18 December 2007

Meaning what?

Back in college a ditsy girl was quizzing a Jewish friend about Christmas.

"But, like, don't you do SOMETHING for Christmas?" the ditz asked.

"Yes, I do," said my Jewish pal. "I fly, like all other Jews fly. We get on airplanes and go somewhere and it is so fabulous because no one else is flying and there is plenty of room to stretch out. We call it Jewish Flying Day."

I thought that was hilarious and a great story, but Ditsy wasn't going to give up.

"But you celebrate, right?"

My friend fixed her with a razor gaze.

"I. Do. Not. Know. How. I. Can. Convey. To. You. How. Little. Christmas. Means. To. Me." she said, in a tone that let Miss Ditz know that she had better shut up.

The weird part is that I feel the same way. I don't know how I ended up so curmudgeonly, but if someone announced that Christmas was cancelled this year, my only question would be "So do we still get a long weekend?"

The only reason I do any traditional things at all is to fit in with other people. Other than that, I do not care.

To change the subject from my freakish musings, here is a question: What is your favorite Christmas carol?

Mine? O Holy Night.

17 comments:

super des said...

fave carol: carol of the bells.

I'm flying on xmas eve. I'm not happy about it. However, I get to break the news to my fam that I am *not* coming out for xmas ever again. I'll come out some other time that is easier and less stressful.

Average Jane said...

As evidenced by the fact that my only Christmas decorations this year are a wreath on either side of my front door, I'm in the same frame of mind. At this point in my life, I love giving my niece and nephew gifts, but other than that...meh.

Oh, and I'm an "O Holy Night" fan as well.

Anonymous said...

Jewish Flying Day. I love it!

Growing up in NYC, my Catholic father always referred to Yom Kippur as The Feast Of The Immediate Seating. (You can go to any restaurant and get a table because all the Jews are fasting.)

Anonymous said...

Yeah..."O Holy Night" does it for me as well.

lizgwiz said...

I'm partial to "Silent Night" and "What Child is This."

Some years I get excited about Christmas, and some years I don't. This is a "don't" year. I blame my cable outage, and the fact that I'm missing all my favorite cheesy made-for-TV Christmas movies.

Mauigirl said...

Great post, love "Jewish Flying Day."

I agree. I am definitely on the curmudgeon side. In fact, this year we may not even put up a tree! One part of me is saying "But you HAVE to! You'll regret it if you don't!" and the other part says "But only on that one day. The day AFTER Christmas I'll be SO HAPPY there is no tree waiting to be taken down and hanging around for two more weeks while I procrastinate." We shall see which side wins.

Favorite carol: Same as yours, O Holy Night.

jess said...

We must stop this - my favorite carol is O Holy Night, and I actually own about 8 different versions of it. My favorite is Tracy Chapman's version, followed by the classic beauty of Josh Groban's version.

I love presents, so that part of Christmas I like. But, yeah, at the end of the day, I could totally live without it and all the stress.

Kizz said...

Silent Night. Especially as done by the Muppets.

meno said...

*sung to the tune of Deck the Halls*

Throw the Christians to the lions, fa la la la la ...
Hear 'em scream and watch 'em dyin', fa la etc.
Blood and gore and bodies flyin', fa la etc
See the lions, they're all smilin', Fa la etc.


Now who's a cynic?

LittlePea said...

I like O Holy Night too.

The glitter of Christmas wore off for me the year I worked at the mall during a Holiday season. As a Christian, I see it as a real and joyful spiritual celebration but all the other stuff could disappear for all I care. We put up a few lights but no tree or stockings. I think I would only start doing all the traditional things for my future(hypothetical) kids. My husband and I are just going to go shopping together in lieu of gifts. It's just easier that way....

Count Mockula said...

This is freakin' me out -- MY favorite Christmas carol is "O Holy Night," too!

But that's where the resemblance ends. I like Christmas a lot.

Christina said...

Yeah, I don't think I'd be that upset if Christmas was canceled this year, as long as my husband still got the day off to be home and help with the girls.

My fav. carol? O Come, O Come Emmanuel - only when sung a capella in a Gregorian chant arrangement. Gorgeous. Away in a Manger would be next, only because it was sung so much when I was a child.

Julie Marsh said...

On one hand, that story cracks me up. But on the other hand, it makes me want to smack Ditsy Girl.

Ditto super des re holiday travel. I put my foot down three years ago, and I won't budge anytime soon. Spend $1K+ for the joy of hauling a family of four (soon to be five) across the country? F*ck that.

But I do love the carols: O Holy Night, Jesu Joy of Man's Desiring, Hallelujah Chorus, and Do You Hear What I Hear are my fave religious ones, and I looove Johnny Mathis singing Marshmallow World.

Alicia said...

Depends on who sings it. Either O Holy Night or The Christmas Song (by Nat King Cole).

Anonymous said...

I agree with you. I couldn't care less about Christmas, and I am Jewish. And it has nothing to do with being Jewish, because we did the Christmas and the Hanukkah thing growing up. I just don't care for the fake, forced, sugary happy happy that we're all supposed to feel right now, because the rest of the year finds people behaving horribly.

My favorite Christmas carol is Ukrainian Bell Carol, which probably isn't an actual carol, but I used to have to play it in band, and it rocks. I'm Ukrainian, too, so that doesn't hurt.

Major Bedhead said...

Fairytale Of New York - The Pogues. Not technically a carol, however. My favourite traditional Christmas song is I Saw Three Ships. Or Carol Of The Bells done by a hand bell chorus.

I'm not huge on Christmas either, but I have kids, so I fake it.

Unknown said...

I don't like any of them. I dislike holidays intensely. I'm gonna get drunk and sing sex pistols songs out my back door.

:)

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