Talking about Santa

[Anonymous]

It’s interesting that Jewish posters are arguing back and forth on this thread about whether it’s ok for Jewish families to invite Santa into their homes. Why does anyone care what anybody else does?

[Anonymous]

1) Jews are dying out and thus have feelings about assimilation by co-religionists;
2) Exhausting to explain to children while co-religionist neighbor A has a Christmas tree and materialistic gift orgy whilst you are curating Hanukkah iTunes playlist and fried food fest;
3) Jews like to argue;
4) Nothing good on TV;
5) Midterms are over;
6) Too early to make sufganiot;
7) Shanda fur die goyim.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s interesting that Jewish posters are arguing back and forth on this thread about whether it’s ok for Jewish families to invite Santa into their homes. Why does anyone care what anybody else does?

It’s not anyone’s business how families enjoy their time together and celebrate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We're Jewish and Santa comes to our house every year. Santa is not really a Christian figure, just one appropriated by Christianity a long time ago, so we don't see any relationship between Santa and other religions. I taught my child from an early age not to taunt other kids and to remember that not everyone celebrates holidays so it's best not to talk a lot about it at school.

It concerns me that OP thinks Santa is only for Christians, and makes sense that her kid might taunt other kids.

If your family enjoys the Santa tradition, I’m glad he visits you. Nobody else gets to dictate your household celebrations. However, your view on Santa is not widely shared. Santa is definitely associated with Christmas, and Christmas with Christianity.

I disagree. The majority of educated folks know that Santa has nothing to do with Christianity and don't feel any obligation to be Christian while celebrating a secular Christmas. Only Christians constantly whine about how everyone needs to put Jesus back into Christmas and how materialistic and secular it all is today, without realizing the irony of all of that being much older than Christianity itself.

I mean, he's been pretty secularized, but it's just wrong to say he has "nothing" to do with Christianity. Christmas is a Christian holiday, celebrating the birth of Christ. Santa is based on a Christian saint. Even if he's been turned into a secular cartoon, his origins are pretty clearly based in Christianity, and not everyone agrees that there are no religious aspects to either Santa or Christmas. Not all Jews celebrate Christmas or "do" Santa, for example.

I'm guessing if non Jews started celebrating Hanukkah because 8 days of gifts is better than one some Jewish people would find that offensive. Choosing to celebrate one of the holiest days for a different faith because it's "secularized" even though the name of it has the name of their Savior IN the name of the holiday is a bit of appropriation. I'm an atheist but I can see why some Christians would not be happy with folks and yes I celebrate. I was raised a Christian and it is part of my family culture. Don't care what anyone else does but the inability of people to consider the other side of anything is disheartening.

You have it the wrong way around. Christmas traditions like trees, gifts, lights, and a guy on a flying sleigh who gives gifts to good children are all traditions that pre-date Christianity. Many are part of the celebrations of pre-Christian religions. They were deliberately and consciously appropriated by the Christian church, with a kind of "if you can't beat 'em, make them join you" mentality, as a way to combat what it saw as pagan tradition in a population it was actively trying to convert. By not recognizing that appropriation, we simply take back what was always ours.

Who was the guy flying on a sleigh giving out gifts, before Santa?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s interesting that Jewish posters are arguing back and forth on this thread about whether it’s ok for Jewish families to invite Santa into their homes. Why does anyone care what anybody else does?

It’s not anyone’s business how families enjoy their time together and celebrate.

This, in it of itself, is a very Christian concept. Judaism teaches all Jews are bound up with and responsible for, other Jews.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s interesting that Jewish posters are arguing back and forth on this thread about whether it’s ok for Jewish families to invite Santa into their homes. Why does anyone care what anybody else does?

It’s not anyone’s business how families enjoy their time together and celebrate.

This, in it of itself, is a very Christian concept. Judaism teaches all Jews are bound up with and responsible for, other Jews.

Ok, but are Jewish people responsible for Christian families?

If Jewish people are responsible for other Jewish people, ok. But Christian people or people who celebrate Christmas as a non-religious celebration are not under the scope of Jewish responsibility.


