Happy Christma-Hana-Kwanz-ica!
I'm jewish. So, it may surprise some of you to learn that I enjoy it when someone says "Merry Christmas" to me. I'm not annoyed. I'm not offended. And I, for one, am glad to hear that there is a little more "Christmas" in the holiday season advertisting from retailers this as pointed out in last Friday's USA Today.
Don't get me wrong. I prefer not to see a manger scene on the front lawn of my town courthouse. But a cheerful "Merry Christmas" never hurt anyone! It's not like I lose a little of my jewishness with every Christmas greeting or something.
Here in my department, a colleague organized a voluntary gift exchange. It is being called a "Secret Reindeer" instead of a "Secret Santa" exchange. I think that is just silly. I appreciate the level of sensitivity that went into choosing the name so as not to offend anyone or leave out non-christians. But I'd love to know what the difference is between Santa and his reindeer.
I mean, it's not like they are having a "my personal savior" gift exchange or something! It isn't even as if they are having a gift exchange inspired by the story of Saint Nicholas. I think things have gone way too far.
posted by Kim and Matt @ 12:37 PM
2 comments
2 Comments:
hahaha I know exactly what you mean! "Merry christmas" means a wish that you'll enjoy your break from school/work, and perhaps some yummy seasonal eggnog, peppermint sticks or gingerbread. It's friendly and nice, not "Happy accepting Jesus as my personal savior" and I don't think one becomes less Jewish in the proximity of Christmas trees.
Then again, my family has ham and latkes for Xmas dinner and my mom puts hannukah gelt in our stockings.
I'm Catholic and belive it or not, I was educated by Catholic nuns in an all girl school. Christmas has always been a big deal. I just feel that it has bee too commercialized. Anyway, it doesn't hurt to wish someone to have a Merry Christmas. I just wish sometimes, people would see beyond the gift-giving the shopping.
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