Holidays

As salamu alaykum

As of a few months ago i am a new muslim Alhamdulillah. I come from a non muslim country and i seek some guidance about holidays.

You see, my family is an atheist one and it has been a tradition for generations to put up a tree sometime during december, even though we never celebrated Christmas. We do celebrate New Year, which has nothing to do with religion, but is a tradition for my family that makes us even closer and have a nicely decorated home.

Also painting eggs for Easter. Ever since a child i have done this with family to comemorate the upcoming spring, as pagans have before Christianity was even present in my country. My country also has a special way of decorating them that is known worldwide.

As this has been a family tradition for generations and has been done even though we were never Catholic, i was shocked when my husband told me i cannot do any of it any more as it is looking like Catholic. So, even though it had nothing to do with religion for my family, i am to stop these traditions cause Christianity is using spruce and colored eggs as symbols?

I would be very happy if anyone had a similar experience to share with me and to give me more insight or help me out. And thank you in advance for any answers, guidance, help.

Have a wonderful day everyone

Semar, thank you for your reply.

I will do my best to avoid any resemblance and attending things i am not supposed to, though i will have trouble with some. See, family doesn't know i am Muslim for one thing and would not accept it at all. Aspecially not my father. And secondly, my parents are of old age, ill, so they need lots of help. Because of this, i was told i can help them, but not attend celebrations (which we never had acctually) and advised not to feel as i am doing something festive or completely right when asked to help with certain things. Also, to beg forgiveness after helping with sth i would better stay away from.

I have to add that painted eggs were never thrown away. The process is done with natural colorings, materials and motives from spring. Throwing food away is something this house never did. Either it ends in our bellies or we use it to feed our animals, so nothing goes to waste.

Thank you for your help. My faith is strong and with propper guidance i can mannage doing right by Allah (Subhanahu wa ta'ala) and my parents.

Have a nice day

Trees and eggs are cultural practices. They are associated with Christianity but are not Christian.

Get in touch with your deep feelings about them and find Islamic ways to express those deep feelings and your culture without signaling Christianity. No one will understand the inspiration but you, but that is enough.

Your culture can be expressed through Islam, and you will be an artist.