Christmas

[Jenn! 918]

Both muslim-- so no Xmas at our house.

Why would a Christian observe Ramadan anyway? To lose weight? To feel their SO's hunger pains? I never did understand that.

My family accepts why we don't celebrate Xmas.

Jackie

Yeah, I don't quite get that either. However if it was me and I fasted during Ramadan, then I would expect my husband to fast during Lent. If they both support each others religions thats ok and I guess it would be for no other reason than support, but for any other reason I wouldnt get it.

I fasted during Ramadan. And yes, it was for support. But I don't observe Lent, so....

[jordanianprincess 0]

Both muslim-- so no Xmas at our house.

Why would a Christian observe Ramadan anyway? To lose weight? To feel their SO's hunger pains? I never did understand that.

My family accepts why we don't celebrate Xmas.

Jackie

Yeah, I don't quite get that either. However if it was me and I fasted during Ramadan, then I would expect my husband to fast during Lent. If they both support each others religions thats ok and I guess it would be for no other reason than support, but for any other reason I wouldnt get it.

I fasted during Ramadan. And yes, it was for support. But I don't observe Lent, so....

Makes sense.

[hollyw 0]

My husband will be celebrating with me and my family this year and he is veryyyyyyy excited (especially because my father, the serious lawyer, dresses up as Santa and hands out presents). I answered Yes, but not in a religious way to the first question because my family does not celebrate Christmas in a religious way. We use it as a time to see lots of family, eat some good food, and have a great time. I did ask him a while ago if he would have gone to church with us if that was what we did and he said he wouldn't have minded. He's even said recently that he'd like to go to church on xmas just to see what it's like (not likely to happen though... usually too much cleaning up to do and presents to put under the tree and stockings to stuff for my neices and nephews).

I answered that I would be upset if he decided not to participate in xmas with me. I wouldn't be CRUSHED. But I would defiitely be a little upset, especially since I made a huge effort to do Ramadan with him, mostly just to show solidarity and support. I would feel like i made an effort to do with him something that was important to him and he didn't feel the need to do the same for me. Maybe that's just because Christmas is an important time in my family. We don't get to see each other a lot, but at xmas everyone comes together. It's not so much about the religion for me, but just being a fun time of the year. Luckily, I don't have that problem!

The third question does not apply.

[~Jackie~ 30]

I must be PMS'ing cuz this thread is getting under my skin. Before I step out of my 'easy going character' I'm gonna self-ban myself.

Jackie

(just how does one 'do ramadan'? It's not a verb or a social event.......as promised, I'm outta here for the duration)

[Henia 11]

Not trying to be a smart ### or start any fighting but what does this mean Sarah:We are both Muslim but we will celebrate Christmas as a cultural holiday rather than a religious one

I think she meant you would enjoy the secular parts of the holiday together, i.e. - family get togethers, a nice meal, exchanging gifts rather than going to church and thinking of it in religious terms.

Ahhh I see ok...DUH!

Well who doesnt like gathering and fun?

I do attend (when invited) to gathering...and have in the past been apart of celebrating with my family...and still would be to this day...but they have no holiday spirit, it seemed they only invited me years back to make sure they had me cornered so they could tell me how "I am going hell for leaving Christianiy" and try pushing pork down my throat! LOL! Ooo I love them! LOL!

Other then that... I like the whole "feel" Christmas...wish Eid was more like that... Even with all my efforts of decorating, preparing special foods and gifts it still pretty lame compared...LOL!

This is very interesting question Sarah...thanks for posting!

I have been dealing with explaining to my daughter why we donnot *celebrate* Christmas this for about 3-4 years now with daughter... And in a way I guess we do all celebrate Christmas since we live in a country where it is major holiday...so we look see all the pretty decorations and are in some way tied to it (whether from Christian relatives, office Xmas parties or school celebrations. She is still young enough where I cannot explain to her all things about religion (and other topics too) She has grew up in the US and is enrolled in a charter school which is not an Islamic school of course...and of course Christmas is celebrated here... also my family does celebrate Christmas (and my daughter has been known to be around them LOL!)....buuuuuut still the lights, the decorations and the fact all her peers celebrate it ...every year even though she knows why we donnot celebrate it ..she keeps asking me if we can celebrate Christmas...LOL! So basically she would a a tree and some gifts to open...LOL!

I do return reply cards to Xmas cards that I recieve from my Christian family and friends...(but I did the same for my Jewish collegues at their holidays too) ...kindly telling them thanks for thinking of us on their special holiday and pray their new year is fruitful and blessed. I try to look for the very plan and boring cards that have some abtract general meaning... Last year I found some that just simply said Blessings on the front in gold... I explained to my daughter that as a part of protocol and form of good equiette we return our greetings to our loved ones who celebrate Christmas so they know we love them and was happy they thought of us.

Also sometime around 24,25, 26 whenever I remember I sit down with my daughter and make a "small" prayer for the Pr. Issa (Jesus)(pbuh) just so she understands we as Muslims do follow all the Prophets including Pr. Issa... but I am very careful that our "prayer" and my story to her does not even slightly fall into shirk.

