It’s only the first day of the month, but I’ve been thinking about our December problem since our neighbors put up their Christmas tree a couple days after Halloween.
We’re heading down a path that will be difficult to navigate in the next few years. When the girls are older, I think they will be able to separate Christmas from Hanukkah without too much trouble. Daddy was born into one tradition, Mommy into the other, and these lucky girls reap the benefits of two holidays chock full of presents and good food.
For now though, celebrating both holidays has Miss D. believing Santa brings gifts after we light the menorah, and we play spin the dreidel under the Christmas tree, and the baby was born in the manger after the inn was full for eight days and nights. We’ll all be eating figgy pudding with potato latkes until the New Year.
We’re heading off to see Santa tonight at a library “holiday” party that makes no mention of the “other” holiday that happens this month. I’m none too happy about that oversight, but I can soothe myself with the knowledge that while this feels exclusionary to me, it isn’t so for my kids. They are in the enviable position of having a claim on both holidays. They’ll blend into almost any December social situation.
Tonight, Miss D. and Belly will decorate ornaments and sit in Santa’s lap, Miss D. most likely giving her list of demands while Belly screams at the strange man holding her. Tomorrow, they will go to school and learn about the Maccabees and the holiday of lights.
They will be well-rounded, if confused, children.
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A good friend of mine lives in a similar household – she is Jewish, her husband Christian. And they, too, celebrate both holidays. As soon as my boys found this out they wanted to move in with them. No joke! When I told them, “You’d have to sleep in a girls room.” They said they didn’t care. A month of presents was worth it!
Happy December to you and your family!
What better way to help Miss D and Miss A to understand both cultures than a plate of “confused cookies”.
i had a similar conversation with E the other day (mommy celebrates this – daddy that). he said: “i am like you.” which I have to admit felt like a small victory. that said – santa and frosty are much more exciting to him than any menorah or maccabee we’ve encountered!
I think it’s nice to have such a wonderfully full calender. I think it’ll help your girls understand other cultures better in their later years. At least your kids care; Evan has decided he wants to be the Grinch. Awesome.
I love those cookies you made—and I love that you are combining the holidays for your kids!