For Roini Wadhwani’s Hindu parents, the American idea of Christmas was a hard sell. But when her dad overheard her sister telling her preschool class that Santa didn’t come to their house, “it broke his heart,” Roini said, and Saint Nick became part of their holiday.
Roini’s wife, Moni Muraki, was likewise Christmas-challenged. Moni’s mom grew up as a Buddhist in Japan.
When the two got together, their holidays were sort of improvised.
“Most of our traditions stem from what we picked up from other people,” Moni said.
Moni and Roini celebrate in the usual way with a tree, gifts and Christmas dinner (complete with a vegetarian Indian dish for Roini’s mom). But since the Seattle couple had a son, Ren, in August, they’re taking a new look at how they approach the holidays.
“We have the opportunity to create all these experiences,” Moni said. “We want it to be fun.”
The traditions could be simple: Moni remembers snuggling as a child with her two sisters under a big orange blanket to watch Disney movies around the holidays.
Or they could be more involved: Each year Moni’s dad makes labor-intensive Welsh cakes that he places in tins and distributes by the dozens to friends and family. Roini, who likes to bake, wondered if one day Ren might bake the cakes with her. Or maybe they could gather loved ones together to make and eat ravioli for Christmas, as they’ve done in the past with friends.
A meal like that means “everybody is coming together and contributing and enjoying in that product,” Moni said. “That’s the best quality time there is with your family and friends.”
