Innovation

Changing the face of Christmas: How March Muses is making the holidays more inclusive

BY Kweku Sampson November 16, 2024 1:07 PM EDT
Natalie Duvall and Alison Burton, founders of March Muses [Photo credit: preciousonline.co.uk]

As the holiday season nears, March Muses, a company dedicated to promoting inclusivity, is working to change the way Christmas is celebrated. By creating products and experiences that reflect diverse cultures and identities, March Muses is helping make holiday traditions more accessible and representative of today’s multicultural society.

Founded by Natalie Duvall and Alison Burton with the goal of increasing cultural representation, March Muses offers a range of products designed to challenge traditional portrayals of Christmas. In an era when diversity and inclusivity are increasingly valued, the company is tapping into a growing demand for holiday decorations, greeting cards, and other products that reflect a wider range of ethnicities, skin tones, and traditions. The company’s offerings range from festive decorations that feature diverse characters to greeting cards with inclusive holiday messages.

For many years, Christmas has been portrayed predominantly through a singular cultural lens, often leaving people of different backgrounds feeling marginalized. March Muses seeks to change this by providing products that allow families from all walks of life to see themselves represented in holiday celebrations. The company’s collection includes everything from Black Santa figurines to Afrocentric holiday ornaments, allowing families to incorporate elements of their own culture into the season’s festivities.

One of the company’s most popular offerings is a line of holiday ornaments that feature diverse depictions of Santa Claus and other holiday icons. These ornaments, which showcase a variety of skin tones and cultural representations, provide an alternative to the traditional holiday decorations that often exclude non-white communities. In addition to ornaments, March Muses also offers holiday cards with images of diverse families, further helping to normalize inclusive celebrations.

March Muses’ efforts to promote inclusivity extend beyond its product line. The company has also launched several community initiatives aimed at raising awareness of the importance of representation during the holiday season. These initiatives include educational workshops and partnerships with local organizations to celebrate different cultural traditions, encouraging unity and understanding.

“We believe the holiday season should be a time of togetherness, and our mission is to make sure everyone, no matter their background, feels seen and celebrated,” said the founder of March Muses. “Incorporating diversity into holiday traditions is an important way to create spaces where people from all walks of life can connect and enjoy the season.”

In addition to its community programs, March Muses has worked with schools to distribute inclusive holiday materials, ensuring that children of all backgrounds feel recognized during the holidays. These materials include books, decorations, and educational resources that highlight the diverse ways people around the world celebrate Christmas and other holidays.

Through these initiatives, March Muses aims to foster an environment where all families, regardless of ethnicity or culture, can enjoy a holiday season that reflects their own traditions. The company also seeks to educate others on the significance of embracing diverse celebrations, making it easier for people to learn about and appreciate different cultural customs.

The company’s efforts to change how Christmas is celebrated come at a time when cultural representation in media and products has become a focal point of broader conversations around diversity and inclusion. March Muses stands out as a company dedicated to shifting the holiday narrative and providing families with the tools to create more meaningful, inclusive celebrations.

By offering products that feature diverse characters and symbols, as well as engaging in community-building efforts, March Muses is helping to redefine what Christmas looks like for families around the world. As the company continues to expand its offerings, it is contributing to a growing movement that prioritizes inclusivity, ensuring that everyone has a place in the holiday season.

With its commitment to inclusivity, March Muses is proving that even the most cherished holiday traditions can evolve to reflect the diverse and ever-changing world we live in. Through its innovative approach, the company is changing the face of Christmas, one ornament and card at a time.

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