If you don’t celebrate Christmas...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We go through this every year on DCUM.

I’ll say my piece again. We are Jewish. I would be very disappointed if my kids spoiled the “fantasy” for other kids. Just as I would be disappointed if they outed the tooth fairy. And, just as I would be disappointed if we celebrated Christmas and my in-the-know kid outed Santa.

Can we please not turn this into a believer/non-believer issue? Like we don’t have enough religious segregation already?

I don’t out Santa to my own Jewish kids either, so don’t blame my Jewish ass if your kid learns the truth at school. We used to take our kids to see Santa and say that Santa doesn’t come to our house but he lets us know what they want for Hanukkah. Kind of like a reciprocity deal.

No need to bash others’ beliefs or non-biblical traditions. Teach your kids to be respectful of and sensitive to others, regardless of the issue at hand.

Santa has nothing to do with Hanukkah. Bizarre.

Oy. That sleigh just flew right over your head.

Santa has no business in a Jewish home.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A funny story to break up the fighting: my friend was one of only two Jews in her elementary school class. While all the other kids talked about Santa, the other jewish kid went on nonstop about Hanukkah Harry the Bear. My friend said there is no such thing and got sent home. What in the hell is the Hanukkah bear??? This kids parents completely made it up and she was punished for rightfully calling it out as ridiculous!

That is funny.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A funny story to break up the fighting: my friend was one of only two Jews in her elementary school class. While all the other kids talked about Santa, the other jewish kid went on nonstop about Hanukkah Harry the Bear. My friend said there is no such thing and got sent home. What in the hell is the Hanukkah bear??? This kids parents completely made it up and she was punished for rightfully calling it out as ridiculous!

So I’m half Jewish and we do Christmas with my dad’s side of the family but he usually gives my mom a gift there that is signed from Hanukkah Harry. It’s from an old SNL!!

[Anonymous]

Maybe my approach is harsh but I just told my child Santa doesn’t visit Jewish kids. It is what it is. But if you are good mom and dad will give you gifts. And that was the end of the conversation? She seemed to accept that explanation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A recent article on exactly this topic: https://www.kveller.com/our-jewish-kids-shouldnt-have-to-lie-about-santa/?fbclid=IwAR3qw8Oc7OsQnrPwO8xGjHZqdqDsD-AXCNjRVdaNnaMnW3ZjSpcwAskfGgM

I totally agree that it is not on is to keep the "magic alive" for other people's kids. People from the dominant religion have no idea how difficult this time of year can be for the rest of us and our kids don't need that burden.

Why would this time of year be difficult? Hannakah is a very exciting time for Jewish kids.

Are you joking with this question? This time of year is so hard for Jewish kids. Hanukkah is a minor holiday in the Jewish calendar and not something that is equivalent to Christmas. Honestly though, the issue has nothing to do with the status of Hanukkah and is all about the fact that everything becomes about Christmas for the whole month of December. Every library story time is a Christmas story, every craft workshop is a Christmas craft. Santa visits every activity, etc.activity

[Anonymous]

I'm Jewish, but I grew up celebrating xmas with my dad's side of the family, who is half Jewish/half Roman-Catholic. While we don't celebrate xmas in our house, but I love xmas and the xmas season. We watch all the xmas specials and listen to xmas music in the car (okay, I'll admit, sometimes even to services on Friday night..lol). My kids know that Santa doesn't bring them presents, however we make cookies for Santa and leave them out for him on xmas eve, so he he can stop by and eat them on his way to deliver presents to kids who do celebrate. My kids love this tradition. The 5 year old is a believer. The 10 year old knows what's up. I've always told them that even though we don't celebrate xmas, we can still believe in Santa.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here’s a thought OP- how about telling your kid to stop talking about Santa at school?

Tell them not to say things like:
-I’m asking Santa for x,y,z. What are you asking for?
-Have you been a good boy/girl this year? Is Santa getting you anything?
-I’m making cookies for Santa, are you?
Or after Christmas-
-Santa got me a,b,c,d,e....what did he bring you?

If they keep their mouth shut about your little fairy tale, then they’re less likely to be called out about it.

ALLL of this. When I was a kid, I told everyone santa wasn't real because they wouldn't leave me alone with the questions and implied I must have done something really bad. Teach your kids that not everyone celebrates Christmas and/or Santa.

+1. Or how about telling your kids that just because Santa doesn't bring you more stuff that you are not a bad kid---and some families don't have the money to buy tons of gifts, and that doesn't mean they are "naughty".

[Anonymous]

my daugher knows there is no santa. Never believed in it--I've always told her that he's not real, but it's a game and sometimes it's fun to play the game just like it's fun to dress in a costume for halloween. done.