The NY Times had an interesting article the other day, A Holiday Medley, Off Key, about the holidays for interfaith families. It mostly focused on interfaith in terms of Christians and Jews, and the "battle" between Hanukkah and Christmas. As a Baha'i, who grew up not celebrating Christmas, I struggle every year around this time, as to how much I should embrace my Catholic husband's traditions. Or, rather, I guess, the Christmas that permeates American society. I'm not a big fan of the materialism that goes with this time of year, though it's hard to resist. I'm also not a big fan of the assumption that everyone celebrates Christmas, even if we believe in Christ. But I'm also not a big fan of my own inclination to dig my heels in the mud and be a scrooge. Especially since the family I married into, and thus am a part of, does celebrate Christmas. Perhaps one day I'll find the balance and stop feeling some inclination to be that person that helps others realize that not everyone celebrates Christmas.
I often think about something I observed in December 2003. We were in Chicago for Christmas with Sam's family. But it was a year when Hanukkah fell later in the Gregorian calendar and actually overlapped Christmas. So, there we were, in the foyer of the Barnes and Noble at Old Orchard, in Skokie, bastion of Judaism, waiting for my brother-in-law to pick us up. A high school boy was there with a girl friend. I liked this boy. He was friendly, had a sense of humor as he chatted with his friend. He obviously didn't take himself too seriously - he wore pink gloves with his hipster clothes. At some point, as customers came in, he wished them a Happy Hanukkah. People looked at him as if he were crazy. A couple corrected him with the tone of voice in which they responded, Merry Christmas. Despite the fact that he was more timely, and likely more personal, than if he had been wishing them a Merry Christmas.
Can't we all just get along and celebrate not just ourselves, but each other? Hmm, perhaps good advice to take to heart in tackling my feelings toward Christmas celebrating....
Posted by Shokufeh at December 9, 2007 07:47 PMI grew up sort of celebrating Christmas: Christmas dinners, gifts from Christian family memebers. But no tree or nuclear family gifts. However, I still have the same thoughts and feelings that you describe here.
I struggled and thought about celebrating Christmas with my sister's family this year--giving gifts now or waiting 'til Feb. I finally decided I would do Christmas with them. But luckily I got invited to Belize to see my aunt and will be traveling on the 25th. That fixed that, now I just have to figure out next year.
I think celebrating each other is a great idea.
Posted by: Emmaleigh at December 10, 2007 01:17 PM