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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Op here. Thanks for the suggestions. I also had a Xmas tree growing up (as did my spouse), because our parents did the Xmas tree as part of adopting some aspects of American culture. I remember liking it, but it always felt in some way not enough....like we were faking it. Even as a child I realized I was doing a small part of the Christmas experience, and it made me feel....left out.

Things are different now than when I grew up - there's no need to adopt others' traditions where we live - there are a lot of Indians in my town. My kids are WAAAY more in touch with their Indian heritage than I was growing up, and that is in large part due the changes in demographics, but also what the population has chose to emphasize - religion, language, arts, etc.  At any rate, my husband and I really want our kids to be able to turn to the tenets of our faith for guidance through their lives. And we think a big part of that is knowing who we aren't, and who we aren't. And we aren't Christian.

We put lights up outside our house for Diwali and leave them on until Jan 2, so we do have lights during Xmas too. I just think its going to be a slippery slope if I get them a tree. Then it will be presents next (when most Hindu holidays are NOT about gift-giving) and Santa, etc. etc. Where does it end?  But I also don't want them to feel sad or left out.

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I'm the PP who asked what you wanted, and I think you put it very clearly. Aside from the fact we did not have a tree growing up, your feelings on the matter are very similar to ours as Jews. Christmas is a lovely holiday, but its not our holiday, and my kids are not lacking anything by not celebrating it. So, to get back to your question, I treated this the same way we treated the kids getting upset that they weren't getting presents at someone else's birthday party. We just let them know that Christmas isn't our celebration, but, there are wonderful parts we can share with our Christian/Christmas celebrating friends. Then, we go back to focusing on what our culture is, instead of what it isn't/ [/quote]

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