No, it’s not my holiday. Nor have I ever considered celebrating.

But, that doesn’t mean we don’t have our own family traditions revolving about this day. For years, I’d haul my kids to the local Shoneys. One of the few places open on Christmas morning. (By the time my youngest [son] turned 9 [by then, he was the only child in the home], the Shoneys had closed.  So, we switched to a local [hole-in-the-wall] diner, which also had a Santa and a brunch.) Where we’d enjoy a wonderful brunch and watch the store Santa visit all the little kids. Which brought joy to mine, seeing the happiness in others.

We’d already worked the night before serving the homeless at a local shelter. Our efforts (and those of our fellow congregants) made it possible for the staff to get their holiday night to share with their own families.

After our breakfast, we’d head home and gather up the rest of the tribe to enjoy a movie. We’d pretty much have the whole theater to ourselves, so we could kibitz and laugh and enjoy the movie.

And, no, my tradition does NOT include the mythical visit to a Chinese restaurant. Oh, sure, many Jews traipse to those dens of treyf (non-kosher food), because they’d be the only place open for eating. (My family really keeps kosher, so the Chinese menu is not a choice for us.)

When we moved from Charlottesville to the DC area, there were a few (two, if my memory serves me right) kosher restaurants that we could visit- but we didn’t. They were just a little too far for us to bother visiting. Instead, we enjoyed a family meal at home.

The next day- once I was married- involved a visit to Rockville (or Frederick (MD) as our relatives aged) for my wife’s family Christmas celebration. Where we brought the [kosher] turkey (so we could eat it!) and celebrate not only the holiday, but my step-son’s birthday. (Happy birthday, Matt! He was excited once he joined our family, since the celebration of his birthday was no longer subsumed by the Christmas rush.)

But, my kids are grown and living up and down the eastern seabord, now. This year, my son and stepson (perhaps, my stepdaughter, as well) joined the family on the Eastern Shore (MD) for the family Christmas celebrations. My eldest daughter went to New York City to let her son see the lights- and to be blown away by Hamilton. My younger daughter spent the weekend with her SO down in Charlottesville.

Me? I shared the eve with one of my best friends. To ensure he had a wonderful holiday. (But, you can bet he was looking forward to sharing Christmas day [today] with his fantastic daughter.)

For all of you? I wish you the very best of what you need, for health and contentedness, to be surrounded by those you love and revel in same the whole year through.

(By the way… You notice how you celebrate Christmas EVE????? And New Year’s EVE???? As opposed to your other holidays that are only day long celebrations? Well, when the 25th of December was chosen, it related to a replacement for the 25th of Kislev (Chanuka). And, just like Chanuka is the Festival of Lights, where we want to bring joy, light, and happiness to the world- so is Christmas. Of course, ALL Jewish holidays (from Shabat to our New Year’s [Rosh Hashana], from Chanuka to the three festivals) ALL start in the evening. Because the Supreme Being decreed- it was evening, it was morning…one day. So, our “days” start the evening before.)

And, just to spite TheDonald- Happy Holidays!

Share this: