I LOVE THE HOLIDAYS

 
- Desiree Samuels, Contributing Writer

I love the holidays.  Always have and always will.  It is such a wonderful time to celebrate friends, family and traditions that have been passed down over generations.  But then again, what happens to family holiday traditions, when a nice Jewish boy from Encino, California marries a rowdy Muslim girl from Tehran, Iran? A mixture of everything and more. That’s what! 

During the holidays, our house and our Christmas tree are decorated lavishly with all the  traditional trimmings, bells, stockings, wreaths etc.  Last year, my poor, sweet (and very  Jewish) mother-in-law decided to pay a visit during the holidays.  Her jaw dropped when she stepped foot in our front door.  I can only imagine what she was thinking.  She was probably thinking, “What on earth happened to my sweet boy, who visits on Friday evenings for Shabbat dinner?”  I think she was even more confused, when she noticed a menorah and some presents wrapped in blue across the room.  I couldn’t let her linger in that state anymore. “We celebrate every holiday,” I explained . . . “particularly if presents are involved.”  However, I don’t think my statement shed any light on her confusion that night.

I have to say, I love this confusion that our family creates.  Last weekend, I went shopping at a gourmet chocolate store.  I told the salesman that I needed to buy an Advent calendar and also chocolate coins for Hanukah.  He asked, “Which holiday does your family celebrate?”  “Both,” I answered.  Again, he was confused.  “What’s so confusing about that?”, I asked.  “Right before Christmas, we celebrate Hanukah and all the gifts, potato latkes and the chocolate coins it brings.  Then a few days later, on Christmas Eve, we celebrate with the traditional turkey and trimmings, chocolate Yule log and the presents that Christmas brings.”  The poor salesman still looked confused.  I just don’t think our ecumenical philosophy, our fusion of religions and traditions, is well understood by too many people.

And then, after New Years Eve, it’s just a beginning…for before long, on March 20^th, the first day of spring, we celebrate the Persian New Year and all its festivities that linger on for two weeks!  My poor husband Joel!  His life was definitely simpler before I came along.  Not to mention his wallet, that is referred to as the “ever shrinking wallet” each year come December through March. 

In truth, I think the world would be a much better place if we all celebrated and revered not only our own religious traditions and holidays, but also those of other peoples and faiths.  That is certainly our view, and we are certainly raising our child Will to be loving and accepting towards all people and to be inclusive of everyone’s traditions.

But above all, I just love these holidays, its celebrations, traditions old and new, acceptance and mostly all the love it brings!