrations of light across different cultures all around the world. From Christmas to Kwanzaa, the Sanford Civil Rights Team welcomes and recognizes all holidays that celebrate light!
A message from the Civil Rights Team says, “Not everyone marks a holiday during the winter, and that’s okay! In our school, we respect everyone’s beliefs and say Happy Holidays to all!”
Some holidays are specific to a single religion, and others are present in many cultures.
For example, celebrations surrounding the winter solstice can be found taking place all over the world when this special day comes around! This year, the winter solstice falls on Saturday, Dec. 21.
As stated by the Civil Rights Team, “No matter if you celebrate light in the same way as the people around you or differently, it is important to be respectful of all holidays others celebrate! These diverse traditions share a common language: the language of light. It speaks of hope, overcoming darkness, and finding our way within and without. So, as we gather around our own flames, let us remember the world’s many lights, reminding us that even in the deepest night, dawn will always break.”
The Spartan Times 
[…] Helping others see the light: This month, the Civil Rights Team at Sanford High School has its sights set on recognizing the various celebrations of light across different cultures all around the world. Some holidays are specific to a single religion, while others are celebrated across cultures. One cross-cultural example involves the winter solstice, which falls on Dec. 21 this year. As stated by the Civil Rights Team, “These diverse traditions share a common language: the language of light. It speaks of hope, overcoming darkness, and finding our way within and without.” The Civil Rights Team is dedicated to helping the entire school community feel welcome, reminding everyone, no matter how each individual celebrates light, to be respectful of all holidays that others celebrate. Read the full Spartan Times story here. […]
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[…] Helping others see the light: This month, the Civil Rights Team at Sanford High School has its sights set on recognizing the various celebrations of light across different cultures all around the world. Some holidays are specific to a single religion, while others are celebrated across cultures. One cross-cultural example involves the winter solstice, which falls on Dec. 21 this year. As stated by the Civil Rights Team, “These diverse traditions share a common language: the language of light. It speaks of hope, overcoming darkness, and finding our way within and without.” The Civil Rights Team is dedicated to helping the entire school community feel welcome, reminding everyone, no matter how each individual celebrates light, to be respectful of all holidays that others celebrate. Read the full Spartan Times story here. […]
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