We donnot exchange any gifts on Christmas (with my daughter) and I explained her that we exchange our "gifts" on Eid al-Fitr .(with our Muslim and non_Muslim loved ones).. but there are times when I just give in and buy her something she asks me for in the shoppe. She does get alot of gifts and we do give gifts to anyone with a young child (since I feel it is wrong to debate religion with them)...She knows how and why we do this also.

Well I cannot make up any child-friendly stories about the Christmas tree ... or why when we have our Eid there are not the same lights and celebrations (outside our home) as there are for Christmas...but I pray she understands.

Anyway also since the moment I stepped the plane in Frankfurt (Nov 6 mind you!) I already saw all the Christmas frenzy going on in Europe and mooooooooore so in here the USA. *sigh*

We do celebrate brithdays, mother's day and return any greetings from any people of other faiths...

I have talked to my husband about the topic of celebrating holidays including Christmas alot... he does not celebrate any holidays including birthdays and the Prophet's birthday (which some do celebrate in Algerie)... but is not against celebrating *some* esp if it for the children and if he is invited by my family for some holiday he said he would go.

Also another funny thing: when I was in Algerie..I saw Christmas decorations and gift wrap several times...did anyone else see this is their countries? I thought it was pretty funny

Henia I have a question and maybe this will apply to others as well. If I am understanding correctly, you used to celebrate Christmas and then you converted. Then your daugter also converted or was expected to stop celebrating it all together? See this is what I don't get and I'm not even sure how I would handle in your shoes. But how do you just one day tell your children we are of another religion now and will no longer celebrate Christmas?

I don't get that.

I converted way before I had my daughter JP... I was a Orthodox Catholic (like you I think) and celebrated it my family's own little way (attending mass, gift exchange, even later on the Christmas tree when it became chic in my early teens) up until I converted 9 yrs.My daughter is 7 years old and about 3-4 years ago she discovered Christmas...(so that is why I wrote that)

I donnot and cannot except her to totally turn a blind eye to Christmas, since it is everywhere ...of course she wants to celebrate it.And I guess in our own little way we do... and if she is invitied to a gathering...I will not not allow her to go...as my family and most of my friends celebrate Christmas... but I am not going to put up a Christmas tree and go mass again. I donnot have any problem with *celebrating* it as a secular holiday but not a religious one.

Oh I see, ok the way I read it was that she used to celebrate it. So basically she was raised muslim, I see. Well you know there are alot of kids like that. My company has a mixture of backgrounds here, they all participate in the Christmas festivities one way or another. For my family its a very symbolic religious holiday, more than just the 25th. I am actually Greek Orthdox.

I do not mind her being a part of Christmas...I am just not going to go all out.. and actually my ex who is Muslim celebrated Christmas with his new wife (who is Catholic).. which I find funny since when we were married he forbid Christmas (even me going to my family's and/or friend's gatherings LOL)

[jordanianprincess 0]

I must be PMS'ing cuz this thread is getting under my skin. Before I step out of my 'easy going character' I'm gonna self-ban myself.

Jackie

(just how does one 'do ramadan'? It's not a verb or a social event.......as promised, I'm outta here for the duration)

I think to "do" Ramadan would be the same as to celebrate Christmas in a non-religios way.

[Henia 11]

Chistmas should be interesting...I don't think he was expecting to have to deal with christmas, being just another day and all. A couple of weeks ago at my nephew's birthday when the rest of my family was there and we were discussing where thanksgiving and christmas dinners will be, I think was the first time it came up, since its my turn to have christmas at my house LOL. Its at our house and its on. We will need a tree and to fix up the place like its christmas time..... He isn't objecting at all, but I am detecting some surprise.

I'll tell you what he is interested in...black Friday. He was asking me if it was a holiday or what and I explained how it was all about everybody shopping and being at the stores before they open and getting good deals if you are early. He wants to see this so we will be at best buy or somewhere beating the crowds early early...I've never looked forward to that before, but this is going to be more fun I think.

Y ou crack me up Dawn...Black Friday! I did not even see people getting into the *shopping spirit* for Eid... yes people did buy their Eid clothes for the kids and people in their 20s...but that was it. So I guess I am pretty curious about my husband's reaction to Black Friday too..(if he ever is in the US for one)...I was telling him about people at my local Target camping out for the new Play Station 3 and how it was selling for $600 and how people were buying them up to sell on eBay for 1000s of $...he laughed and told me to buy 2 so I can sell them eBay tooo...and come back to him sooner!

My husband will be celebrating with me and my family this year and he is veryyyyyyy excited (especially because my father, the serious lawyer, dresses up as Santa and hands out presents). I answered Yes, but not in a religious way to the first question because my family does not celebrate Christmas in a religious way. We use it as a time to see lots of family, eat some good food, and have a great time. I did ask him a while ago if he would have gone to church with us if that was what we did and he said he wouldn't have minded. He's even said recently that he'd like to go to church on xmas just to see what it's like (not likely to happen though... usually too much cleaning up to do and presents to put under the tree and stockings to stuff for my neices and nephews).

