I know it’s considered “too PC” or oversensitive to think that, but really, that’s the way I feel.
Every time my teachers say “happy holidays” some smartass comments on how we’re pandering to 5% of the population or something.
Since my family isn’t very religious but knows enough about Judaism to know that it isn’t important, we don’t celebrate it much. So while my friends are getting PS2’s, I get a book or a t-shirt or something.
For a month, I’m bombarded with images of families getting together, but I’m overly sensitive if I feel alienated by that? Fine, then I’m oversensitive.
agiantdwarf
I grew up Episcopal but married a Jewish guy.
December can be a tough time.
I guess everyone has to learn how to deal with it in his/her own way.
I actually have been a bit more upset in the fall, when soccer tournaments etc are scheduled right smack on the high holidays.
But things are improving.
Hang in there. Just a couple more weeks.
My Dad’s Jewish. He ceebrates Christmas, but as a secular winter festival where people exchange gifts. He doesn’t lose any sleep over the Christmas tree in his living room.
I’m technically Lutheran, but UU in practice. I feel a bit alienated, but tha’s because I recently moved to a new city, I don’t have any friends here, and whenever I go Christmas shopping I’m usually the only one out solo.
Ah, but do you have two entire months of Eid and Hanukah music and TV specials and lawn decorations and ads and cards and greetings crammed down your throat year after year after year?
Christmas, in and of itself, doesn’t make me uncomfortable per se. Annoying, yes. I loathe going into a store and being bombarded with music and perfume and Holiday Cheer. There’s too much rich food I know I shouldn’t eat, but I feel like a heel if I don’t eat it. I also loathe How Somebody Saved Christmas specials.
That said, my husband is Christian and his family makes a huge deal about it. It’s very uncomfortable for me to accept tons of gifts for a holiday that isn’t even mine. It’s not so much a question of alienation as it is just discomfort.
Ah. Well, not knowing where “Pon” is or what’s to its right . . . Do you get A Charlie Brown Ramadan, and The Grinch Who Stole Eid, and Frosty the Mullah?
There seem to be two things going on here. The OP is “alienated” because as a Jew he feels alienated by Christmas. But at the same time he’s pissed off because he doesn’t get Christmas presents.
There’s a christmas tree in the federal building in which I work, and there is a table full of presents for a charity organization that collects christmas presents for the under-priveledged.
Last week I went to a “Holiday Party” during which people griped about it having to be Holiday instead a Christmas like it was a few years ago. I am pressured politically to go to such gatherrings, even though I celebrate no holidays this time of year.
My B-day is even on New years Eve. This year I’ve decided to celebrate my birthday by giving anyone who I’d think would buy me a present, a present of their own, and request that nobody buy me anything. I’m always disappointed at how many people forget my birthday anyway, and that the presents I do get are just things that I don’t really want.
Culturally Jewish agnostic here. Actually, the insane emphasis on Christmas in my native culture doesn’t bother me in the least. I feel that I get the best of both worlds: a relatively low-key and non-psycho family Hanukkah celebration, plus my Christian friends always invite me to join in their festivities. This usually involves caroling (which I love), parties, cookie-baking, and serving Christmas Eve dinner in a homeless shelter.
Then, on Christmas day, my apartment tends to serve as a refuge for those Christian friends who can’t deal with their families or who aren’t going home for Christmas, and any random straggling non-Christians. All in all, I think it’s a pretty good deal.
I am not a big fan of the ‘consumer spending season’. The drones all plug away mindlessly following the axiom, “you are what you consume”.
The music drives me batty and god forbid you have to do some shopping. ‘They’ keep saying this time of year is about goodwill to all, yeah except at any retail establishment.
I hate that people assume that I celebrate Christmas and while I don’t mind if somebody wishes me a merry christmas, I can’t bring myself to say it back. I can wish somebody happy holidays, but that is about it.
I try and look at any time off that I may get (Adam will work, he’s Jewish) as a chance to catch up on my drinking and movie watching.
what adam yax said. I hate the feeling that I need to buy something for everyone I know. As I’ve complained before, I never have a clue what to buy the people in my family, the ones who should care least what I give them. I don’t usually ask for much for myself.
Or maybe I’m just looking for excuses to be a cheap bastard, I haven’t decided yet.
