I love the holidays!!!!!

Well I just wanted to say I love the holidays! I just posted this on facebook like 5 minutes before reading the post on here. I love the smells, the songs, the feeling everything about this time of year. Why get down to morals and beliefs and break down every little aspect here. Just celebrate the holidays in whatever way makes you happy that is all that matters.

I find it sad that you don't feel comfortable decorating and enjoying holiday themed decorations / foods etc. this time of year. I would think that non-christians walking past holiday decorations or in others homes etc. would be able to feel comfortable and just enjoy the scenery / cheerfull mood etc. I don't see why that same premise can't exist within your own home.

I'm not trying to be critical, just I don't understand why your BF and family can't just relax and let you enjoy what you like. I wonder what percentage of Americans who consider themselves Christian and do all the usual Christmas decorations gifts etc. even spend any significant amount of time recognizing the religeous significance.

If you can't enjoy the season inside your home I guess you are at least in a good location with lots of huge displays out and about town.

Originally Posted by tinamarina71 it just means we are "multi cultural" and embrace many different cultures. And to us, there is nothing wrong with that. If you wish to embrace these things, you are a grown woman and can do so anytime you wish. What baffles me - your family won't allow you to embrace Christmas yet they are perfectly fine with you shacking up and having premarital sex. I just don't get it.

This beautifully states it all.

I am amazed people still see Christmas as a "religious" holiday.
It is about 99% secular in this country, and don't even get me started on the whole "it's really pagan" thing.
http://www.google.com/search?q=pagan...ient=firefox-a

My dad is Jewish and his family always had holiday decorations up, as did our family.

If you want a tree and decorations, have them. No big.

Embrace your heritage,and its rich traditions...To be a Jew is a unique gift...Remember,Christmas is centered around a JEWISH baby.

Um, you're getting your own place with your boyfriend. At this point, your family has no say in anything you choose to use as decoration in your own place.

Either compromise with your boyfriend and let him decorate in something you don't like for a while, or just get some little things for yourself. Keep them on your side of the bed or something.

I hate how everyone always tries to turn this time of year into a big religious debate. If something makes you happy, enjoy it. Decorate with WINTER things like snowmen, penguins, snowflakes, etc. Just because you string up some lights doesn't make you for or against any religion. It just means you like pretty things.

How about getting a pretty artificial tree, like a ficus, and string it with twinkly white lights? It looks festive, but it's not tied to a religion. I strung lights on my ficus 3 or 4 years ago, and when christmas season rolls around, I plug in the lights. Or you could get a small potted Norfolk pine and put tiny lights on it during the holiday season.

Originally Posted by deborah62 You are not even married yet and your BF is already dictating what you can or can not do.Whats wrong with this picture?

Nothing is wrong with this picture, he does enjoy the religion and his religion is not Christianity.

Originally Posted by BlondieChick22 I wasn't raised to be Christian. It upsets my mother because she didn't intend for me to turn out to enjoy another religion.

That makes me sad. I teach my boys to embrace everything, but know what they truly believe in. You have to keep an open mind in life.

Originally Posted by tamiwami That makes me sad. I teach my boys to embrace everything, but know what they truly believe in. You have to keep an open mind in life.

TamiWami,
If one is Catholic and they only follow half of the bible and dismiss the other half, they aren't true to themselves or the religion. If you are a certain religion and you don't follow it, that's fine but if you believe 100% in it that is what you should believe in. Religion is black or white (either you embrace it or don't, there aren't many grey areas).

Some religions are more restrictive and legalistic though. Too many rules that arent really what Jesus taught. Maybe that is what kind you were raised in. You have to find where you are comfortable and that may be in another denominations that allows you to celebrate the things you love without restrictions. You dont seem happy where you are at right now whatever religion it is.

I was brought up in a Conservative Jewish home in New York. In our apartment house, there were many families who were Orthodox, so that's all I was exposed to, up until the time I met my husband...he is not Jewish.

Christmas was not celebrated in any way at all while I was growing up. In fact, one time when I was a child, a neighbor came in to our home and left stockings on my bed, and my brother's bed and we had no idea what that was about.

I never exchanged gifts with anyone for a holiday until my hubby and I got together. We didn't exchange gifts for Hanukah either...other than lighting the candles, saying the prayers (which we also said every Friday night) Mom making latkes, etc., it was just a minor holiday.

A tree? Unheard of. A Hanukah bush? Unheard of.

Hubby and I have been together for almost 40 years now, had two children, and yes, I branched out a bit because of my hubby (his family does celebrate Christmas), but we've never had a tree or bush in the house.

I've also always enjoyed the lights, sounds, and smells of Christmas, but it isn't my holiday. I do, however, enjoy everything on display at friends' homes, in the stores, etc.

Religion is traditionally cut and dried, but that doesn't mean that you have to treat it that way too. Celebrate along with your own values. There's no harm in it.

I think people can embrace the feeling of Christmas and not even be religious.. I don't see any harm getting decorations. Peace, Love, Joy and Hope its all in there. If you want a tree go buy a tree.

Right there is nothing wrong with enjoying the general feeling of peace and good will towards all men. You still can enjoy the beauty of all you see around you without actually celebrating the birth of Jesus. Your religion is full of beautiful and meaningful rituals that center around a particular story from the Bible too. Enjoy that, come closer to it. Go to temple, synagogue or whatever you call church at this time of year. Read the story of the history of your religion. Learn to embrace it or leave it whatever works the best for you.