Comments on: The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

By: Glenda Peattie

Glenda Peattie — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 22:06:16 +0000

I agree with the sentiments of the other commenters. I am not a reliqious person at all, but do enjoy the holiday season as a time to get together and appreciate family and friends. Regarding Christmas with this outlook doesn’t exclude persons from any religion.

By: Kimberly Thompson

Kimberly Thompson — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 17:14:42 +0000

I can see where the writer is coming from in this article, but I also think that, despite whether we label it “christmas,” or “Hanukkah,” it is still a very special time of year to both religions. You don’t have to be Christian or Jewish to invoke the meaning of December 25th. Yes, it is 8 days long for the Jewish religion, while Christians celebrate it in a very different nature due to their faith and beliefs. For those that claim Christmas is becoming more commercialized, I have to oppose the fact that it is with the intent to offend any other religion(s). In the Christian Faith, we celebrate by purchasing gifts, eating a big dinner, coming together with our family and friends, and worshiping the idea of the virgin birth. However, if one analyzes these points, there are some similarities between what Christmas means to us and what “hanukkah” means to jews. While we don’t believe in the same REASON to celebrate this holiday (ie…it is a minor holiday for jews and a major holiday for the Christian religion), jews still celebrate with their families and friends, they still come together to celebrate just as we do. In conclusion, I don’t believe that non-christians are excluded at all during the Christmas season. Their faith is different, and every holiday is an optional festivity to take part in any way you would like. Just because Jews do it differently doesn’t make our method of celebration any better than theirs or vice-versa.

By: Ben Donald

Ben Donald — Fri, 25 Dec 2009 01:38:50 +0000

Since, as you say, the celebrations many Americans enjoy are not religiously based, I do not feel that you need to be a certain religion to enjoy them. I am Jewish as well, yet I look forward to this time of year. I enjoy the festive spirit and warmth that accompanies the holiday season. There doesn’t have to be conflict between the holidays, they should not be used as a basis for competition. Every December, I look forward to the happiness, generosity, and togetherness that ultimately result from Christmas or Hanukkah or any other holiday — even if it is their commercial form.