If you want to create a thread explaining and exploring Jewish traditions and culture and the topic of Christmas, go
for it.

Santa and Christmas are fabulous. I respect your cultural heritage and tradition; please respect mine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We're Jewish and Santa comes to our house every year. Santa is not really a Christian figure, just one appropriated by Christianity a long time ago, so we don't see any relationship between Santa and other religions. I taught my child from an early age not to taunt other kids and to remember that not everyone celebrates holidays so it's best not to talk a lot about it at school.

It concerns me that OP thinks Santa is only for Christians, and makes sense that her kid might taunt other kids.

If your family enjoys the Santa tradition, I’m glad he visits you. Nobody else gets to dictate your household celebrations. However, your view on Santa is not widely shared. Santa is definitely associated with Christmas, and Christmas with Christianity.

I disagree. The majority of educated folks know that Santa has nothing to do with Christianity and don't feel any obligation to be Christian while celebrating a secular Christmas. Only Christians constantly whine about how everyone needs to put Jesus back into Christmas and how materialistic and secular it all is today, without realizing the irony of all of that being much older than Christianity itself.

I mean, he's been pretty secularized, but it's just wrong to say he has "nothing" to do with Christianity. Christmas is a Christian holiday, celebrating the birth of Christ. Santa is based on a Christian saint. Even if he's been turned into a secular cartoon, his origins are pretty clearly based in Christianity, and not everyone agrees that there are no religious aspects to either Santa or Christmas. Not all Jews celebrate Christmas or "do" Santa, for example.

I'm guessing if non Jews started celebrating Hanukkah because 8 days of gifts is better than one some Jewish people would find that offensive. Choosing to celebrate one of the holiest days for a different faith because it's "secularized" even though the name of it has the name of their Savior IN the name of the holiday is a bit of appropriation. I'm an atheist but I can see why some Christians would not be happy with folks and yes I celebrate. I was raised a Christian and it is part of my family culture. Don't care what anyone else does but the inability of people to consider the other side of anything is disheartening.

You have it the wrong way around. Christmas traditions like trees, gifts, lights, and a guy on a flying sleigh who gives gifts to good children are all traditions that pre-date Christianity. Many are part of the celebrations of pre-Christian religions. They were deliberately and consciously appropriated by the Christian church, with a kind of "if you can't beat 'em, make them join you" mentality, as a way to combat what it saw as pagan tradition in a population it was actively trying to convert. By not recognizing that appropriation, we simply take back what was always ours.

Who was the guy flying on a sleigh giving out gifts, before Santa?

Good point. No One. that story started with the poem "A night before Xmas"

Before that, supposedly a good Slavic king, named Nicholas, gave out gifts at Xmas and he became "Saint Nick"

The original gift giving idea supposedly came from the 3 wise men in the Bible, who came from afar, guided by a star, to bring gifts to the baby Jesus

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We're Jewish and Santa comes to our house every year. Santa is not really a Christian figure, just one appropriated by Christianity a long time ago, so we don't see any relationship between Santa and other religions. I taught my child from an early age not to taunt other kids and to remember that not everyone celebrates holidays so it's best not to talk a lot about it at school.

It concerns me that OP thinks Santa is only for Christians, and makes sense that her kid might taunt other kids.

If your family enjoys the Santa tradition, I’m glad he visits you. Nobody else gets to dictate your household celebrations. However, your view on Santa is not widely shared. Santa is definitely associated with Christmas, and Christmas with Christianity.

I disagree. The majority of educated folks know that Santa has nothing to do with Christianity and don't feel any obligation to be Christian while celebrating a secular Christmas. Only Christians constantly whine about how everyone needs to put Jesus back into Christmas and how materialistic and secular it all is today, without realizing the irony of all of that being much older than Christianity itself.

I mean, he's been pretty secularized, but it's just wrong to say he has "nothing" to do with Christianity. Christmas is a Christian holiday, celebrating the birth of Christ. Santa is based on a Christian saint. Even if he's been turned into a secular cartoon, his origins are pretty clearly based in Christianity, and not everyone agrees that there are no religious aspects to either Santa or Christmas. Not all Jews celebrate Christmas or "do" Santa, for example.

