By Kathryn Kates
When I was a little girl, I knew that Christmas wasn’t coming to our house. We celebrated Chanukah. However, I truly believed and still do, if you are good girl or boy, no matter what your religious beliefs, you too, could sit on Santa’s lap at the mall and invite him to drop by for milk and cookies on Christmas Eve, in hopes of having your stocking filled.
My parents encouraged us to celebrate our holiday by lighting candles and spinning a small wooden or plastic top called a dreidel. But to their credit, while establishing our faith’s boundaries in a positive way and conscious of the fact that we live in a secular society, my sister and I grew up never feeling alien to the Christian holiday that surrounded us. They allowed us to meet Santa Claus at our local shopping center. And although we weren’t supplied with a fancy red stocking, we did hang my fathers’ old socks above the fireplace and on Christmas morn found it full of oranges, candy and a small toy.
My family always made me feel secure and happy with the traditions I was born to follow. So it was never a problem for them or me to celebrate holidays of other faiths and in turn, my non-Jewish friends were welcomed to learn and participate in my religion’s festivities.
In many cases, children nowadays are allowed only to celebrate holidays during school hours in a generic fashion. How unfortunate and sad, to think that any character and color a religious holiday brings would be obliterated in hopes of not offending. Wouldn’t it be more beneficial for kids to be introduced to all the different songs, celebrations and foods that their fellow classmates and their families practice at this time of year?
My friends tell me, you don’t have to be a non-Christian to feel overwhelmed by all commercialism of Christmas. However, I would think a parent would be delighted if their children, no matter what the faith, had an opportunity to share their special family holidays with others at school. I don’t know any child to date that was corrupted by a Christmas carol or Chanukah song. It is certainly better than some of the other music kids are exposed to throughout the year.
It is so important to not lose sight of the true reasons we celebrate at this time of year. I don’t doubt Christians know Christmas is about the birth of Jesus, Jews know that Chanukah is about warrior Judah Maccabee and his sons saving the Ancient Temple and followers of other religions are well-versed in the roots of their faith’s celebrations. With that in mind, I still think we can enjoy the jolly old man in red with our Christian friends without feeling guilt. From all the many multicultural smiling faces I’ve recently seen pose for photos with Santa, I suppose many parents agree that Santa should be considered, as a seasonal celebrity who rewards us all for being good!
My parents encouraged us to celebrate our holiday by lighting candles and spinning a small wooden or plastic top called a dreidel. But to their credit, while establishing our faith’s boundaries in a positive way and conscious of the fact that we live in a secular society, my sister and I grew up never feeling alien to the Christian holiday that surrounded us. They allowed us to meet Santa Claus at our local shopping center. And although we weren’t supplied with a fancy red stocking, we did hang my fathers’ old socks above the fireplace and on Christmas morn found it full of oranges, candy and a small toy.
My family always made me feel secure and happy with the traditions I was born to follow. So it was never a problem for them or me to celebrate holidays of other faiths and in turn, my non-Jewish friends were welcomed to learn and participate in my religion’s festivities.
In many cases, children nowadays are allowed only to celebrate holidays during school hours in a generic fashion. How unfortunate and sad, to think that any character and color a religious holiday brings would be obliterated in hopes of not offending. Wouldn’t it be more beneficial for kids to be introduced to all the different songs, celebrations and foods that their fellow classmates and their families practice at this time of year?
My friends tell me, you don’t have to be a non-Christian to feel overwhelmed by all commercialism of Christmas. However, I would think a parent would be delighted if their children, no matter what the faith, had an opportunity to share their special family holidays with others at school. I don’t know any child to date that was corrupted by a Christmas carol or Chanukah song. It is certainly better than some of the other music kids are exposed to throughout the year.
It is so important to not lose sight of the true reasons we celebrate at this time of year. I don’t doubt Christians know Christmas is about the birth of Jesus, Jews know that Chanukah is about warrior Judah Maccabee and his sons saving the Ancient Temple and followers of other religions are well-versed in the roots of their faith’s celebrations. With that in mind, I still think we can enjoy the jolly old man in red with our Christian friends without feeling guilt. From all the many multicultural smiling faces I’ve recently seen pose for photos with Santa, I suppose many parents agree that Santa should be considered, as a seasonal celebrity who rewards us all for being good!
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