Dealing with December: A sense of humour helps

[Jen]

My Mum converted to Judaism nine years after marrying my Dad. I was 4 so the transition for me was pretty smooth. Although I do remember, to my despair, Mum explaining to my Granny that we couldn't eat bacon anymore – this was an early lesson for me in the meaning of Kosher.

As for this awkward time of year – the festive season – I say embrace it! Like many a mixed family or assimilated Jew, over the years my family has developed a sort of Kosher Christmas – no 'pigs in blankets' or midnight mass but plenty of turkey, Christmas pudding and mulled wine. And since meeting my best 'Jewish' friend, at university this has also meant Kosher for Christmas cards. She is a nice Jewish girl, from a straight-up Jewish-on-both-sides family, but even she admits that her family gets a little bit festive on the 25th.

We were studying Graphic Design, which is basically the art of problem solving with a piece of paper and a pen. The problem was that the non-Jews in our lives gave us Christmas cards as a sentiment of goodwill but all they got from us was a frosty bah-humbug. Sending Christmas cards didn't seem right and 'seasons greetings' or 'happy holidays' cards were a cop-out. So the solution we came up with was Kosher for Christmas cards.

Particularly popular with the Jews at my synagogue is 'The Rabbi's Coming Hide the Tree' and 'Reuben the Red Nosed Rabbi'. It seems that as we'd hoped, a little laughter does help ease the Christmas tension for other Jews, half-Jews, and friends of Jews.

http://www.schmuttergold.com/category/kosher-for-christmas

Jen

[Debbie B.]

To my husband and me, sending Hanukkah cards seemed too much like making Hanukkah into a Jewish imitation of Christmas. So we have always sent cards (along with, in recent years, mini photo books instead of the more typical family newsletter) at Rosh Hashanah to both our Jewish and non-Jewish friends and relatives. It seems reasonable to wish everyone a happy and healthy year even if some of the recipients don't celebrate the beginning of the year at that time. We send cards without a lot of Jewish pictures to the non-Jewish people on our list. And I figure our cards don't get lost in the avalanche of Christmas mail, so that's an advantage too.

[heather]

a sense of humor is always helpful during this time of year. it can be a very depressing time, depending on how you look at it. in recent years, i've learned to be glad i don't have to deal with all the craziness...since my separation 3 years ago (my ex wasn't Jewish, but he didn't make a big fuss over Christmas other than seeing his family who lived in another state), i've spent Christmas with Jewish friends, as well as non-Jewish ones who can't afford to fly home or just don't care for the holiday season. we're all in the same boat, so that is comforting. plus, more businesses are remaining open on Christmas Day in my area so we have more options than just movies and Chinese food.