Every November and December, malls, shopping centers, parks, neighborhoods, and more will decorate for the holiday season, especially for Christmas. Yes, Christmas is one of the most widely celebrated holidays in the world, marked by traditions like exchanging gifts, decorating trees, eating festive meals, and listening to music made for the holiday season. These traditions, especially on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, leave other people out, like us Jews. Although we have Hanukkah, there are many things we can do to embrace Christmas and the holiday season. Otherwise, it may seem overwhelming and annoying as most of us don’t celebrate. 

A great way to celebrate Christmas Eve and Day is to spend time with your Jewish family and friends and enjoy being lazy at home while most places are closed. You can bond by playing games, watching movies, or just simply relaxing with each other. 

It is also a common tradition among Jews on Christmas to go out for Chinese food, as many Chinese restaurants remain open. This is fun to do with your friends and family, and you can enjoy a delicious meal. This is definitely one of my favorite Jewish traditions on Christmas. 

Lastly, on Christmas Day, I hang out with my non-Jewish friends, celebrate their holiday with them, and learn about their own family traditions. In exchange, I usually invite them over for a night of Hanukkah so they can do the same and learn about Jewish holiday traditions. You don’t have to participate in the religious parts of Christmas, but who doesn’t enjoy the coziness of the holiday and eating the traditional tasty Christmas feast?

It doesn’t matter what you choose to do on Christmas, just make the most of it, even though it may not be perfect. It is a great time to connect with others and relax.