Jews with Christmas/Holiday trees

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Yep, but your logic is muddy and your “facts” ahistorical.

You can say it but the evidence is overwhelming otherwise. You know this or you would have shown it. You lose.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can we shift back to the question of how to make your family's celebration of the many Jewish holidays so fun and awesome that you aren't even tempted to decorate a Christmas tree? When I hear that friends' kids are jealous of Xmas stuff, I want to say "that's because you aren't celebrating enough Jewish holidays." Of course if all you do is go to temple for the high holidays and light candles for Hanukkah, you and your kids will think Xmas and seems more fun. but if you really embrace Judaism, I doubt you or your kids will even think twice about Christmas. My kids feel bad for their Christian friends because Jews have so many fun holidays - and their friends just have Christmas.

My son loves Purim, it's easy to make fun (but we do celebrate Christmas and all other holidays. I'm the atheist, husband is Jewish)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can we shift back to the question of how to make your family's celebration of the many Jewish holidays so fun and awesome that you aren't even tempted to decorate a Christmas tree? When I hear that friends' kids are jealous of Xmas stuff, I want to say "that's because you aren't celebrating enough Jewish holidays." Of course if all you do is go to temple for the high holidays and light candles for Hanukkah, you and your kids will think Xmas and seems more fun. but if you really embrace Judaism, I doubt you or your kids will even think twice about Christmas. My kids feel bad for their Christian friends because Jews have so many fun holidays - and their friends just have Christmas.

My son loves Purim, it's easy to make fun (but we do celebrate Christmas and all other holidays. I'm the atheist, husband is Jewish)

IME, this works really well if you have a robust Jewish community in your school or neighborhood, or if your kids are very young. Once they are school age,you really can’t compete with the general cultural celebration, no matter how much fun Purim is (and it really is...)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are there a lot of us?

DD really wants a Christmas tree. She is only three and I don’t see any point in denying her this big cut tree for a couple of weeks. My MIL is going to blow a gasket.

Plus I have never had one and kind of want one too!

I wish we didn't have one. My husband is Catholic, so we do and only here anonymously am I anything less than enthusiastic.

You can do plenty of other things to make the holiday season special without bringing other people's traditions into your house. She won't be ruined by this lack of a tree. She's three.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Yep, but your logic is muddy and your “facts” ahistorical.

You can say it but the evidence is overwhelming otherwise. You know this or you would have shown it. You lose.

This thread and your comments would not exist if a Christmas tree was not universally associated with a particular religion. Debate the history all you wish but the fact that is indisputable is a tree in your house decorated in December is considered a Christmas tree.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Yep, but your logic is muddy and your “facts” ahistorical.

You can say it but the evidence is overwhelming otherwise. You know this or you would have shown it. You lose.

This thread and your comments would not exist if a Christmas tree was not universally associated with a particular religion. Debate the history all you wish but the fact that is indisputable is a tree in your house decorated in December is considered a Christmas tree.

So what
Live and let live

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Yep, but your logic is muddy and your “facts” ahistorical.

You can say it but the evidence is overwhelming otherwise. You know this or you would have shown it. You lose.

This thread and your comments would not exist if a Christmas tree was not universally associated with a particular religion. Debate the history all you wish but the fact that is indisputable is a tree in your house decorated in December is considered a Christmas tree.

So what
Live and let live

Just because your intent isn't disrespectful doesn't mean that other people don't feel that way. I don't think that most people are saying you shouldn't but you should at least acknowledge that some might find it disrespectful. They are as entitled to their feelings about what you do as you might be were someone to do something you found disrespectful like putting up a mezuzah by their door because they thought it was pretty or wearing dreadlocks because they like the look. They are free to do it and people are free to be offended.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can we shift back to the question of how to make your family's celebration of the many Jewish holidays so fun and awesome that you aren't even tempted to decorate a Christmas tree? When I hear that friends' kids are jealous of Xmas stuff, I want to say "that's because you aren't celebrating enough Jewish holidays." Of course if all you do is go to temple for the high holidays and light candles for Hanukkah, you and your kids will think Xmas and seems more fun. but if you really embrace Judaism, I doubt you or your kids will even think twice about Christmas. My kids feel bad for their Christian friends because Jews have so many fun holidays - and their friends just have Christmas.

My son loves Purim, it's easy to make fun (but we do celebrate Christmas and all other holidays. I'm the atheist, husband is Jewish)

IME, this works really well if you have a robust Jewish community in your school or neighborhood, or if your kids are very young. Once they are school age,you really can’t compete with the general cultural celebration, no matter how much fun Purim is (and it really is...)

