My Son, Mikey, came to us a few days ago and asked us about Chanukah and why don't we celebrate it. (To give you some background, my son just turned 7 in December and is in the first grade.)

 

We explained that we are Catholic and we celebrate Christmas because it is Jesus' birthday. He understood that, he told us.

Mikey went to Catholic school for pre-school, but now he is in Public school for first grade in Downers Grove. He attends CCD once a week.

 

They were talking about the different holiday celebrations in class. Christmas, Chanukah, Kwanza...etc. Something about Chanukah caught his imagination.

 

He liked that it was called the "Fesitval of Lights", that a Menorah looked pretty.

 

He asked us why we could celebrate both. He said a girl in his class is celebrating both.

 

So we agreed. Why not?

 

Mikey has always been very interested in different cultures and people. We felt no reason to stifle his natural curiosity.

 

So, on a small scale, we will be observing Chanukah this year. We have a Menorah(courtesy of a Jewish friend) to light and a dreidel to give Mikey. He is rather excited. I see nothing wrong in trying this for one year. The story of Chanukah is quite uplifting.

 

Any other advice from my Soxtalk friends on what we can do during this time?

Again, we're keeping this on a small scale...Christmas is expensive enough.

Edited December 16, 200520 yr by RibbieRubarb

Just another victory for the Jesus-haters in the war on Christmas

you're such a sellout

 

jesus is probably PISSED

What school in DG? I went to public school in DG, and we never even touched on any jewish hollidays.

BTW, just celebrate Chrismikah Its the best holliday.

I think that's an awesome thing to do.

Awww....

 

I knew when I met him that kid was sharp as a tack!!

 

Hi to both him and Mrs Ribbie..

This is gonna be the best Chrismachanukwanzas ever!

This won't be the most popular answer:

 

OK, I can see why you'd encourage a child to be as educated an knowledgeable as possible about different people/cultures/religions/etc. But, by celebrating it, doesn't that cause some confusion in a young child? I mean, you raise him as a christian(if that's what you're doing) but then celebrate a holiday from a religion that does not endorse jesus' role as the son of god. If you're trying to keep him a christian, doesn't this weaken any teaching that being christian is the way to go? Not trying to be a jerk here, just curious as to where you're going with this.

This won't be the most popular answer:

 

OK, I can see why you'd encourage a child to be as educated an knowledgeable as possible about different people/cultures/religions/etc.  But, by celebrating it, doesn't that cause some confusion in a young child?  I mean, you raise him as a christian(if that's what you're doing) but then celebrate a holiday from a religion that does not endorse jesus' role as the son of god.  If you're trying to keep him a christian, doesn't this weaken any teaching that being christian is the way to go?  Not trying to be a jerk here, just curious as to where you're going with this.

 

 

 

Can't they show him the different ways of celebration without compromising their personal beliefs..?

Have a very Happy Festivus!!!

Have a very Happy Festivus!!!

 

 

festivus for the rest of us!

Can't they show him the different ways of celebration without compromising their personal beliefs..? 

Exactly Steff.

 

No where in the story of Chanukah does it compromise the role of Jesus. We are still celebrating his birth, then we are observing another gift from God that happened some 300-400 years before the birth of Jesus.

That's how we are approaching it.

 

Steff: Mrs. Ribbie says "Hi" right back at cha!

Edited December 16, 200520 yr by RibbieRubarb

Can't they show him the different ways of celebration without compromising their personal beliefs..? 

 

 

Sure, and that's what I was trying to figure out. Was RR "celebrating" the holiday, and claiming to follow both faiths? Or was it more along the lines of "we do this, but other people have a different faith and holiday called this, and I'll show you how they celebrate it"

Chanukah is probably the least religious Jewish Holiday. It gets more play because it falls around Christmas. It's a very uplifting story, but isn't so much religious as it is a miracle.

 

If they were celebrating Easter and Passover...then, there might be a problem.

 

On a lighter note, I think it's great!!! We need more open-minded people out there to try new things. And as my grandfather used to say, if you don't like it, you don't have to ever do it again.

Exactly Steff.

 

No where in the story of Chanukah does it compromise the role of Jesus. We are still celebrating his birth, then we are observing another gift from God that happened some 300-400 years before the birth of Jesus.

That's how we are approaching it.

 

Steff: Mrs. Ribbie says "Hi" right back at cha!

 

 

Technically true, but then I still don't understand what the end result would be here. Are you saying that you believe that you can follow two different religions, by piecing them together and avoiding the parts where they would conflict? Again, I'm severely curious, that's all.