I'm guessing if non Jews started celebrating Hanukkah because 8 days of gifts is better than one some Jewish people would find that offensive. Choosing to celebrate one of the holiest days for a different faith because it's "secularized" even though the name of it has the name of their Savior IN the name of the holiday is a bit of appropriation. I'm an atheist but I can see why some Christians would not be happy with folks and yes I celebrate. I was raised a Christian and it is part of my family culture. Don't care what anyone else does but the inability of people to consider the other side of anything is disheartening.

You have it the wrong way around. Christmas traditions like trees, gifts, lights, and a guy on a flying sleigh who gives gifts to good children are all traditions that pre-date Christianity. Many are part of the celebrations of pre-Christian religions. They were deliberately and consciously appropriated by the Christian church, with a kind of "if you can't beat 'em, make them join you" mentality, as a way to combat what it saw as pagan tradition in a population it was actively trying to convert. By not recognizing that appropriation, we simply take back what was always ours.

Well, that’s pretty ahistorical, but if we went with your flawed logic….when were pagan traditions Jewish or celebrated by the population which became Jewish? We’re Santa and the Easter Bunny hanging out in the Land of Canaan? FFS.

Ha, this. Pagan or whatever the origins may be, they indisputably aren’t Jewish, so to proclaim Jews should celebrate the non-religious aspects of Christmas misses the mark.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s interesting that Jewish posters are arguing back and forth on this thread about whether it’s ok for Jewish families to invite Santa into their homes. Why does anyone care what anybody else does?

It’s not anyone’s business how families enjoy their time together and celebrate.

This, in it of itself, is a very Christian concept. Judaism teaches all Jews are bound up with and responsible for, other Jews.

Ok, but are Jewish people responsible for Christian families?

If Jewish people are responsible for other Jewish people, ok. But Christian people or people who celebrate Christmas as a non-religious celebration are not under the scope of Jewish responsibility.


If you want to create a thread explaining and exploring Jewish traditions and culture and the topic of Christmas, go
for it.

Santa and Christmas are fabulous. I respect your cultural heritage and tradition; please respect mine.

Definitely no Jews here are trying to tell Christians what to do about Santa. I think this PP was answering the question of why Jews are commenting on other Jews who tell their kids that Santa is visiting their homes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:1) Jews are dying out and thus have feelings about assimilation by co-religionists;
2) Exhausting to explain to children while co-religionist neighbor A has a Christmas tree and materialistic gift orgy whilst you are curating Hanukkah iTunes playlist and fried food fest;
3) Jews like to argue;
4) Nothing good on TV;
5) Midterms are over;
6) Too early to make sufganiot;
7) Shanda fur die goyim.

"Do I want the live version of the Adam Sandler song AND also the studio recording?"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:1) Jews are dying out and thus have feelings about assimilation by co-religionists;
2) Exhausting to explain to children while co-religionist neighbor A has a Christmas tree and materialistic gift orgy whilst you are curating Hanukkah iTunes playlist and fried food fest;
3) Jews like to argue;
4) Nothing good on TV;
5) Midterms are over;
6) Too early to make sufganiot;
7) Shanda fur die goyim.

"Do I want the live version of the Adam Sandler song AND also the studio recording?"

Our playlist has like 40 songs, mostly in Hebrew, some in Ladino, a few in English. No Adam Sandler, tho.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We're Jewish and Santa comes to our house every year. Santa is not really a Christian figure, just one appropriated by Christianity a long time ago, so we don't see any relationship between Santa and other religions. I taught my child from an early age not to taunt other kids and to remember that not everyone celebrates holidays so it's best not to talk a lot about it at school.

It concerns me that OP thinks Santa is only for Christians, and makes sense that her kid might taunt other kids.

If your family enjoys the Santa tradition, I’m glad he visits you. Nobody else gets to dictate your household celebrations. However, your view on Santa is not widely shared. Santa is definitely associated with Christmas, and Christmas with Christianity.

I disagree. The majority of educated folks know that Santa has nothing to do with Christianity and don't feel any obligation to be Christian while celebrating a secular Christmas. Only Christians constantly whine about how everyone needs to put Jesus back into Christmas and how materialistic and secular it all is today, without realizing the irony of all of that being much older than Christianity itself.

