Sending you warm holiday greetings and wishes for a season filled with quiet moments of joy and the comfort of cherished traditions. Whether you're celebrating surrounded by family or finding your own meaningful ways to mark these days, I hope you'll take a moment to wrap yourself in the simple magic that makes this time of year special.
Another great story! I loved seeing you in your Rick rack trimmed dress. Brings back memories for me too! Enjoy your time with family. Hope to get together in the new year!♥️🎄♥️🎄
Jews have many traditions. But there is one that has remained unchanged over all the thousands of years we have been a people.
Jews celebrate Christmas with a blockbuster movie that opens that day, followed by Chinese food. It doesn't matter what the movie is. It's the exuberance of long lines and noisy enthusiastic celebrants. Ideally, the Chinese food is east coast with duck sauce and spare ribs. But, if necessary, we can compromise with Chinese food from outside the Metro area.
Jews don't have either Santa Claus or a Christmas tree, although when my children were small, we had what I renamed a Chanukah bush, mostly to salve my parent's concern that I was raising heathens. We are, however, required, at least when our children are small, to have eight presents, one for each night of Chanukah, which challenges even the best gift-givers among the tribe.
Jews can sleep late on Christmas morning because no one is coming down the chimney, and there are no presents to open—we already dispensed with that during Chanukah. Christmas required nothing but a mediocre movie and variable Chinese food, and I was always happy to oblige.
That was before Kwanza, a celebration of the heritage and values of Black Americans created in l966 when my daughters were six and eight. There was a time I only had to rename my tree a bush, buy eight cheap presents, and presto, I had covered the two main holidays. But now there was a third. Then I learned about Solstice. I wanted my children to be citizens of the world and have a working knowledge of all the religions. However, incorporating Solstice was complicated since I was unable to make the requisite bonfire for us to dance around in my third-floor apartment. Instead, I offered my children what I identified as special Solstice mulled cider with their Cheerios.
Then, I began our yearly conversation by inviting their thoughts on the seven principles of unity of Kwanza, the birth of baby Jesus, and the Hebrew's struggles against the Maccabees. This turned Christmas morning into a time when my restless, impatient daughters were required to sit through my teachings about the varied ways people created opportunities to bless, pray, honor, and receive presents.
At the completion of my religious/spiritual/educational/ culturally incorporative presentation, my two young daughters and I got up, went to the movies, ate Chinese food, and said Merry Christmas to everyone we saw. It was perfect.
I love all of this Sandra!! When I spent Christmas with Sybil in Palm Springs one year, we ate Chinese then went golfing. And when my daughter was growing up, we used to go to the movies on Christmas Day.
Here's a short story I told at Senior Pride's HOliday gathering this year. How Jews Celebrate Christmas./Users/sandrabutler/Desktop/Jews Celebrating Christmas.docx
This year, I am marking the season with my menorah and a Christmas cactus, allowing me eight opportunities to offer gratitude for my ancestors, teachers, and beloveds, as well as strengthen myself (a girl Macabee) for the days ahead in this new America.
Yes, the holiday season is especially poignant this year, for many reasons. I usually like to celebrate the New Year, as it’s a fresh start of sorts, and also my birthday. But this year the new year seems to be looming, instead of welcoming. I think you’re onto something with the idea of having a project to focus on.
I loved the card you Mom made with your photo in the dress she made with rickrack trim. How adorable! And your granddaughter's photo is so sweet. I'm sorry to hear your father-in-law is in hospice. Hard to hold both joy and sorrow at the same time, at this time. Peace in the new year.
Another great story! I loved seeing you in your Rick rack trimmed dress. Brings back memories for me too! Enjoy your time with family. Hope to get together in the new year!♥️🎄♥️🎄
I was surprised to find the Christmas card from my parents because I didn’t know they had created one. Merry Christmas Lynn and let’s plan on it!
The story didn't come through. Here it is.
Jews Celebrating Christmas
Jews have many traditions. But there is one that has remained unchanged over all the thousands of years we have been a people.
Jews celebrate Christmas with a blockbuster movie that opens that day, followed by Chinese food. It doesn't matter what the movie is. It's the exuberance of long lines and noisy enthusiastic celebrants. Ideally, the Chinese food is east coast with duck sauce and spare ribs. But, if necessary, we can compromise with Chinese food from outside the Metro area.
Jews don't have either Santa Claus or a Christmas tree, although when my children were small, we had what I renamed a Chanukah bush, mostly to salve my parent's concern that I was raising heathens. We are, however, required, at least when our children are small, to have eight presents, one for each night of Chanukah, which challenges even the best gift-givers among the tribe.
Jews can sleep late on Christmas morning because no one is coming down the chimney, and there are no presents to open—we already dispensed with that during Chanukah. Christmas required nothing but a mediocre movie and variable Chinese food, and I was always happy to oblige.
That was before Kwanza, a celebration of the heritage and values of Black Americans created in l966 when my daughters were six and eight. There was a time I only had to rename my tree a bush, buy eight cheap presents, and presto, I had covered the two main holidays. But now there was a third. Then I learned about Solstice. I wanted my children to be citizens of the world and have a working knowledge of all the religions. However, incorporating Solstice was complicated since I was unable to make the requisite bonfire for us to dance around in my third-floor apartment. Instead, I offered my children what I identified as special Solstice mulled cider with their Cheerios.
Then, I began our yearly conversation by inviting their thoughts on the seven principles of unity of Kwanza, the birth of baby Jesus, and the Hebrew's struggles against the Maccabees. This turned Christmas morning into a time when my restless, impatient daughters were required to sit through my teachings about the varied ways people created opportunities to bless, pray, honor, and receive presents.
At the completion of my religious/spiritual/educational/ culturally incorporative presentation, my two young daughters and I got up, went to the movies, ate Chinese food, and said Merry Christmas to everyone we saw. It was perfect.
I love all of this Sandra!! When I spent Christmas with Sybil in Palm Springs one year, we ate Chinese then went golfing. And when my daughter was growing up, we used to go to the movies on Christmas Day.
Here's a short story I told at Senior Pride's HOliday gathering this year. How Jews Celebrate Christmas./Users/sandrabutler/Desktop/Jews Celebrating Christmas.docx
This year, I am marking the season with my menorah and a Christmas cactus, allowing me eight opportunities to offer gratitude for my ancestors, teachers, and beloveds, as well as strengthen myself (a girl Macabee) for the days ahead in this new America.
Yes, the holiday season is especially poignant this year, for many reasons. I usually like to celebrate the New Year, as it’s a fresh start of sorts, and also my birthday. But this year the new year seems to be looming, instead of welcoming. I think you’re onto something with the idea of having a project to focus on.
I agree about the new year Judy, so we’ll just focus on our birthdays and projects!
I loved the card you Mom made with your photo in the dress she made with rickrack trim. How adorable! And your granddaughter's photo is so sweet. I'm sorry to hear your father-in-law is in hospice. Hard to hold both joy and sorrow at the same time, at this time. Peace in the new year.
Thank you Jill, and you’re right, holding joy and sorrow is hard. Peace to you as well.