Holidays and Celebrations as a Spiritual Occupation
Author(s)
Luboshitzky, Dvora; Bennett Gaber, Lee
Abstract
Holistic occupational therapists acknowledge their responsibility in addressing the spiritual dimension of their clients. However, due to the difficulties in applying spirituality to practice, the role of occupational therapists in regard to their clients’ spirituality remains unclear. This study suggests that the celebration of holidays may be used as a meaningful activity for fulfilling clients’ spiritual needs. Holidays, which commemorate religious, national, or personal events, are a special time set apart from ongoing day-to-day existence. While the meaning of holidays has been widely discussed from a historical, anthropological, sociocultural, and educational point of view, little can be found in the literature regarding the therapeutic aspects of holidays. The present paper discusses four dimensions in the meaningful celebration of holidays and their therapeutic implications: religious; sociocultural; time management; and leisure. These dimensions are explored as foci of intervention in occupational therapy. Finally, recommendations for clinical practice accompanied by a case illustration are presented.
