My Life As A Jew During Christmas

So what do Jews do during the Christmas holidays? Not being Orthodox enough to ignore it complete, but not being inclined to totally forget that I'm not a celebrant of this particular religious event, I've compromised or avoided, depending on my time of life and sense of alienation. Lest I be accused of being part of the war on Christmas, here's my life with the holiday. All ages are approximate:

Birth To College: A sort of secular not-celebration, including visits to Macy's Santa (Santa to Barbara: "What do you want for Christmas?" Slightly irritable10-year-old Barbara to Santa, "Nothing. I'm Jewish." Santa to Barbara, "Then what are you doing here?"); cut-out snowflakes on the windows; earnest envy of the mountains of toys that friends get (Friend to Barbara, going through the day's takings, "Don't you wish you were Christian?" Barbara to friend, staring in shock at the plastic, full-color, 1960s shlock crucified Jesus on the wall, "No, I don't."); and, of course, fervent watching of Christmas specials.

Young adulthood: Christmas in the Catskills: For several years, attended Klezkamp, a week-long gathering of musicians, historians, and culture buffs interested in Eastern European Jewish culture. Lots of great music, Yiddish classes, dances every night, heavy kosher meals that didn't bother me at the time but that would have been totally off the diet today.Huge amount of fun, and not a jingle bell or a Christmas special in sight.

Mid-adulthood: Visiting my friend Cathy's famiy in Owego, NY. Wonderful small-town Christmas that was as close to the ideal as you could get, yet not enough to cause a sugar overload. Tree decorating, short hikes in snow-covered trails nearby, brunch with friends, gifts at midnight. I even attended morning Christmas services and got to sing the carols (although I've got to admit, that had to be one of the most tone-deaf groups of people I'd ever met). Evening scrabble tournaments with occasional Christmas specials in the background (mostly ignored).

Current adulthood: A sort of secular not-celebration, including sending holiday cards to friends, a big party for as many people as we can fit into our house (sometimes more), dreidl lights in the window (to satisfy Jim, who likes to have some sort of decoration, and the neighbors, who like having a well-decorated courtyard), and, of course, all them Christmas specials.

Well, however you celebrate -- or don't celebrate it -- have a great December 25th...

Story: The Jesus On The Wall

There's a story contest (ending tonight, I think!) called Spec the Halls, and I quickly wrote a story to enter -- it's behind the cut:

( The Jesus On The Wall )