Got those Santa blues

She could always say - "Why? Santa only comes 1 day - I get 8 nights of presents!" Or - "Why? Who would want a weirdly dressed prowler to break in my house?" :)

i don't have a solution for you, but i often think of that when people ask my son that. how do they just assume he celebrates christmas (even though we do). from working at a hospital, i think i am extra careful not to assume people celebrate any holiday. i usually say have a great holiday when i see kids, now if they have a santa shirt on, i might ask about santa, but not generally. good luck to your husband (it will all be over soon) then he can get the what did santa bring you question for the next month.

Spay, Its funny you posted thislast night my husbands company had their annual Christmas partyŅerholiday partyŅerwinter partyŅwhatever they are calling them this year. It was a party; it was funthatŒs that :) Anyway, its a mixed bag of folks҅were all from all over the world, Mexico, Guatemala, Germany, France, Ohio, Oklahoma, California, New York and then the few oddball locals҅we all have different religious affiliationsnaturally :) So, last night, there are seven of us sitting at one tableŅone of my husbands coworkers wives looks at me and said, Do you celebrate Christmas?Ӕ I knew they didn't, wed spent some time together so I knew they are a Mixed Jewish family (he is Christian and she and the kids are Jewish). I said, ғYa, more or less. She went on with TONS of questions about traditions and whatnotԅ(Im not a traditional person, I have no traditions passed on to me from my family) I tried to answer as best as I could҅but this woman seemed transfixed on our celebration of Christmas. It was just odd and uncomfortableI kinda got a taste of what its like to be on the other side of the fence. IŒm a Happy Holidayer҅I figure thats the most acceptable҅don't even get me started on Santa.

Brandy: I'm getting lots of questions about traditions this year too, and finding myself at a loss, because we don't really teach our children much of the religious traditions behind it. I mean, they know the basic story, but with DH being a Buddhist, and a grouch when it comes to Christmas anyway, it's easier not to push any more of his buttons than necessary! In the US those assumptions would have bothered me too Spay. I guess now I feel kinda nostalgic! I spent all weekend trying to describe what a Christmas tree looks like and then found one, finally, that looks like something Charlie Brown in Peanuts would drag home! It's cute though - and it's something Christmasy... I tried to downplay the Santa discussions with my kids...but I ended up really playing up his powers after a mean kid told my youngest that Santa won't come to his house because it's a Hindu country and Santa doesn't come here. DS came home crying...leading to mommy assurances of virtual omnipotence ! LOL!... Oh well...

LOL! Thanks for being supportive, guys, I was afraid that everyone would yell at me for being a Grinch. Honestly, I think it bother's my husband more than me, but if Papa's unhappy, ain't nobody happy!

kay, I'm not Jewish but couldn't resist a grinch thread....:p Yes, my kids believe in Santa, and no they aren't bratty ;) , yes we celebrate Christmas, but I am so tired of all the commercialism and hype that goes along with it that sometimes I wonder just what we are celebrating. Still can't figure out why it all starts the day after Halloween. Ugh! For us, the holiday is about family, traditions, celebrating our beliefs and Santa is just a small part of the tradition. I can only imagine if I'm sick of the hype, then how must you and others of different belief systems feel. I get irked by the "What are you asking Santa for this year?" because for us, Santa brings only 1 gift and he picks it out. My kids get confused by this question and always say "I dunno!" Spay - guess you could just say "We celebrate Hannakuh" and leave it at that. (sorry if it's not spelled right!) Funny, seems like for us, we are always asked more questions than I care to answer, whether it be holiday related, adoption related, how big our family is etc. Just have to deal and know that most people have good intentions. Crick

Ok, true confession. My mother is a convert, so for much of my life we did "Christmas" at her parents house. Santa, such as he was, only filled the stocking--the presents under the tree were from family members. And I was probably 4 when my father told me that people's parents filled the stockings. I'm always astounded at the lengths parents go to in order to keep up the pretence -- making sure the wrapping paper is different, actually lying when asked point blank about Santa, etc.

I don't wrap Santa gifts in my housethey are left under the tree unwrapped. I also don't lie about SantaŅmy son, who is ten, still has no asked me about SantaLOL I think he is afraid of the answer!

True confession time!!!! I use different wrapping paper - AND disguise my handwriting. I even use different gift tags. They get ONE wrapped present from Santa and a stocking - the rest is from family. Oldest four teens obviously play along, but know very well. It's to their advantage, because it means THEY get stockings too! LOL! The two little ones are convinced Santa wouldn't leave out bigger kids, even if they don't believe in him because "it wouldn't be fair". I don't know if I outright LIE - well, maybe I'm kidding myself. Usually I make do with "what do you think?" to any questions they have (and they are rare indeed - I think they don't want to know). That's why I really hated hearing myself saying stuff that was awfully darn close to an outright lie to reassure youngest son (1st grade). "Well, I'm sure that if Santa knows what every child wants for Christmas, he must also know where they all live." Stuff like that - is that a lie? Maybe kinda, huh? Drat... He looked so crushed though by what that kid said!

I just had to chime in here...and admit that I got a bad case of foot in mouth last week! I usually consider myself pretty diplomatic, and try to remember that not everyone celebrates Christmas, but I had a Dr.'s appointment last Monday and as I was leaving I said to Dr. H (who is a truly wonderful man and whom I've known for over 5 years now) "If I don't see you again, Merry Christmas!" :eek: And of course I knew he was celebrating Hannukah. He was actually very nice about it and reminded me, but I could have sunk into the floor. BTW, I recovered brilliantly (sarcasm toward myself here, naturally) with "Oh, of course! How nice!" :rolleyes: Then I ran like a coward. I admit it! I'm...one of THEM, LOL. Spay, I just want to apologize to you on behalf of all Santa-Happy people like me. Your post has reminded me to try harder! :D

Well, I am Jewish. Before moving to Israel I lived in Northern Florida. I always tried to avoid discussions about Christmas, so my response to "Merry Christmas" was, thank you, have a happy holiday. I taught my daughter to answer Santa questions with "We celebrate Hanuka, not Christmas". :) She would often feel sorry for all the Christian kids who only got gifts on one day. However, since unfortunately there are lots of insensitive and plain obnoxious people out there, it wasn't always easy for her, growing up Jewish in an area with a small Jewish community. DS will have it a lot easier, growing up in Israel and not having to worry about explaining his holidays.

Living in Central Florida with a small Jewish community I totally relate Shai. My kids are very proud to be Jews and always respond automatically with a "We celebrate Chanukka, not Christmas". They attend a day school, though very small, it institutes a great sense of comradery. :)

I too get tired of the "what do you want Santa to bring you question". Our foster son has made a great transition to not celebrating Christmas. He tells people we celebrate Chanukah and as he can't read a calendar well probably won't miss Christmas tomorrow. When it is people in shops, I know they are trying to be nice and just respond to the "merry christmas" with "you too" or some such. But when they are people I know better, I tell them that we don't celebrate Christmas. I think it is important for people to be reminded that not everyone is Christian. As hard as it has been for our son's teacher to handle him not celebrating Christmas, I don't know what she would do if she ever had a child who's family was Jahovah Witness.