THIS CHRISTMAS, WE CHOOSE US
We’re wrapping rest, joy, and Black woman brilliance this year — no gift receipt required.
“Whatever this year has been for you, you are here — and that matters.”
Christmas is coming!
There’s a whole cultural rhythm to Christmas in Black families — the food, the music, aunties telling stories, kids running around, somebody’s famous macaroni pie, joy moving through the house. The season for us is loud and loving.
And at the same time, the end of the year can stir up a lot. Maybe this year was the best, the hardest, the most challenging, the most joyful — full of growth, lessons, setbacks, or all of the above. Whatever this year has been for you, you are here — and that matters.
This season is joyful and draining. Many of us grew up watching the women around us carry Christmas on their backs — the cooking, the planning, the gifting, the emotional glue. And now we’re doing the same.
Add shorter days, colder weather, and the pressure to “be festive” all at once, and it can take a real toll on our energy and our mood.
This month, we’re talking about gifts — not the ones under the tree, but the gifts of mental wellbeing and supporting our sisters in business.
Look for patterns: When did you overspend, undersave, or stayed on budget?
Spending spikes: Plan for months where expenses are higher (birthdays, vacations, holidays).
Set goals for 2026: Be specific—if you want to save X dollars, break it down into monthly, weekly, and daily targets.
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
SAD is a form of depression that happens when we get less sunlight in the fall and winter. Reduced daylight affects the brain chemicals that regulate mood and energy.
For Black women, this shift can feel even stronger. Our beautiful melanin protects our skin from UV light (yes, we still need sunscreen), but it also means we need more sunlight to produce enough Vitamin D.
It can show up as:
emotional numbness
irritability
“checking out”
feeling overwhelmed by small tasks
craving carbs and sugar
sleeping more but not feeling rested
low motivation or creativity
pulling back socially
This is biological, not imagined.
Ways to Support Yourself:
Light Therapy: Use a light therapy lamp for 10–30 minutes in the morning. It resets serotonin and circadian rhythm. (OPTIONS)
Vitamin D: Consider getting your Vitamin D levels tested and supplementing if needed.
Warmth & Routine: Warm baths, tea, candles, and cozy blankets support the body and help regulate stress.
Stay Connected: Reach out to friends, join group chats, plan a walk or coffee — connection keeps us from withdrawing.
If symptoms feel heavy or ongoing, reach out to a healthcare professional. Support and treatment are available. (RESOURCES)
Black Queen of Durham 2-day Holiday Pop-up Market
One of the most powerful antidotes to seasonal heaviness is community — being around people, supporting each other, sharing space that feels warm, joyful, and familiar.
So, we’re kicking off this season with the Black Queens of Durham 2-Day Holiday Pop-up Market
2025 2-Day Holiday Pop-up Market
When: Saturday, December 6, 12:00 PM - Sunday, December 7, 7:00 PM
Where: Audley Recreation Centre | Community Hall | Entrance C (1955 Audley Road, Ajax)
FREE! Get you tickets now
Let’s show up and support ours Queens. Bring the whole family along and make a day of it. Enjoy great music, tasty food vendors, a photo booth, face painting, and a fun kids’ zone to keep little ones entertained while you shop. With over 60 local vendors, this is our groups’ biggest event of the year.
You will be in a room full of:
side hustles that became main hustles
dreams that survived doubt
mothers building legacy
women betting on themselves
Behind every vendor is:
a story
a choice
a sacrifice
a skill
a woman who kept going
*Instead of defaulting to the mall — we start with each other.
*Instead of big box stores — we invest in the women who invest in us.
*Instead of convenience — we choose meaning.
Because when we shop Black first, we’re not just buying gifts — we are:
circulating money in our community
strengthening our own economic power
helping a sister pay her bills, grow her shop, hire her people, feed her kids, and expand her dream
This Love in Action!
This Christmas, choose yourself on purpose. Celebrate yourself for making it through another year — not perfectly, not effortlessly, but with honesty and effort. Give yourself permission to rest, to feel joy without earning it, to receive care instead of carrying everything alone.
And as we move into the season of giving, let’s also pour into our community by supporting the women who are building, creating, and sustaining Black-owned businesses.
MERRY CHRISTMAS QUEENS!
Mark your calendar for these December events:
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11:00am - 12:00pm
Ontario Tech University, ERC Atrium, 30 Founders Drive, Oshawa, ON L1G 7W1
FREE
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10:00am (start time)
Starting point: Intersection of Brock Street North & Manning Road in downtown Whitby
FREE
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2:00pm - 3:00pm
St. Francis Centre for Community, Arts & Culture / 78 Church St. S., Ajax ON
FREE
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12:00pm - 7:00pm
Audley Recreation Centre | Community Hall | Entrance C (1955 Audley Road, Ajax ON)
FREE
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7:00pm - 9:00pm
St. Francis Centre for Community, Arts and Culture / 78 Church St S, Ajax, ON
FREE
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7:00pm - 10:00pm
St. Francis Centre for Community, Arts and Culture / 78 Church St S, Ajax, ON
$5.00
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2:30pm - 3:30pm
Women's Art Association Of Canada, 23 Prince Arthur Avenue, Toronto, ON
FREE
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7:30pm - 10:30pm
Professor's Lake Recreation Centre, 1660 North Park Drive, Brampton ON
$50.00
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Daytime: 11:00am - 4:00pm
Nightime: 4:00pm - 8:00pm
3667 Concession Rd. 6, Orono, ON, L0B 1M0
$20.00 (Adults)
$15.00 (Teens)
$10.00 (Kids 3+)
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written by Nickisha RASHID