Any family can tell you about their Christmas plans of sitting around a huge ham or maybe 7 different types of fish as their family members itch through woolen sweaters in front of a roaring fire place. Around 92% of Christians and 81% of non Christians who celebrate the most wonderful time of the year can promise that Christmas is the best holiday ever. Now, if you ask a Jewish person, it is likely they will say something similar.

For many years it has been a joke that Jews have nothing better to do on Christmas than eat some take out and watch a movie. Considering we do this almost every weekend it's no wonder we love dedicating a holiday to it so it so pigging out and being lazy can be justified. Jews don’t hate Christmas. On the contrary quite in fact! The holiday season is a time for everyone to be together and more importantly, eat. Although Jews do not celebrate Christmas in the traditional ways we can’t help but feel left out when a large majority of the country is celebrating and every diner and store is closed! What started out as a night of killing time by getting America’s favorite take out food and hitting a movie theater soon turned into a national tradition that virtually everyone has heard about.

Being a Jew myself, I can't help but be overwhelmed with excitement at the thought of reserving a table at my favorite Asian fusion restaurant after purchasing tickets to whatever smash hit box-office-rave movie is in theaters. I almost ALWAYS run into someone I know from temple at the theater or restaurant. What I find most enjoyable about Christmas is being able to celebrate a national holiday in an unconventional way that many other people are doing, too. If school was closed for a reason it makes sense to participate in that reason! We don’t want to come off as disrespectful or lazy! However, I have always wanted to attend a real Christmas dinner and decorate a big tree as people shared stories and exchanged gifts. I won’t lie, getting caught under a mistletoe is the dream of many girls but, alas, that dream will remain a dream. I shouldn't complain, though, the holidays are a time for everyone of all religions, races, ethnicities, and beliefs. Just because I don't celebrate one holiday in its traditional sense does not mean I can't celebrate it in my own unique fun way with others. But hey, to a Jew, Christmas is a sign that Hanukkah is right around the corner.