From October through December, American Jews - and perhaps Jews elsewhere, too - boggle my mind.
On October 30 they stock up on treats, some healthy like apples and oranges, some less so, like candy bars.
On October 31 they either take their kids "trick or treating" or they wait by their front doors for little costumed children to come up and knock or ring the bell.
Later on, in December, many go out to buy a "Hanukah bush" be it real or artificial.
Why not, they ask; Halloween and Christmas are "American" holidays.
Maybe Easter, too; after all, everyone loves bunnies, especially chocolate ones.
And let's not forget Valentine's Day on February 14th. Another "American" holiday.
Friends, these are NOT "American holidays."
The fourth of July is an American holiday.
Thanksgiving is an American holiday.
Ditto Presidents, Labor, and Memorial days.
But not Halloween, Christmas, Valentine's Day, or even Easter.
Civil New Year's Day - now that, when you know it's origin, is a JEWISH celebration.
Most of the non-Jewish holidays celebrated by less educated Jews originally were pagan holidays.
Halloween was a holiday to placate ghosts and goblins. Even though it was taken over by the dominant belief as the Eve of All Saints, the original activities remain; give the now tiny ghosts and goblins a treat or they will trick you.
What's disappointing is that many of these "Halloween Jews" either fail to celebrate the Jewish "costume" holiday - that's Purim in case it slipped your mind - or they only celebrate the party aspect, ignoring "the whole megilla."
Of course, to be fair, Jews TAKE presents to others (mesloach manot) rather than go door to door demanding treats. OK, I know some Black Hat Jews who go from house to house for a small liquid acknowledgement of the holiday - but after the megilla.
Christmas was a mid-winter holiday when the days were shortest. The pagans needed some celebration to assure them that they would survive until Spring. The believers, in their wisdom, decided their god was born in December to give their world hope for a redemption.
Even the Christmas "trimmings" were taken from the pagans - the tree, yule log, and mistletoe - a poisonous berry. Funny enough, another poisonous plant also is associated with this celebration - the colorful poinsettia. I'm amused that their god's birth is celebrated with two fatal flowers.
Because of its commercial success, Hanukah has been commercialized beyond anything known in Israel.
Somewhere along the line the date was fixed as December 25.
Now, count 8 days . . .
Day 1 December 25
Day 2 December 26
Day 3 December 27
Day 4 December 28
Day 5 December 29
Day 6 December 30
Day 7 December 31
Day 8 January 1
An "ah ha" moment.
If you still don't get it, the Roman church calls the day "The Feast of the Circumcision." If a Jew must celebrate any non-Jewish and non-national holiday, this should top the list. In Israel, the non-observant call it Sylvester. Why "Sylvester?" No idea.
Valentine's Day - Judaism has it's own version of a romantic Valentine's Day and Sadie Hawkins Day mixed together. I associate Valentine's Day with a Chicago event when members of Al Capone's gang murdered 7 members of Bugsy Moran's gang.
Easter, like Christmas, is a pagan holiday adopted by Jesus' followers, again, with the idea of redemption.
I can understand the Easter egg; even within Judaism is has a life symbolism.
But, with no apologies to Cadbury, BUNNIES laying eggs? Franklin, my strictly kosher rabbit, never laid an egg in all his almost 14 years with us.
WE HAVE HOLIDAYS to celebrate OUR HERITAGE.
We do NOT need to steal or mimic others' holidays.
We have national holidays we can enjoy with all our neighbors, regardless of their belief. Thanksgiving is the "Big Meal" holiday that, sadly, some Jews elect to denigrate. (See http://yohanon.blogspot.com/2011/11/thanksgiving.html)
I gladly celebrate the U.S. Independence Day, and I just as gladly celebrate Israel's Independence Day. I confess: I like fireworks displays.
As a veteran, I celebrate Veteran's/Memorial Day, although I didn't see any paper poppies this year. Since I work - contrary to what some would say - I also celebrate Labor Day. In fact, I'll celebrate almost any national holiday that rolls around; as we say in Bet Shean, כל סיבה למסיבה .
I'll end this rant by reminding all - and most frequent visitors to this blog need no reminding - that we HAVE holidays and holy days to celebrate; we don't need to copy, borrow, or otherwise adopt non-Jewish and non-national holidays. Let's celebrate OUR Jewish holidays and holy days and the national holidays and let the non-Jews celebrate theirs.
Maybe when the non-Jews start celebrating Tisha b'Av and Yom Kippur I'll consider - consider - celebrating on New Year's eve.
