* Oink* Just want to say dispite the Christmas season, we should still remember the Jewish and Hanakkah?
924817
Thanks for remembering us! Appreciate it;)
744412
I see nothing wrong with honoring a person with a cenotaph, so neither do I see anything wrong with honoring Jesus on a day that was not his birthday.  Not that Christmas is only about Jesus or Christianity anymore.  I personally like some of its secular aspects, though, like most people, I regret that it has become so commercialized.
794528
I agree. Saying holiday break instead of Christmas break is a joke. However, I respect others opinions and faiths, but I should be able to say mine as well as them theirs.
782137
My husband and I don't celebrate Christmas in any way. When possible, I offer to work for those who are scheduled to work so that they can celebrate their holiday.\n\nWe are neo-pagans but we don't celebrate a religious holiday in December.  Since our religion is Celtic, we would be correct to have a feast, a holiday tree, wreaths and mistletoe--even though we choose not to.  The Romans occupied the Celtic lands (before Christianity was introduced) and lived with the Celts, so it would also be acceptable for us to burn candles and exchange gifts---even though we choose not to.  So if you take away all of the pagan parts of the season, how much is left?  How do Christians celebrate the birth of their god?  How ever you do it, we don't choose to do that either.
17430
Everyone's trying to be so multi-religion friendly now, they don't know what to do.  What do you call it if you're showing "A Christmas Story" on TV 24 hours a day on Dec. 24?  A "holiday marathon"?  Everyone needs to relax and just call it what it is.  Of course, it would make more sense if there were some channels that broadcast other material, but at least we'd be honest about what's being broadcast.
830954
That's true. But remember, we have to be PC now --- it's Xmas, not Christmas. God forbid we say the word "Christ". Someone might be offended. Poor, poor non-Christians. They might even get saved!
332233
I don't celebrate Hanukkah but i think the best place could be as simple as Wal-mart. I heard of people getting game boys or games. I think the dollar would even be ok. Well, maybe ur really religious you should give maybe pop up bible stories or maybe even make something. I'm not really sure. There are stores that sell especially religious stuff and you should check one out.
353961
I like Christmas. Not because of the Santa thing, that's all commericalism to get us to spend money on worthless BS. And not because of the Jesus birth thing either, because I don't buy into that mythology. But oh, man, a lot of people do! Which means that I get the most time off for this holiday. Very, very important.
838680
It is quite obvious that most of the people that replied to this really don't know what Messianic Judiasm is.  A person who practices Judiasm is someone who does not believe that Christ is the Messiah.  Jewish people recognize that Christ existed but like I said don't believe that he is the Messiah/Savior.  They are in fact still waiting for their Messiah.  On the other hand, A Messianc Jew is someone who practices all the same rituals of the Jewish faith BUT they ALSO believe that Christ IS the Messiah.  Bottom line, is that they are Christians who still practice the rituals(laws) of the old testament  but they believe that Christ is in fact their messiah.  Now, having said that, ANYONE can be a Messianic Jew as long as you have both of these elements.  You do NOT have to have been born a Jew.  The openly embrace anyone who has come to this realization.  It requires a great deal of study of the old testament (which they do so lovingly) and they embrace the traditions of Hanukkah.  Christmas is rejected not because they don't believe that Jesus (Jeshua - Hebrew name for Jesus) was the messiah, (because they DO), but because Christmas is really a pagan holiday.  It's a made - up holiday, who's origins really have nothing to do with Christ at all, and because they believe it's totally against God to do anything outside of the bible.  Christmas as we know it is not even mentioned in the bible.  Christmas trees, ornaments and all the fluff and stuff of Christmas they feel is a slap in Christ's face.  They believe that most people who "practice" Christmas don't even THINK about Christ and do it only for the exchange of gifts. And most of us reading this, know that to be exactly the case.  In fact, it's highly doubtful that Christ was even born in December.  Many scholars believe that His birthdate was actually around early September.  In any case, the Messianic faith is a BEAUTIFUL blending of old Jewish traditions/laws from the old testament AND that Jesus (Jeshua) is LORD/SAVIOUR and Messiah.  I know because my brother and his family have practiced this faith for many years.   I am a born again Christian myself and my brother has greatly taught me a lot about the old testatment and the festivals.  It was on his heart to do so as well.   He came to this realization while as a Christian he began studying the old testament at great length and in particular the mosaic laws.  Christian faiths alone don't practice all the festivals because they have interpreted the bible to read that once Christ was given it negated the need to live by the Mosaic law from the old testament.  Messianic jews interpret the bible differently in that the Messiah's coming did NOT mean that you didn't need to still continue the laws and practices from the old testament.  If it's in your heart to follow these laws/practices, then do so.  G-d in fact may be tugging at your heart to do so.  My brother found great joy in this, lived it every day of his converted life and praised the saving grace of Jesus (Jeshua) to anyone that would listen.  Continue to study on your own and the Lord will lead you to exactly where He wants you to go.
