CLICmas #11
Welcome to window #11 of the CLICmas Advent Calendar! If you'd like a window of your own to strut your Christmas stuff in (or should that be stuffing - parp!) and have the chance of winning a Nintendo 3DS then email sam@cliconline.org.uk as soon as possible.
Why I Hate Christmas
I'm just going to start off by saying that I'm Jewish, but I really don't believe in a G-d. I was raised in a Jewish home but I've always felt Judaism is a race and a culture more than a religion.
So, anyway, I'm going to write this article about why I hate X-mas and what it's like being Jewish in very much a Christian culture. Also, what my family do for our winter festival, Channukah.
So, Imogen, why do you hate Christmas?
First of all, I just want to say that I think spending time with your family and showing how much you love each other is great. I don't, however, think that you should be made to spend time together for three days. You should love each other and see each other all the time. It's like Mother's and Father's day, I don't understand why I need to be told to love someone.
I hate Christmas because it's that lovely time of year I get treated like a freak because god-forbid I don't celebrate it. I'm sorry for having my own opinion on something. It's also that lovely time of year when suicide rating go up because people are being pressured by adverts and corporate fat cats to spend lots and lots of money on people. Some people really just can't afford presents for their families and get very depressed that they aren't able to give them 'the perfect Christmas'.
Others spend way too much and when January comes they can't afford to pay bills, credit cards or even buy food, so they think suicide is the only way out. Also, because Christmas is about togetherness and family, it really just makes people who don't have anyone feel even more alone than they already did.
Finally, the third reason why I freaking hate Christmas is because the only reason it exists is because the Christian church wanted more followers. So, they stole the Pagan's Winter Solstice and made it about Jesus. Which I find a little ironic, seeing as one of the Ten Commandments is 'Thou shalt not steal.' What's really more ironic is the fact that Christmas is the ONLY winter festival that has let corporate fat cats sell its soul to make lots and lots of money.
And, no, I'm not criticising the people who believe in G-d so they can have hope. I'm talking about the fundamentalist douche bags (sorry, I tried really hard to keep this PG, but there is no other word to describe them) who use G-d as an excuse to be racist, homophobic and just generally ignorant! Oh, how all-loving of you!
Okay, giant ass rant aside, I'm going to talk about what I and my family do for Channukah.
Channukah is usually around the same time as Christmas, unfortunately last year, it was just before the Christmas holidays and that really sucked. But this year it starts on the 20th and goes on during Christmas, which is awesome because my girlfriend does Christmas and I get to spend time with her.
Channukah this year will be a bit different because my parents got divorced this summer, so I won't be with all of my family and my sister usually does her own thing with her boyfriend for Channukah anyway.
Usually, at every sundown for the eight days, we light the Hanukkah or Menorah, say a few prayers and sing songs in Hebrew, exchange presents, play dreidel (A dreidel is a die you spin and on each side are Hebrew letters. The letters symbolise an action. The game is played with chocolate coins (gelt) and the aim is to get the most chocolate coins so you win), eat oil-based food like donuts and latkes and just spend time together.
Channukah is very important to me because it’s a part of my Jewish heritage. I may not believe in a G-d but I respect my heritage and culture. I think it's a real shame Channukah and other winter festivals of light – such as Diwali, Yule, Sadeh and Saturnalia – don't have as much focus as Christmas.
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Information » Health » Emotional and Mental Health » Suicide
Disclaimer:
Here at the CLIC network we love opinions. Everyone has them, and everyone has the right to express and discuss what they believe, and we will always be here to help you do that. All we ask in return is that you respect the opinions of others. If you disagree with something which has been said, we encourage you to leave a comment or write your own article in response.
All views expressed on CLIConline and the CLIC local sites are those of young people across Wales, and not necessarily representative of CLIC itself.
5 Comments – Post a comment
eddie secretary
Commented 2 months ago - 12th December 2011 - 01:17am
Hey, i have to say that this article has made me think, although i am a thinker anyways, this one has made me think about how Christian this Country is anyways even though we as a Country claim to accept any race or religion,
AddictedToDrPepper1
Commented 2 months ago - 12th December 2011 - 22:34pm
Exactly, excepting and encouraging diversity my ass!
emb789
Commented 2 months ago - 13th December 2011 - 00:54am
The thing the country doesn't know how to do is how to get the balance just right. All of the focus at this time of year is on Christmas, and I understand if people of other religions are annoyed when their religion gets completely overlooked.
What I don't agree with is things like the whole "SAYING MERRY CHRISTMAS IS RACIST" thing. It's a delicate thing, and honestly, you're making a pig's ear of it.
eddie secretary
Commented 2 months ago - 13th December 2011 - 01:43am
totally, lol, see it needs a Revolution to happen, what do you say to Revolting and Protesting for better Equality and Diversity withing the Media, Schools, Shops and General Communities and Local Authorities lol
personally i think if we can change a communities ideas of something first and work up it will go smoother
BethanTheBarmy
Commented 2 months ago - 13th December 2011 - 17:06pm
Christmas isn't really that much of a religious issue for a lot of families anymore. I know a family of Sikhs and they celebrate it and buy presents as much as the next family. I don't really think that the UK becoming so Christmassy is a sign of us not accepting diversity, but more a sign of how distant Christmas is getting from its true meaning.
We are dominantly a Christian country but we don't exclude other religions, so I think the issue is in retail and company dependence on an excuse to spend a lot of money, rather than an issue of race.
I love how you still respect your traditions and values regardless of how religious you are (or aren't), DrPepper. A great article, and it educates us in how families from non-celebrating religions view and live with Christmas. :)