Each year, certain dates invite us to pause, not only to celebrate culture, but also to remember history, confront injustice, and reaffirm our shared commitment to dignity and belonging. In January, three significant observances remind us that beauty, wellness, and humanity are deeply interconnected: World Day for African and Afrodescendant Culture (January 24), International Holocaust Remembrance Day (January 27), and the National Day of Remembrance of the Quebec City Mosque Attack and Action Against Islamophobia (January 29).
At first glance, these dates may appear distinct in focus. Yet, when viewed through the lens of wellness and belonging, they reveal a common thread: the importance of honouring identity, acknowledging historical trauma, and creating spaces where every person is seen, valued, and safe.
At Cher-Mère, we believe that wellness is not only physical, it is cultural, emotional, and collective. To truly care for the body, we must also care for memory, history, and community.
Honouring African and Afrodescendant Cultures: Beauty as Heritage and Knowledge
The World Day for African and Afrodescendant Culture celebrates the richness, creativity, and enduring contributions of African and African-descendant communities across the globe. It is a day to recognize culture not as something static, but as living knowledge passed through generations.
Long before the modern beauty industry existed, African and Caribbean communities cultivated sophisticated systems of care. Shea butter, coconut oil, castor oil, botanical infusions, and scalp rituals were not trends, they were scientific, cultural, and practical responses to environment, health, and identity.
These practices remind us that beauty has always been rooted in wisdom. It was shared through stories, rituals, and hands-on learning. It reflected resilience, innovation, and connection to nature.
Today, many of these traditions are celebrated globally, yet their origins are often overlooked. Honouring African and Afrodescendant cultures means recognizing these roots and respecting the communities that nurtured them.
At Cher-Mère, our approach to skincare and haircare is inspired by this lineage. We see every ritual of care as part of a broader cultural story, one that links heritage with modern science and individual expression with collective history.
Memory and Responsibility: Lessons from the Holocaust
On January 27, the world observes International Holocaust Remembrance Day. This day commemorates the millions of lives lost during the Holocaust and serves as a global call to remember the consequences of hatred, dehumanization, and silence.
While this history is distinct from the experiences of African and Afrodescendant communities, it speaks to a universal truth: when any group is stripped of dignity and belonging, humanity itself is diminished.
Remembrance is not only about the past, it is about responsibility in the present. It challenges us to recognize how prejudice, discrimination, and exclusion continue to manifest in subtle and systemic ways.
In wellness spaces, this responsibility takes on a particular meaning. Who feels welcome in these spaces? Whose bodies are understood, respected, and represented? Whose stories are heard?
True wellness cannot exist without justice and empathy. To honour the memory of the Holocaust is to commit to creating environments where difference is not feared, but embraced.
Standing Against Islamophobia: Community, Safety, and Solidarity
On January 29, Canada observes the National Day of Remembrance of the Quebec City Mosque Attack and Action Against Islamophobia. This day honours the lives lost in the 2017 attack and calls attention to the ongoing realities of anti-Muslim hatred.
This observance reminds us that violence and discrimination are not distant phenomena, they occur within our communities, our cities, and our institutions. It challenges us to move beyond passive acknowledgement toward active solidarity.
In the context of wellness and beauty, Islamophobia, like other forms of racism and discrimination, shapes who feels safe accessing services, who feels represented in marketing, and who feels comfortable expressing identity.
Creating inclusive spaces means more than offering services - it means cultivating trust, cultural understanding, and respect.
At Cher-Mère, we recognize that belonging is not accidental. It must be intentionally designed into the way we teach, serve, and connect with our community.
Wellness as Collective Care
Across these three observances, a shared message emerges: wellness is not only individual - it is collective.
For African and Afrodescendant communities, wellness has often been a form of resilience in the face of systemic inequities. For Jewish communities, remembrance is intertwined with survival and identity. For Muslim communities, safety and belonging remain ongoing struggles in the face of Islamophobia.
These experiences are different, yet interconnected by the universal need for dignity, recognition, and care.
In many cultures, healing is communal. It happens in shared spaces - homes, salons, places of worship, community centres. It is sustained through relationships, rituals, and storytelling.
As a spa, we are part of this ecosystem of care. Every treatment, every conversation, every moment of rest carries the potential to affirm or exclude, to heal or overlook.
We choose affirmation.
Belonging as the Foundation of Beauty
Belonging is more than a feeling, it is a condition created by systems, spaces, and relationships. When people feel they belong, they are more likely to thrive, to express themselves, and to engage in self-care.
Yet belonging has not always been equally accessible. Historical injustices, from slavery and colonialism to genocide and hate crimes, have shaped whose identities are valued and whose are marginalized.
Honouring cultural observances is one way to challenge these patterns. It signals that history matters, that diversity is not peripheral, and that inclusion is an ongoing practice.
In the beauty and wellness industry, belonging means:
- understanding diverse skin tones and hair textures,
- recognizing cultural practices and sensitivities,
- ensuring representation in education and leadership,
- and creating environments where difference is welcomed.
At Cher-Mère, we see belonging as the foundation of beauty. Without it, wellness becomes superficial. With it, care becomes transformative.
Education, Reflection, and Action
Commemorative dates are opportunities for learning, but they are not endpoints. They invite reflection that must translate into action.
For us, this means continually examining how our practices align with our values. It means asking difficult questions about access, representation, and equity. It means listening to voices that have historically been marginalized.
Education is central to this process. Whether in classrooms, treatment rooms, or community initiatives, education empowers individuals and institutions to evolve.
By integrating cultural awareness into beauty and wellness, we contribute to a more inclusive industry, one that honours both science and culture, individuality and community.
A Shared Vision of Care
January’s observances remind us that culture, memory, and justice are inseparable from wellness. They challenge us to expand our understanding of beauty beyond aesthetics and to recognize the ethical dimensions of care.
At Cher-Mère, we honour African and Afrodescendant cultures not only through ingredients and rituals of our products, but through storytelling and community engagement. We remember the Holocaust not only as history, but as a call to empathy and vigilance. We stand against Islamophobia not only in words, but in our commitment to inclusive spaces.
These commitments are not symbolic, they are practical, lived, and ongoing.
Moving Forward with Intention
As we move through the year, we carry the lessons of these dates with us. We recognize that beauty is shaped by history, that wellness is shaped by justice, and that belonging is shaped by intentional design.
In a world marked by both diversity and division, the act of caring, truly caring for one another becomes revolutionary.
Every ritual of self-care can be a reminder of shared humanity. Every inclusive space can be a counterpoint to exclusion. Every act of remembrance can be a step toward healing.
At Cher-Mère, we believe that wellness is most powerful when it is rooted in awareness, compassion, and connection.
Because to honour culture is to honour people.
To remember history is to protect the future.
And to create belonging is to redefine beauty itself.