939818
I always celebrate Yule and Christmas I am a pagan well I am  a witch and I follow a celtic path so I honour all of the traditional pagan sabbats.\n\nMy only wish is that people could extend their goodwill throughout the year instead of keeping it to one particular time of year but as that is never going to happen I shan't hold my breath.
701478
If I use Xmas I am just being a lazy typist...:)\n\nChristmas reminds me of when I was a little girl.\nChristmas was times spent with my parents and all of us and our children spending time together.\nChristmas was a special time when I still had a family in place.\n\nI will never stop saying "Christmas"  and I don't care how politcally incorrect this word would seem. Schools have taken this special time away from the children in order to be politically correct.  We are still a Christian country and I don't care if other sects or religions feel we should change this.\nIt is sad we have come to this stage, really sad.
927817
Happy Hannukah, Happy Chanukah, Happy Holidays, are all appropriate.  The first two refer to the 8-day Jewish celebration.\n\nMy best friend of 30 years, a teacher, is of the Jewish faith.  Receiving a gift with "Happy Hannukah" on it makes it more  special as the student took the time to remember his/her teacher is not Christian.  \n\nYour gift to your Jewish professor will coincide with the gifts you are planning to give to your Christian professors, as Chanukah in 2006 begins at sundown on December 15 with the first full day of this Jewish celebration on December 16.
687098
Yes, I celebrate the eight traditional sabbats; or did while My Steve, my high priest, was alive.  Now I mostly note that they have come (he died just before Yule), and remember what we would have done in our rituals.\n\nI also celebrate the Christian holidays because my friends and neighbors include me in their celebrations, and I notice the Jewish holidays because Steve's mother and sister are Jews.  He was too, genetically, but he always said I liked Jews better than he did!\n\nPersonally, I say any excuse for a party!
25275
It's something made up by uneducated Jews, who,  feeling left out of the 'christmas tree thing', make up something called the hannukah bush. It's pretty sad when you think about it.
848708
It was a bit ludicrous for them to remove the name Christmas in the interest of political correctness from their Christmas decorations. If a product is designed specifically in celebration of a certain holiday, why would one then withhold the name of the holiday from the product? \nChrist is the reason for the holiday. If you don't celebrate Christmas you probably won't be buying Christmas decorations anyway. I don't spend a lot of time Menorah shopping, but I don't get offended if I see one somewhere, anywhere...Hanukkah is a wonderful holiday as well.
703713
My family celebrates Christmas and we have Jewish friends who celebrate Hanukkah. It's fun to visit & join in thier celebrations and include them in ours.
877403
That's because now that it's a federal holiday, it has turned into a secular celebration. Christians have stolen practically all of their holiday traditions from pagan ritual.\n\nDo you honestly think Jesus was born on December 25th?\n\nChristmas isn't an exclusively Christian holiday, little miss possessive. Do you want us to stop eating, drinking, having parties, and being merry simply because you don't like the idea of us non-believers celebrating a pagan holiday?\n\nFor a Christian, you sure are spiteful. Tsk tsk.