I'm the PP I think it also matters how your kids' school handles things. My kids' public school makes no mention of any holidays (including Thanksgiving, Halloween, Valentine's Day, and Xmas) so that helps. When I was a kid my school had a holiday concert with lots of fun Christmas songs and then one token Hanukkah song. That is likely also part of why my kids have never expressed a desire to celebrate Christmas or have a tree. We also chose to live very close to our temple in an area where the local shops stock Challah on Fridays.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Yep, but your logic is muddy and your “facts” ahistorical.

You can say it but the evidence is overwhelming otherwise. You know this or you would have shown it. You lose.

This thread and your comments would not exist if a Christmas tree was not universally associated with a particular religion. Debate the history all you wish but the fact that is indisputable is a tree in your house decorated in December is considered a Christmas tree.

So what
Live and let live

Just because your intent isn't disrespectful doesn't mean that other people don't feel that way. I don't think that most people are saying you shouldn't but you should at least acknowledge that some might find it disrespectful. They are as entitled to their feelings about what you do as you might be were someone to do something you found disrespectful like putting up a mezuzah by their door because they thought it was pretty or wearing dreadlocks because they like the look. They are free to do it and people are free to be offended.

Sounds like some people love to be offended

[Anonymous]

I've never had a Christmas tree and never will.

The menorah is beautiful and commemorates a miracle. We are completely content with that, although I do enjoy looking at the Christmas decorations all around town. But to us, it is a symbol associated with the holiday celebrating the birth of Jesus, and it is antithetical to our religion.

But you do whatever.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can we shift back to the question of how to make your family's celebration of the many Jewish holidays so fun and awesome that you aren't even tempted to decorate a Christmas tree? When I hear that friends' kids are jealous of Xmas stuff, I want to say "that's because you aren't celebrating enough Jewish holidays." Of course if all you do is go to temple for the high holidays and light candles for Hanukkah, you and your kids will think Xmas and seems more fun. but if you really embrace Judaism, I doubt you or your kids will even think twice about Christmas. My kids feel bad for their Christian friends because Jews have so many fun holidays - and their friends just have Christmas.

My son loves Purim, it's easy to make fun (but we do celebrate Christmas and all other holidays. I'm the atheist, husband is Jewish)

IME, this works really well if you have a robust Jewish community in your school or neighborhood, or if your kids are very young. Once they are school age,you really can’t compete with the general cultural celebration, no matter how much fun Purim is (and it really is...)

I concur. I love this idea, but I swear we’re the only Jews for miles.

[Anonymous]

We have been debating this question for awhile. The whole Christmas thing is so much a part of “kid culture”. Even Mickey Mouse Clubhouse has an episode my DD loves about Santa.

My DD goes to a Jewish preschool but has a lot of Catholic friends. I don’t want her to feel left out or bad because Santa doesn’t come to her house when he comes to her neighborhood friends homes.

It’s tough.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We have been debating this question for awhile. The whole Christmas thing is so much a part of “kid culture”. Even Mickey Mouse Clubhouse has an episode my DD loves about Santa.

My DD goes to a Jewish preschool but has a lot of Catholic friends. I don’t want her to feel left out or bad because Santa doesn’t come to her house when he comes to her neighborhood friends homes.

It’s tough.

I cried as a child because I wanted a Christmas tree. My mother gave me a hug and said, “Sorry honey, Jews don’t have Christmas trees.”

To make things “fun” for Jewish kids is much easier than it used to be. The JCCs always have events on Christmas Day. Chabad camps are open. Travel. Make play date plans with another Jewish family. Play up the 8 nights of Hanukkah. Keep them busy and engaged and they won’t miss Christmas one bit.

We attend plenty of Christmas parties for friends and my kids stopped asking about getting a tree and decorations years ago.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are there a lot of us?

DD really wants a Christmas tree. She is only three and I don’t see any point in denying her this big cut tree for a couple of weeks. My MIL is going to blow a gasket.

Plus I have never had one and kind of want one too!

I wish we didn't have one. My husband is Catholic, so we do and only here anonymously am I anything less than enthusiastic.

You can do plenty of other things to make the holiday season special without bringing other people's traditions into your house. She won't be ruined by this lack of a tree. She's three.

If your husband is Catholic, you’re not bringing anyone else’s traditions in ... why do you wish you didn’t have one? Presumably it’s important to him.

[Anonymous]

I acknowledge it can be difficult for kids, especially in this area, which is still dominated by WASP culture, conformity, and the desire to fit in. Throw in a garnish of antisemitism,and its tough. But to add a tree is a bizarre capitulation.