Roger L. Simon: A Jew's Christmas

Growing up, I always liked Christmas better than Hanukkah. It seemed like more fun. Since I was of an agnostic turn of mind from a very young age, this was not difficult. Religion did not come into it. Besides, my mother - who loved Christmas - assured me it was a pagan holiday based around the Winter solstice and trees. We always got more presents on Christmas and Hanukkah was rather perfunctory.

Later, as I learned more about the oppression (and annihilation) of my ancestors, I became more ambivalent. At times I wanted to celebrate Hanukkah only.

Now I say - both are good. Presents good, songs good, food and drink good, ski vacations good (usually), Lakers against Phoenix good, etc., etc.

To those few readers wasting time on the Internet today - have fun! Thanks for joining me here and on Pajamas Media. Whatever happens next year - it's going to be interesting.

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I spent Christmas at the home of some Jewish-Mexican friends ... enjoyed their first ever Christmas tree and their company!

I was raised as a JW and they held that all holidays were of Pagan origin and therefore we celebrated none. These days, I don't worry about the Pagans, since they seem no more or less dangerous than anyone else... maybe less due to issues with critical mass.

Anyway, I find the entire Christian/Christmas thing a bit overdone at this point. Not because I don't want people to have fun... I think they should do whatever they like, whenever they like and be happy. Instead, there are still idiots trying to force their brand of Winter Holiday on everyone else. Some self-righteous Pharisee screamed at me two days ago because I said "Happy Holidays" to him. Next time I think I'll say "Fuck you and your damned imaginary God". Maybe he'll appreciate that more.

In recent times, particularly among a stripe of Christians here in the US... the spirit of Christ has been replaced by the spirit of Being an Asshole and that is possibly the saddest thing of all. Here, at the turn of the year, a time marked for new beginnings since Man was smart enough to recognize the turning of the seasons... some small but violently vocal minority of Christians have missed the entire purpose of their celebration. They have swallowed a camel whole and still rant at the rest of us because they perceive that we perhaps swallowed a gnat.

I will continue to wish man good will and everyone a happy and joyus celebration. However, the next jerk that wants to yell at me for not saying Merry Christmas... may well get an ear full of how much bullshit surrounds his precious holiday.

I wonder if Jesus cares more about his followers celebrating his birthday, or emulating his attitudes, actions and beliefs?

December 25th was the birthday of Mithra, a Roman god who was Christianity's chief competitor.

As my father told me when I was a wee child - a party is a party and whether it's Jesus or Mithra, it is the same bottle of beer.

All religions are syncretic to some degree. I have seen Christianity blended with Earth Mother religions in the Andes. A thousand years from now,people will surely be following morphed versions of current religions, and they will be flavored with some entirely new ideas.

If I know someone is a Christian, I'll say Merry Christmas. Otherwise it's Happy Holidays.

Jeez, this whole "merry Christmas" vs. "happy holidays" controversy is such crap. CRAP.

Look: I'm Jewish, but if someone wishes me a merry Christmas it won't hurt me in any way -- physical, mental, or emotional. If someone wishing YOU a merry Christmas causes you some sort of hurt, I would submit that your skin is far too thin. And this year, since the end of Hanukkah a couple of weeks ago, I would never wish anyone "happy holidays": after Hanukkah was over there were no more "holidays," only a single holiday -- that being Christmas. So the only conceivably correct salutation is "merry Christmas," and I am happy to say that because it's a happy holiday and one most folks like to acknowledge. I would not say "merry Christmas" to somebody I knew to be Jewish, because it would be senseless. But absent that knowledge, I can't understand how "merry Christmas" can be hurtful to anyone. If you're a Jew, or a Muslim, or a full-blown non-religious secularist and somebody wishes you a merry Christmas, why react adversely? Acknowledge that that person is trying to be pleasant, don't react as if he is trying to hurt or insult you. Jeez.

Oh, and by the way: a "Jew's Christmas" (to use Roger's expression) is as traditional in its own way as waking up early and opening the presents under the tree. It consists of waking up late, grabbing a nice Chinese lunch (for our family it's dim sum at the Empress Pavilion in Chinatown) and catching an afternoon movie. You should all live and be well.

I would never wish anyone "happy holidays": after Hanukkah was over there were no more "holidays," only a single holiday -- that being Christmas. So the only conceivably correct salutation is "merry Christmas,"

Well, if you only ever speak to Christians and Jews, you might be right (though I think New Year's is still coming, I might be wrong). However, if you talk to people outside a Judeo-Christian view, you'll find that Solstice was just last Friday, Yule and Imbolc are both this week, even the Jewish Festival of Trees is only a few weeks away. Winter has (since long before Jesus was even discussed) been home to many different holidays, not just Christmas and Hanukkah.

I don't care if someone says Merry Christmas to me... I say Merry Christmas back. Sometimes I say Merry Christmas first... sometimes I say "Happy Holidays"... I don't have a problem with a response like "Thanks and a Merry Christmas to you as well..." I do have a problem with "ITS MERRY CHRISTMAS, NOT HAPPY HOLIDAYS! Jesus died for you and the least you can do is wish him well on his birthday!"

I didn't have the heart to tell the poor sap that not only is it very unlikely that we are anywhere near Jesus' birthday, there's still some serious questions about his entire existence. I just gritted my teeth and said "Well, enjoy your day off."

It was so aggravating though... I doubt I'll be as pleasant to the next deluded buffoon.

"It was so aggravating though... I doubt I'll be as pleasant to the next deluded buffoon."

Ease your conscience. Christmas is a US Govt holiday. Just say "Happy Federal Holiday" instead.

I remember hearing Michael Feldman of the live APR radio show "What Do You Know" talk about having a picture of himself as a kid sitting on Santa's lap. He said he thought he looked like a rabbi, but was dressed *really* loud.

True, Christmas is centered around a pagan holiday, but that was the result of persecution of eaely Christians who resolved to celebrate at the same time as the pagan majority so as to not draw attention to themselves.

By the way, I think you're setting exactly the right standard: for anyone who objects strenuously to "Happy Holidays" the correct response is "Okay, fuck you then."

result of persecution of eaely Christians who resolved to celebrate at the same time as the pagan majority so as to not draw attention to themselves.

Or for those of us that actually study history... it was placed at this time so that the Pagan converts would still have the same celebration schedule and they swapped out the old symbols (the birth of the Sun to save us, the birth of Mithras to save us etc) with a new symbol (birth of Jesus to save us). ;-)

By the way, I think you're setting exactly the right standard: for anyone who objects strenuously to "Happy Holidays" the correct response is "Okay, fuck you then."

Ya know, I don't like to piss people off as a general thing... but between the Atheists and the Fundamentalists I may start making exceptions ;-)

December 25, 2007: A Jew's Christmas

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