I mean, he's been pretty secularized, but it's just wrong to say he has "nothing" to do with Christianity. Christmas is a Christian holiday, celebrating the birth of Christ. Santa is based on a Christian saint. Even if he's been turned into a secular cartoon, his origins are pretty clearly based in Christianity, and not everyone agrees that there are no religious aspects to either Santa or Christmas. Not all Jews celebrate Christmas or "do" Santa, for example.

I'm guessing if non Jews started celebrating Hanukkah because 8 days of gifts is better than one some Jewish people would find that offensive. Choosing to celebrate one of the holiest days for a different faith because it's "secularized" even though the name of it has the name of their Savior IN the name of the holiday is a bit of appropriation. I'm an atheist but I can see why some Christians would not be happy with folks and yes I celebrate. I was raised a Christian and it is part of my family culture. Don't care what anyone else does but the inability of people to consider the other side of anything is disheartening.

You have it the wrong way around. Christmas traditions like trees, gifts, lights, and a guy on a flying sleigh who gives gifts to good children are all traditions that pre-date Christianity. Many are part of the celebrations of pre-Christian religions. They were deliberately and consciously appropriated by the Christian church, with a kind of "if you can't beat 'em, make them join you" mentality, as a way to combat what it saw as pagan tradition in a population it was actively trying to convert. By not recognizing that appropriation, we simply take back what was always ours.

Who was the guy flying on a sleigh giving out gifts, before Santa?

Good point. No One. that story started with the poem "A night before Xmas"

Before that, supposedly a good Slavic king, named Nicholas, gave out gifts at Xmas and he became "Saint Nick"

The original gift giving idea supposedly came from the 3 wise men in the Bible, who came from afar, guided by a star, to bring gifts to the baby Jesus

Someone keeps saying a pagan flew around the world in his sleigh and left presents under trees for them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:1) Jews are dying out and thus have feelings about assimilation by co-religionists;
2) Exhausting to explain to children while co-religionist neighbor A has a Christmas tree and materialistic gift orgy whilst you are curating Hanukkah iTunes playlist and fried food fest;
3) Jews like to argue;
4) Nothing good on TV;
5) Midterms are over;
6) Too early to make sufganiot;
7) Shanda fur die goyim.

"Do I want the live version of the Adam Sandler song AND also the studio recording?"

Our playlist has like 40 songs, mostly in Hebrew, some in Ladino, a few in English. No Adam Sandler, tho.

I was the PP who posted that, mostly as a joke; the Apple Music-curated Chanukah playlist has Adam Sandler. My own usual Chanukah playlist tends to have more Frank London, New Orleans Klezmer All-Stars, and Israeli jazz groups than it does Adam Sandler, but obviously everyone loves "Ocho Kandelikas," too...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s interesting that Jewish posters are arguing back and forth on this thread about whether it’s ok for Jewish families to invite Santa into their homes. Why does anyone care what anybody else does?

It’s not anyone’s business how families enjoy their time together and celebrate.

This, in it of itself, is a very Christian concept. Judaism teaches all Jews are bound up with and responsible for, other Jews.

Ok, but are Jewish people responsible for Christian families?

If Jewish people are responsible for other Jewish people, ok. But Christian people or people who celebrate Christmas as a non-religious celebration are not under the scope of Jewish responsibility.


If you want to create a thread explaining and exploring Jewish traditions and culture and the topic of Christmas, go
for it.

Santa and Christmas are fabulous. I respect your cultural heritage and tradition; please respect mine.

Christians don't "own" Santa. He's not holy and anyone can use him however they want.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s interesting that Jewish posters are arguing back and forth on this thread about whether it’s ok for Jewish families to invite Santa into their homes. Why does anyone care what anybody else does?

It’s not anyone’s business how families enjoy their time together and celebrate.

This, in it of itself, is a very Christian concept. Judaism teaches all Jews are bound up with and responsible for, other Jews.

Christianity teaches that too. But since I can't fit all of the DMV in my house, we celebrate with just the family.