My daughters boyfriend (soon fiance) is Jewish (my understanding they don’t really practice) we are catholic? But no one has been in a church in a long long time.
She and her boyfriend came up for Christmas (well he was dropping her off and spent the day before returning to Canton oh). Anyhow we did our family christmas exchange and my wife and I got him something. My daughter laughed and was like you know he is Jewish. I was like, yeah, so were celebrating christmas here and as part of that we gives gifts. Didn’t go into what does Santa, presents and christmas tree have to do with religion, or the fact we were not really religous ourselves.
Wondering, do others think its inappropriate to give gifts to someone who’s identity doesn’t celebrate the event? I mean several of our neighbors are British, they still went to our big 4th of July celebrations. That seems more funny to me than giving a non-christian a Christmas present.
Pretty sure Jewish folk, invite non-jewish friends to passover. Pretty sure the local Islamic community allows others to celebrate ramadan. Our Chinese co-workers always invited us to lunch to celebrate the Chinese New Year.
My daughters boyfriend (soon fiance) is Jewish (my understanding they don’t really practice) we are catholic? But no one has been in a church in a long long time.
She and her boyfriend came up for Christmas (well he was dropping her off and spent the day before returning to Canton oh). Anyhow we did our family christmas exchange and my wife and I got him something. My daughter laughed and was like you know he is Jewish. I was like, yeah, so were celebrating christmas here and as part of that we gives gifts. Didn’t go into what does Santa, presents and christmas tree have to do with religion, or the fact we were not really religous ourselves.
Wondering, do others think its inappropriate to give gifts to someone who’s identity doesn’t celebrate the event? I mean several of our neighbors are British, they still went to our big 4th of July celebrations. That seems more funny to me than giving a non-christian a Christmas present.
Pretty sure Jewish folk, invite non-jewish friends to passover. Pretty sure the local Islamic community allows others to celebrate ramadan. Our Chinese co-workers always invited us to lunch to celebrate the Chinese New Year.
What are others thoughts?
Sure, as long as the gift isn’t a Bible. Giving gifts is a tradition, not a religious act.
I think if it’s just a secular thing it’s ridiculous for someone to be offended. I mean even if it’s not, why be offended, someone is giving you a gift.
It wouldn’t even occur to me to be offended if someone gave me a Hanukah gift, which one of my colleagues at work has actually done.
Which now that I think about it, is somewhat ironic, because I’m pretty sure she would be offended if someone gave her a Christmas card.
I know a Jewish family who does Christmas presents. The Jolly fat man is separate from the birth of the baby. Like said, as long as it isn’t a religious present, give it in the spirit of “Happy Holidays”. That covers all of them.
I think if it’s just a secular thing it’s ridiculous for someone to be offended. I mean even if it’s not, why be offended, someone is giving you a gift.
It wouldn’t even occur to me to be offended if someone gave me a Hanukah gift, which one of my colleagues at work has actually done.
Which now that I think about it, is somewhat ironic, because I’m pretty sure she would be offended if someone gave her a Christmas card.
This reminds me of the time my wife (who was in charge of getting the gift for the director at the Christmas concert) got their band director a snow globe with Santa and the north pole - he had grand kids she thought they would like It, I think it played some Christmas music (Santa clause coming to town or something) and few of the band members got upset and asked if she knew he was Jewish. Oh he and his grand kids loved it.
I know a Jewish family who does Christmas presents. The Jolly fat man is separate from the birth of the baby. Like said, as long as it isn’t a religious present, give it in the spirit of “Happy Holidays”. That covers all of them.
I know a Jewish family that does a christmas tree. It’s all blue and white.
Sure, as long as the gift isn’t a Bible. Giving gifts is a tradition, not a religious act.
Isn’t the tradition of giving gifts at Christmas based on the wise men bringing gold, frankincense & myrrh to the birth of baby Jesus, thus making it a religious act?
Sure, as long as the gift isn’t a Bible. Giving gifts is a tradition, not a religious act.
Isn’t the tradition of giving gifts at Christmas based on the wise men bringing gold, frankincense & myrrh to the birth of baby Jesus, thus making it a religious act?
Please correct me if I’m wrong.
Maybe. But there is equal evidence that it was early christians hiding the fact they stole the tradition from Roman winter solstice gift giving traditions.
Sure, as long as the gift isn’t a Bible. Giving gifts is a tradition, not a religious act.
Isn’t the tradition of giving gifts at Christmas based on the wise men bringing gold, frankincense & myrrh to the birth of baby Jesus, thus making it a religious act?
Please correct me if I’m wrong.
The gift giving goes back to Saturnalia. When Christianity mostly claimed the winter holiday, yes, they tied the concept of Christmas gifts to the story of the three magi and their gifts for Christ. But if you give gifts at a winter holiday, you can claim to base it on pagan traditions that long preceded Christianity, so, you’re safe.
My wife would be mad at me if I didn’t. By and large Jewish people are not obtuse about Christian holidays. The exception may be Orthodox Jews. But it is highly unlikely your daughter is marrying an Orthodox Jew. He’s part of the family; treat him as such.
Sure, as long as the gift isn’t a Bible. Giving gifts is a tradition, not a religious act.
Isn’t the tradition of giving gifts at Christmas based on the wise men bringing gold, frankincense & myrrh to the birth of baby Jesus, thus making it a religious act?
Please correct me if I’m wrong.
Maybe, but honestly who even thinks of it like that these days? It’s pretty much just a secular holiday of getting together with the family and exchanging gifts for a large part of the population.
Even growing up in a nominally Christian family, Christmas was about Santa not Jesus.
I think if it’s just a secular thing it’s ridiculous for someone to be offended. I mean even if it’s not, why be offended, someone is giving you a gift.
It wouldn’t even occur to me to be offended if someone gave me a Hanukah gift, which one of my colleagues at work has actually done.
Which now that I think about it, is somewhat ironic, because I’m pretty sure she would be offended if someone gave her a Christmas card.
I wouldn’t be offended if I was somehow part of the Jewish orbit and got a Hanukah gift. One of my Muslim pts gave me a Koran once. I said thank you.