Celebrating Both Christmas and Chanukah

I was brought up as a very religious Jewish young lady. In fact, I was only the second girl to be Bas Mitzvahed in my small western Pennsylvania town! At age 20 I married a nice Jewish fellow, we eventually had two children, and we enjoyed all the Jewish celebrations both at home, with our ever-growing extended families, and at the synagogue.

But after being divorced, I surprised even myself when I ended up marrying John, a Catholic. But before we married, we discussed that my children and I would remain Jewish, and John was very good about attending services with us and participating in the prayers and songs.

It was especially nice that the members of this small synagogue would charge just a nominal price and put on a complete holiday dinner for those of us who didn't have nearby family to be with when it came to the Passover seder and Chanukah with its potato latkes (pancakes) for instance, which all gave the flavor of favorite traditional holiday eating.

My daughter tried for many years to find a suitable Jewish husband but just couldn't find one. She, too, ended up with a Catholic man who is happy to help her decorate their home with a Christmas tree and Chanukah menorahs and other ornaments.

My son married a Southern Baptist girl with the understanding that their children would be brought up in both religions.

We began celebrating all the holidays, and since my grandchildren were born (they are now 11 and almost 14), every holiday of either religion they have been read (or read for themselves) the appropriate bible story that goes along with the holiday. I well remember the times when I'd get a phone call, "Grandma, can I tell you the story of (holiday)?" It was certainly my pleasure to listen with enjoyment.

Of course, this Grandma appreciates the years when Chanukah comes out close to Christmas so one box of gifts can be sent to Kansas from Florida!! But every other year when Chanukah comes out in early December, it means two different gift-giving times and celebrations. And the grandchildren certainly do not object to that!!