Jesus was a jew the last time I checked, so learning about the Jewish faith and their practices is a good thing. Learning about other religions shows how similiar they all really are.

I think they're just doing it to get more presents.

 

Instead of one day of presents, we have eight crazy nights.

Edited December 16, 200520 yr by Iwritecode

Technically true, but then I still don't understand what the end result would be here.  Are you saying that you believe that you can follow two different religions, by piecing them together and avoiding the parts where they would conflict?  Again, I'm severely curious, that's all.

 

We're not approaching it religiously at all.

He is just very curious about other cultures and we believe one good way to learn is to experience part of them.

All we will be doing is lighting the Menorah each night and maybe get him a few tiny things.

 

It's a nice story, too.

and maybe get him a few tiny things.

 

Smart kid. On a sidenote I celebrate and get presents for both hanukah and christmas presents due to my parents being divorced and my dad being jewish. To be honest, I'm about the least religious person you'll ever meet so I have never even thought about what is being discussed in here.

Edited December 17, 200520 yr by Rowand44

Maybe you could make some latkes (potato pancakes) to add to your celebration.

Roses are reddish

Violets are blueish

If it wasn't for Jesus

We'd all be Jewish

 

What we did when our kids were younger was traced the roots of Christianity and "celebrated", to use that word, the similarities in the faiths. I remember the first time I was at the service for a Jewish friend who had passed away. As the readings began, I realized they were Old Testament. That more than anything woke me up to the common beliefs we share.

 

Remember the major difference is that Christians accept Jesus as the Messiah, Jews are still waiting. We share the Old Testament. Or to put another way, for most mainstream Christians, looking at Bibles, one would say, The Jewish is tooooooo short, and the Mormon is tooooooooo long, mine is juuuuust right.

 

Old Testament, Jews, Christians, Mormons

New Testament, Christians, Mormons

Book of Mormon, Mormons

 

So celebrate the roots, explore the differences, and expand the knowledge of the world. It can only help.

 

Maybe a Jewish friend could come over and discuss not being Christian during the biggest marketing push the planet has ever seen for Christians.

Roses are reddish

Violets are blueish

If it wasn't for Jesus

We'd all be Jewish

 

What we did when our kids were younger was traced the roots of Christianity and "celebrated", to use that word, the similarities in the faiths. I remember the first time I was at the service for a Jewish friend who had passed away. As the readings began, I realized they were Old Testament. That more than anything woke me up to the common  beliefs we share.

 

Remember the major difference is that Christians accept Jesus as the Messiah, Jews are still waiting. We share the Old Testament. Or to put another way, for most mainstream Christians, looking at Bibles, one would say, The Jewish is tooooooo short, and the Mormon is tooooooooo long, mine is juuuuust right. 

 

Old Testament, Jews, Christians, Mormons

New Testament, Christians, Mormons

Book of Mormon, Mormons

 

So celebrate the roots, explore the differences, and expand the knowledge of the world. It can only help.

 

Maybe a Jewish friend could come over and discuss not being Christian during the biggest marketing push the planet has ever seen for Christians.

 

To quote Homer:

" Whoa whoa whoa. I'm just trying to get in, I'm not running for Jesus"

 

 

Seriously though, well said Tex.

There is no reason not explore and honor the similarities between the faiths than dwell on the differences.

Edited December 17, 200520 yr by RibbieRubarb

Roses are reddish

Violets are blueish

If it wasn't for Jesus

We'd all be Jewish

 

What we did when our kids were younger was traced the roots of Christianity and "celebrated", to use that word, the similarities in the faiths. I remember the first time I was at the service for a Jewish friend who had passed away. As the readings began, I realized they were Old Testament. That more than anything woke me up to the common  beliefs we share.

 

Remember the major difference is that Christians accept Jesus as the Messiah, Jews are still waiting. We share the Old Testament. Or to put another way, for most mainstream Christians, looking at Bibles, one would say, The Jewish is tooooooo short, and the Mormon is tooooooooo long, mine is juuuuust right. 

 

Old Testament, Jews, Christians, Mormons

New Testament, Christians, Mormons

Book of Mormon, Mormons

 

So celebrate the roots, explore the differences, and expand the knowledge of the world. It can only help.

 

Maybe a Jewish friend could come over and discuss not being Christian during the biggest marketing push the planet has ever seen for Christians.

 

Oh, Tex...of COURSE Jews bible (or Torah) is the Old Testament. Jews have been around for 5766 years. I can't believe you were surprised.

 

And c'mon, we all know the sequel is never as good as the original. Except for The Godfather II.