I answered that I would be upset if he decided not to participate in xmas with me. I wouldn't be CRUSHED. But I would defiitely be a little upset, especially since I made a huge effort to do Ramadan with him, mostly just to show solidarity and support. I would feel like i made an effort to do with him something that was important to him and he didn't feel the need to do the same for me. Maybe that's just because Christmas is an important time in my family. We don't get to see each other a lot, but at xmas everyone comes together. It's not so much about the religion for me, but just being a fun time of the year. Luckily, I don't have that problem!

The third question does not apply.

Ye!!! Yea Holly..you get a triple whammy this year girl...celebrate Christmas, then Eid al_adha then New Years with your husband....

[Jenn! 918]

I must be PMS'ing cuz this thread is getting under my skin. Before I step out of my 'easy going character' I'm gonna self-ban myself.

Jackie

(just how does one 'do ramadan'? It's not a verb or a social event.......as promised, I'm outta here for the duration)

I think to "do" Ramadan would be the same as to celebrate Christmas in a non-religios way.

I don't understand. Is it considered offensive to fast during Ramadan if one is not Muslim? Or was it just the phrase "do Ramadan"?

[jordanianprincess 0]

I must be PMS'ing cuz this thread is getting under my skin. Before I step out of my 'easy going character' I'm gonna self-ban myself.

Jackie

(just how does one 'do ramadan'? It's not a verb or a social event.......as promised, I'm outta here for the duration)

I think to "do" Ramadan would be the same as to celebrate Christmas in a non-religios way.

I don't understand. Is it considered offensive to fast during Ramadan if one is not Muslim? Or was it just the phrase "do Ramadan"?

I'm not quite sure, I don't think either one is offensive.

[hollyw 0]

I must be PMS'ing cuz this thread is getting under my skin. Before I step out of my 'easy going character' I'm gonna self-ban myself.

Jackie

(just how does one 'do ramadan'? It's not a verb or a social event.......as promised, I'm outta here for the duration)

I think to "do" Ramadan would be the same as to celebrate Christmas in a non-religios way.

I don't understand. Is it considered offensive to fast during Ramadan if one is not Muslim? Or was it just the phrase "do Ramadan"?

Hmm.. I didn't mean to offend anyone.

celebrate Ramadan? observe Ramadan? participate in Ramadan?

[sarah and hicham 3]

I must be PMS'ing cuz this thread is getting under my skin. Before I step out of my 'easy going character' I'm gonna self-ban myself.

Jackie

(just how does one 'do ramadan'? It's not a verb or a social event.......as promised, I'm outta here for the duration)

I'm sorry Jackie I didn't mean to make you upset. I don't really understand why this thread is bothering you so much, but either way I'm sorry.

[Ban Hammer 13,474]

I'm not quite sure, I don't think either one is offensive.

i think it would only be offensive to those who want to be offended

[peezey 0]

I must be PMS'ing cuz this thread is getting under my skin. Before I step out of my 'easy going character' I'm gonna self-ban myself.

Jackie

(just how does one 'do ramadan'? It's not a verb or a social event.......as promised, I'm outta here for the duration)

I can't imagine why you are being so obtuse. You know what she means. Ramadan was only a month ago and this kind of thing was discussed then. You know non-muslims supported their spouses during Ramadan by fasting and cooking special meals and visiting family. Everyone doesn't see this kind of thing with such ridigity. What exactly is your problem? If their SO is thankful for the thoughtfulness, then that's all that matters.

Some african americans do not eat pork, not because they are muslim, but because it's been adopted as a symbol of un-identifying with slavery. So if I marry an AA, and he doesn't eat pork, and I choose to support him by not buying bacon for the rest of my dying days, am I just trying to lose weight? Or am I being a decent wife?

[sarah and hicham 3]

I must be PMS'ing cuz this thread is getting under my skin. Before I step out of my 'easy going character' I'm gonna self-ban myself.

Jackie

(just how does one 'do ramadan'? It's not a verb or a social event.......as promised, I'm outta here for the duration)

I can't imagine why you are being so obtuse. You know what she means. Ramadan was only a month ago and this kind of thing was discussed then. You know non-muslims supported their spouses during Ramadan by fasting and cooking special meals and visiting family. Everyone doesn't see this kind of thing with such ridigity. What exactly is your problem? If their SO is thankful for the thoughtfulness, then that's all that matters.

Some african americans do not eat pork, not because they are muslim, but because it's been adopted as a symbol of un-identifying with slavery. So if I marry an AA, and he doesn't eat pork, and I choose to support him by not buying bacon for the rest of my dying days, am I just trying to lose weight? Or am I being a decent wife?

answer: a decent wife.

[jpaula 20]

I long ago introduced my husband to the Jewish Christmas tradition--Chinese food and a movie