My girls, ages 6 and 3, LOVE the Christmas season. They love everything about it – from pouring over advertisements for various toy sales to the holiday jingles they hear in the mall. They also love being driven around the neighborhood (and adjoining neighborhoods) to check out the Christmas lights that decorate so many homes. They love celebrating Chanukah too – lighting the candles, spinning the dreidels, eating latkes and donuts, and yes, unwrapping gifts. But more than any other non-Jewish/secular holiday, there’s something about Christmas that calls to them.
I live in a suburb of Washington, DC. For the second year in a row, I was able to take the girls to the White House for their open house Christmas decorations tour. I think it's fun and exciting -- certainly for them. They get to talk about being at the White House. (This year, they can also talk about seeing DC’s mayor, Vincent Gray.) And yes, they get to see ALL of the various Christmas trees in all of the rooms that we’re allowed to visit. And there are lots. And of course, we take pictures standing in front of each tree.
In full disclosure, our family is a bit mixed. We are a practicing Orthodox family. However, my father-in-law converted to Judaism decades ago and we still have a relationship with his family. So every year, on Christmas, my girls go visit their great-grandmother at her assisted living facility. It brings her great joy – and of course, they are excited to see the tree lights and tinsel – so it brings them great joy as well.
Now don’t get me wrong, we don’t celebrate – let alone acknowledge – the religious significance of Christmas. But, does sharing in some of the holiday spirit come too close to celebrating non-Jewish holidays? Does it send the wrong message to our children?
Posted by: Dec 26, 2010 3:44 pm
Not great
Do they have the same feelings towards purim, channnuka, Rosh Hashannah or even Pesach? Because if not then there might be a problem in the long run. I truly believe that children take a lot in at this age, and usually in their later years to recreate their childhood memories. Havent we all tried to have that perfect seder like we had when we were children? Understanding that your in laws are not jewish complicates things and there is no problem of teach respect but to go visiting tress in my head my be a big problem that you might only see years down the road.Posted by: Y Dec 27, 2010 5:56 am
Big problem
I had a hard time responding to this blog but I feel I need to in the end. Growing up in North America/Europe you can't avoid this season it is in your face everywhere. But in actuality going to see trees and driving around to see the lights on peoples' houses can not only be damaging in the future but is getting pleasure out of avodah zarah! We all should take that into consideration when getting any benifit from any non-Jewish religious holiday. Just to correct the poster before me, her in-laws are Jewish, her father-in-law converted to Judaism something she should remember when she exposes her children to such things.