Inspired by something

[info]smofbabe

 said a few days back, I’d like to make something clear to all my non-jewish friends.

I may not celebrate the birth of baby Jesus, but I’m not offended if you wish me a Happy X-Mas.  Seriously.  If you really find it that uncomfortable, then wish me a Happy Holiday.  And no, I don’t have a X-Mas tree.  Really, I don’t.

Yes, I do save heaps of cash not having to buy Christmas presents for everyone.  But I am happy to be involved in the Kris Kringle, even if (a few years back) someone had to explain to me what a Kris Kringle was because it wasn’t something they’d taught me at Jewish school.  (And I’m glad I was involved with it this year, I got a 10 in 1 handy tool!).

No. I don’t have a huge family lunch and meet all the relatives.  You see, us Jews have about twelve holidays over the course of the year where I’m… um… required to spend time with family.  And then there’s all those Sabbath meals on Friday nights where Dad says the Kiddish and makes the Hamotzi and Mum serves us a 4 course meal, including cake with frosting and the family catches up on all the crazy things we did throughout the week.  So, trust me, the last thing I’m inclined to do on X-Mas day is spend it with my family.  Though I do love them.

Yes, I do celebrate something this time of year except it finished over two weeks ago and rarely ever coincides directly with X-Mas.  And no, it has nothing at all with the birth of Jesus.  Nothing.  It’s actually about religious freedom, free of persecution, which, when you consider what happened after the birth of Baby Jesus, is a tad ironical.

And finally, I seriously do hope that all of you who do celebrate X-Mas have a merry, joyful and happy one.  Seriously.  I mean that.  Religion can be a very terrible thing.  Still, while there might be something commercial and tacky about X-Mas, it’s worth taking one day off from all the worries of the world and spending time with people you love and care about and, generally, being nice to people.  If Baby Jesus is the reason you do it, then fine. 

But, as far as I’m concerned, all days should be like tomorrow.  We should never need an excuse.