This article appears in Dec 18-24, 2008.
Eid Mubareck!
Seriously, there’s more going on this time of year than the usual orgy of tinsel and christian iconography. Not everyone worships Santa! And while some effort is made sometimes, a little, to recognize Hanukkah, it’s usually only in the form of ‘holiday s
Leave a comment
Ack. For the love of it all it’s bad enough I can’t say Christmas where I work, nor decorate my office space with christmas-y things for fear of offending someone. But I don’t force anyone to celebrate my way, so you should be able to celebrate any way you want too. Just don’t crap on someone else’s choice to luv Santa. It’s not hurting you.
Beware of Dogma… The lord is a shepherd.Christianity APPROPRIATED/STOLE all their holidays from others and FORCED their beliefs upon whole populations, KILLING many of those who disagreed… If you wish to remain brainwashed, that is your CHOICE, don’t just assume by my silence that I agree with your stupid commercial bullshit. You are the minority now.Reasons Greetings!
As much as there are other holidays in December, TV networks will likely not air Hanukkah/Kwanzaa specials due to ratings concerns. A sad but true reality. If you want to spread the word, get a few of your Hanukkah celebrating friends together and have a celebration. if you build it, they will come.Also, Halifax needs a festivus pole. Then, everyone who has ever written or commented on a bitch can celebrate the airing of the grievances since we do that anyways 😉
I don’t see it as being too sad, other religions/traditions could at least take pride in the fact that their celebration hasn’t been completely commercialized.
That’s what I say – at least other religions are authentic and have authentic celebrations. Thank gods they haven’t been appropriated by the megastore and junk food industries.Western Christianity (as practiced) is facadism at best, and Christmas (as practiced) has nothing to do with Christ. The many pagan / yule / solstice elements are interesting, but even those have been so bastardized by the retail sector that they’re just laughable.
What kind of person would want to take Christmas away from the rest of us? Killing rudolph isn’t going to help you, OP. We’re a democratic, capitalistic and opportunistic society; AKA The Land Of Milk And Honey where you may popularize your religion, event, season, whatever… go have your Hanukkah! Advertise it even! And be grateful your neighbors are all in the mood… ’tis the season. Christmas has very little to do with Christianity anymore anyway.
Me me me!
I’m pretty sure that if you went to Israel over the holidays you’d probably see alot more Hanukkah stuff than Christmas stuff. The Jewish poplulation isn’t that big in Canada compared with Roman Catholic/ Christian populations. I had a Jewish friend in high school that celebrated not only Hanukkah, but Christmas as well- she said the presents she got during Hanukkah were crap!
That probably came across wrong- I jus dont see the offence of Santa. If people were to make more of another religion’s celebrations- such as Hanukkah- I’d gladly enjoy the food, gifts, and time off work for that too!
Add to the fun! Bring in your own traditions as well. The more the merrier. Bring your favorite latkes to work to share (don’t forget the applesauce) , share some of your favorite songs. Let’s not “bland” down any of our holidays. Let’s embrace our traditions, share them and have fun.
Undacova- if that is your definition of silence, I’d hate to see you verbose. Sheesh.
To be fair, in regards to Eid, the traditional form of celebrating it is to slaughter a goat…People may complain if the Commons suddenly became a butchering ground.
It isn’t?
Only for people. And nobody cares about those.
A makes a good point, the general population will celebrate anything that we get a paid holiday for. So start lobbying for some paid time off for non-christian holidays, and we’ll all be on board.
Yes people are stupid – agreed! We need to all lobby for that proposed February stat holiday that so far rocket Rodney has rejected. If memory serves, it was to be “Joseph Howe Day”?
Ra Ra, are you really offering up your symbols and traditions for commercial exploitation? Do you really want to see gold chains and diamond earrings dangling from a menorah in the mall? Do you long to hear your sacred songs over the PA system in Walmart, interrupted by announcements of half price holiday print paper towels? Would you like the Atlantic Lottery Corporation to put out a dreidel themed scratch ticket? “Recognition” of a symbol or tradition in this commercial culture means that somebody thinks they can use it to sell something. Think twice before you demand such “recognition”. Celebrate what is sacred to you, with your friends and family. Share it freely with anyone who wants to join in. But be careful about seeking equal time with “christmas”. Unless you want to see a giant dreidel in Mic Mac Mall. They’re in the market for something to replace Woody, you know.
To quote Scrooge “Leave me to Keep Christmas in my own way…”, Generally speaking most people enjoy the Santa Ho Ho Ho holiday so leave them be to have fun and keep Christmas/Chaunakah/Winter Soltice in your own way. If nothing else shouldn’t the season call for a modicum of tolerance.
As always, beautifully put Miranda. Hark! everyone.
I just read the OP’s comments again and barfed a little in my mouth. ”Rudolph tyrrany””Orgy of tinsel and religious iconography” Could he or she sound more pretentious?
I read it as sarcasm A, but I could be wrong.Frankly I don’t know why everytime someone mentions a different winter celebration everyone gets all ansty like it means they can’t say Christmas anymore. That’s ridiculous- instead of blanding everything down to ‘happy holidays’, what’s so wrong with just celebrating whatever? No one’s going to be offended if you wish them merry christmas, or Happy Hannuack, or Eid Murbarak or whatever………….I’m usually more offended by the PC police and thier ‘happy winter celebration of your choosing’ bullshit.
Alright people I get it Canada is a Multi-cultural country. Let’s me mindful of everyone. BUT just because you don’t celebrate Christmas don’t try and rain on everyone elses parade. Go celebrate what ever it is that you celebrate. It is all in what you make of it. Decorate the way you want to buy or don’t buy gifts. Don’t expect people to change their beliefs because you don’t believe in Santa there are alot of people that do. So get a grip. Get a group of people that celebrate what you do and have a party. People need to relax and just enjot good company and loved ones. That’s what it is all about.