Jophiel: Even for the average Christian (“well I don’t know if there is a God, but I’m hoping there is one.”) Christmas and the routine is 1. Buying presents 2. Santa myth 3. small prayer at Christmas dinner. 4. attend church for feel good experience (no guilt trip to be inserted into sermon). 5. Watch tv and pretend to work the days until New Year. 6. watch tv through new year.
I’ve read many places where Jesus’ birth was supposedly September,the Jewish New Year. Its just celebrated in December because it’s a good way to break up the awful cold weather dreariness,and the farmers had extra food from the harvest! Wish they had a celbration like that in January!
I’ve read many places where Jesus’ birth was supposedly September,the Jewish New Year. Its just celebrated in December because it’s a good way to break up the awful cold weather dreariness,and the farmers had extra food from the harvest! Wish they had a celbration like that in January!
I don’t know, I just can’t get used to hymns playing in bookstore muzak systems. Let’s get a little bit of Wyrd Sisters here, folks. A little Yule carol. Yeah… 
Anyway, ubiquitous Xmas celebrations really brown me off. How would all the Christians feel if everyone got whipped up into a furor over Hanukkah every year? But since it currently seems to be several different holidays (Christmas, Hanukkah, Yule, …help me out here!) arranged around the same astronomical event, let’s call it what it is. Solstice. (I’m happy to note that most schools now call them Winter Break and Spring Break rather than Christmas and Easter breaks.)
Now I have to go. I’m working over my midwinter holidays.
Nope, I never had that sig.
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I imagine if the US were historically a predominantly Jewish country, Hannukah might get less attention than it does now. From what I gather, Hannukah is a lesser holiday that got “upgraded” due to its proximity to Christmas. What’s the SD on that?
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Kat, what you just said pretty much is the SD. My mom’s SO is Jewish, and he told me pretty much the same thing.
You’re right; we’d probably have big Passover parties. But I did say if Hannukah were a big deal, we (secular sorts) would celebrate it. (<–weaseling out of too-hasty post) Incidentally, I know of some Jews who don’t like that Hannukah got “bumped up” simply because it’s approximately the same time as Christmas.
So anyone up for a Kwanzaa party?