Does anyone else do Christmas and Chanukah?

[fansynancy]

Tonight is the first night of Chanukah. My kids and I are Jewish and my husband is a non-denominational and non-practicing Christian. Even though they never go to church, his family does Christmas up very big. My family is much more observant (I grew up in a kosher home) but Chanukah does not have the pizzazz (sp?) of Christmas. My parents are not as extravagent and tend to be low key in general. My solution has been to make the gift giving different for each holiday. The kids make lists for Xmas, but hte CHanukah gifts are entirely surprises even though the $$ value may be less. What do you and you friends do?

Nancy

PS- Chag Samayach!

 

[Love in Bloom]

Hi Fancynancy. We celebrate both too; our tree has both Christmas and Chanukah ornaments. My hubby is jewish and I am not very religious (raised methodist...nuff said). We keep a kosher home because that is how my hubby was raised and I don''t eat a lot of meat, so it works out for the two of us (plus, I like having lots of dishes and flatware

). Traditionally we celebrate Chanukah with his family and Christmas with my family...but we just got married and are not traveling back to the east coast for the holidays

(we now live in the midwest). Since it is just us this year...I think we will probably light candles and eat fried food (oh my!) all week, and then leave most the gifts for the 24th/25th.

 

[surfgirl]

fansynancy, we sort of do both. I was raised in a Jewish home (reformed) and we did only Hanukkah and it was a big deal. Eight nights of presents, and we did it up (I''ve never thought Hanukkah presents were less than Xmas presents). We''d light the candles then sit by the fire and open gifts. Now, my husband (hee! I hope saying that always gives me a little thrill!) was raised in a non-religious home, though his mom''s side was Catholic and the entire family celebrated the non-religious side of Xmas - gifts and food! Anyway, for many years now, we''ve had a Xmas tree. It allows me to unleash my inner Martha Stewart and to me, it''s just a decoration and foil for the presents! For years, I always envied my non-Jewish friends who had trees. Some would invite me over to help decorate, and I always loved it. To me it was like a big art project. Right now, we really dont do much for Hanukkah though Mr. Surfgirl has asked me in the past if I wanted to celebrate it. Tonight, we''ll go to a local Jewish deli or my aunt''s house, and as he says, "eat the food of my people." But we dont really do presents on Hanukkah.

 

[fansynancy]

We put up a tree, but only after my parents have been to PA to celebrate Chanukah with us. Our Christmas celebration annoys/offends them.

 

[Haven]

Date: 12/4/2007 1:21:42 PM
Author: surfgirl
fansynancy, we sort of do both. I was raised in a Jewish home (reformed)

Oy vey, Surfgirl--you''re reform not reformed! (That is, unless, you''re recovering from something you haven''t yet told us about--as in a reformed chocolate addict or something.

)

Sorry to be a bother and correct you, but people outside of the religion misuse "reformed" in place of "reform" so often that I just had to clarify. I''m sure I''m more sensitive to it because my father is a cantor so people probably ask me if I''m "reformed" more than the average Jewish girl, but this particular mistake just really gets my goat.

Anyway, enjoy your latkes!

 

[CaliCushion]

I am Jewish and FI is Catholic. We went to two Channukah parties this week and ate latkes, brisket and noodle kugel. My parents give us presents for Channkuah. We are going to his parents for Christmas and will exchange presents there. The past few years Channukah has coincided with Xmas so we''ve been able to jointly celebrate both. However, my birthday is Dec. 29 so I like when Channukah is early!