Parenting Tips for Families Who Don’t Celebrate Christmas – A Jewish Perspective
Not everyone celebrates Christmas. Although it is a national holiday in the US, there are many people who do not celebrate this holiday. As a parent, how do you deal with the questions and situations that arise when your child asks “why do my friends celebrate Christmas and we don’t?” Here are some parenting tips for families who don’t celebrate Christmas.
As a Jewish parent, I find it especially annoying that many people think of Hanukkah as a “Jewish Christmas.” Hanukkah has nothing to do with Christmas. Hanukkah is the celebration of keeping the light of our faith alive and passing it on to younger generations. Jewish parents should develop a love of faith in their children, and you can explain to them that Christmas is a Christian holiday. Take this time to help them understand that you understand how the media hype surrounding Christmas may have made things confusing for them, but there are many people who do not celebrate Christmas.
Christmas is a good time to discuss diversity with your children. This is a great time to reaffirm your family’s beliefs and values with them. Tell your kids what you think about this religious holiday being a national holiday and take a good look at all the media hype surrounding it. You can debate whether it’s really a religious holiday anymore or has become a retail holiday like Mother’s Day.
You can also dedicate this time to tzedakah (charity) and give to those in need. If a financial gift is not possible, you can always help out at an interfaith food bank or soup kitchen. Using this time off from school and work to help and give to the poor is one way to show your children how to make this time special while still sticking to their religious beliefs. If you happen to be in Brooklyn, New York, see if Masbia is open and donate time to serve food.
How do you prepare your children to handle questions from Christian friends about why your family doesn’t celebrate Christmas? This can be difficult. Some of these kids can be downright rude. I can’t tell you how many times Christian kids try to proselytize non-Christians to their faith. Dealing with this can be difficult. Explain to your children that this is how these children are raised and they don’t realize they are being rude. Teaching them tact and how to politely answer these questions is a skill you need to give them. You can show them through your words and actions how to handle this situation. We meet the parents of these children in the community, so setting a good example is important.
Using the above tips for families who don’t celebrate Christmas should help your children understand the diversity of humanity and perhaps teach them a little tolerance for those who are different.
#Parenting #Tips #Families #Dont #Celebrate #Christmas #Jewish #Perspective
