Being a Member of the Tribe (Jewish), I have never celebrated Christmas, but it doesn't mean that I'm any less in the spirit than anyone else. In fact, as I type this, I'm listening to the Christmas station on Pandora. Though Hanukkah is my favorite holiday, it always comes earlier than Christmas and I like to continue to celebrate. This is everyone's favorite time of the year and joining in on the festivities is all part of the fun. So here's a list of how Jewish girls "celebrate" too:
1. The Lights
I love driving around different neighborhoods every night and seeing each house beautifully lit up and decorated. We decorate our house inside for Hanukkah and it looks incredible, but seeing lit up candy canes and blow-up Santas and roofs lined with giant lights outside lets everyone celebrate with them. But every Jewish girl knows that if they find Hanukkah lights in the tiny section at the store, they have to buy them.
2. The Lifetime Christmas Movies
My mom and I have a tradition of watching the cheesy romantic Christmas movies starting even before Thanksgiving. It feels so spirited and festive to sit with a cup of hot chocolate while wrapping presents by the fireplace with a Christmas movie playing.
3. The Christmas Shows In The City
My fully Jewish family and I go see the Christmas lights in Philly or New York every year. The Macy's Christmas light show and Christmas Village, the Comcast Holiday Spectacular, Franklin Square, are worth the trip and can't be missed!
4. Christmas Cookie Scented Candles
It seems small, but when those candles come out, I know it's time for the holidays, and I don't know what people put in those Christmas cookies, but wow.
5. All Of The Stores Being Decorated
It's so much more fun to go shopping when the stores are decorated and in the spirit. (And it's nearly impossible to make shopping any more fun than it already is.)
6. Christmas Music
I love Christmas music. Michael Bublé's album is one of the most amazing things I have ever heard, and of course, you can't drive to look at lights without the Christmas radio on. My personal favorite Christmas song is "Baby It's Cold Outside."
7. TV Christmas Specials
My personal favorite is Emmet Otter's Jug Band Christmas. If you haven't seen it, put it on your must-see list for this year! Muppets and music and Christmas = Pure joy! I also love Elf, Rudolph, The Grinch, and of course, The Heat Miser! (I love Christmas, but wouldn't mind a little extra warmth in December.)
8. Santa In The Mall
I've been known to take a photo with Santa and tell him what I'd like for Christmas. I may get eight nights' worth of presents, but somehow telling Santa what I'd like for Christmas still brings out the kid in me.
9. Local "Main Street" Holiday Celebrations
Collingswood and Haddonfield are so beautifully decorated in South Jersey, and they do candlelight shopping and pipe in music. It's like living inside a Christmas snow globe!
10. Christmas Food and Drink
Egg nog. Christmas cookies. Hot cocoa. Candy canes. I mean, Hanukkah gelt is yummy (chocolate coins for those who don't know), but really, a cupcake decorated like a Christmas Tree? That's good stuff.
So even though I don't celebrate Christmas, and I wouldn't trade Hanukkah for it either, I'm still allowed to be in the spirit, right?
P.S. Here's a little TBT from two years ago:
