Food for Thought About How We Celebrate Holidays

Does it make sense to you that many of our holidays center around feasting on a dead animal? Many of these holidays symbolize peace, joy and kindness, yet necessitate “enjoying” animal flesh in order to celebrate–How do you explain or make sense of this contradiction? Are you aware that your lamb dinner is just a baby that was killed before it was even one year old, or that it had a mama who desperately wanted to give it love, just like humans love their own children? Did you know that pigs are among the smartest animals, and have the intelligence similar to that of a four-year child? 

In March of 2024 my husband and I became vegan. Though I’m 100% committed to this decision,

It is challenging to come to terms with the reality that I now am NOT COMPATIBLE with most people I know on a core level.

I feel a deep spiritual disconnection, a loneliness, and a frustration that makes it difficult to be around non-vegans. When my meat-eating friends and family rave about their “tender” pork loin, or their “delicious” ham dinner, I only feel sadness. I know what kind of life that pig or that lamb had before its eventual slaughter and my heart aches. When they pour a glass of milk or talk about their yummy ice cream, all I can do is imagine the poor grieving Mama cow whose baby was stolen from her again and again so humans can drink her milk. The blatant disregard for the cruelty these animals face, and the willful ignorance of how these products wound up on their plates or in their glasses is soul crushing in a way nothing else has ever been in my life. I’m expected to sit quietly and not express my views. It’s exhausting to do this over and over, again and again, every time when I’m around non-vegans, especially when they rave about the food or act like I should politely accept that they are participating in this horrific animal cruelty.

Despite what anyone in the industry tells you, or what it says on the packaging, there is no humane way to kill an animal that does not want to die.

And of course, no sentient animal wants to die. They all can smell death, feel terror and panic, sense the confusion of their fellow beings. It’s the worst fate imaginable, a horror not one person would ever support if they could see into the slaughterhouse. But of course, that’s all by design, intended to keep us ignorant.

The entire industry is built on our ignorance!

Doesn’t that concern you? Does it concern you that this death all happens behind closed doors? Do you care that these animals suffered just so you can celebrate and “enjoy” a 15 minute meal with your family? Is the life of a sentient animal worth so little to you that you can ignore and forget the fear, pain and suffering caused? Are you against animal cruelty? But how can you be when you continue to eat animal flesh and dairy products? Why do we take our kids to petting zoos and “ohhh” and “ahhh” over the cute baby animals, but then go home and eat them for dinner? Do you see the disconnect? 

My life now is rooted in truth, and my values match my actions. My body is not a graveyard. I make it a mission to no longer spend money in ways that support cruelty to animals. Am I always perfect in my quest? Of course not! But I believe doing something imperfectly is better than doing nothing. My body is now in harmony with my moral compass. Who are we to think we can imprison, torture, and untimely kill these fellow beings? What gives us the right to cause such suffering?

And importantly, why is that vegans are often villainized and treated like we’re extremists, when all we want is to show respect and kindness to ALL animals?

Many of our holidays are rooted in Christianity. Easter, a Christian holiday, represents hope and renewal. Christian Pure says of Easter, that it, “also embraces the promise of eternal life that it symbolizes, inspiring countless acts of compassion and kindness in the world. ”Do we show kindness and compassion to pigs, cows, chickens, fish, lobsters or other animals? And Christmas? According to Christianity.com, “Christmas is a time to reflect on the significance of Jesus’ birth, emphasizing themes of love, peace, and goodwill toward all.”  Do we show goodwill towards animals? Would Jesus really approve of the horrific way that we treat our fellow earthlings? Would he support the cruelty just so we can “enjoy” the flesh of a baby lamb or pig for a 15 minute meal? The Jesus I know and learned about in school would never allow animals to be treated the way they are in 2025.

It’s modern day slavery and most of us –including myself until a year ago!– just blindly go along with it, closing our eyes to the torture just so we can not be inconvenienced to change and adapt a new paradigm. How can we call ourselves civilized? 

 

Aren’t civilized beings supposed to act in a moral and ethical way? Why does that only apply to humans and not our fellow earthlings? We are not primitive beings trying to survive! We are modern humans, capable of compassion, and choice. Science has proven animal products are not necessary for our survival. 

Will you consider changing? Will you consider some of these questions? 

Just because we have always done something a certain way doesn’t mean we should continue to do it that same way. It IS possible to change. It IS possible to build a life rooted in truth, kindness and compassion, rather than tradition and cruelty. It IS possible to live a life of clarity, and to be a person who truly understands what it means to respect ALL beings. 

Maybe this holiday can mark a change for you. It IS possible to always choose kindness.