Jewish MNers - what do you do on Christmas Day?

[EishetChayil]

Just curious!

I'm Jewish myself, and we mostly just treat it like a day off - nice food, a box set, etc. Maybe a Chinese ready meal

It usually feels more festive if Hanukkah falls around Christmas time, but it was so early this year.

I think we'll go to shul on Saturday. DH is calling it "Shabbat Christmas"!

Nice meal, lots of TV, a walk. I suppose not that different to Christmas for lots of people! It feels nice and special for a reason I can't really define. Perhaps just the permission to have a day off?

DP isn't Jewish though (oy) so we do give each other a gift. No tree. I'm not a very observant Jew though.

Tricky this year for lots of Jews who observe the Shabbat - no taxis to Chinatown or watching boxsets.

...

Not a lot but we do have Christmas pudding as a) it's yummy and b) it's the world's easiest dessert. Insert in microwave - eat. Everyone is not at work so it's a good day for a family meal.

I recently found out my grandmother was Jewish (we have a very weird broken family and it's a long story).

I've been really fascinated by it all and her family's story, trying to learn more. So I'm reading with interest, hope you don't mind

Well, DH is CofE and the Dcs are baptised as it was important to DH.

I do a full Christmas. :) We do alot of everything- Passover, Chanukah, Purim, and easter and Christmas as well. The children are just starting to understand they have a mixed religious heritage.

My DPs however (Dad Jewish, mum converted on marriage) would do Christmas with my mother's family until i was a teen. Now they do a mix of some Christmas stuff with friends, but only if they want to.

@yeahitlookslike

I recently found out my grandmother was Jewish (we have a very weird broken family and it's a long story).

I've been really fascinated by it all and her family's story, trying to learn more. So I'm reading with interest, hope you don't mind

That is a really exciting discovery! I'd love to hear the story if you feel comofrtable sharing, but clearly of course you may not wish to. But Jewish history is so rich, and I feel very lucky to be a part of it.

Have Christmas lunch, family are off work & turkey is delicious. No tree, decorations or Jesus though. Just an excuse to get together and eat, a traditional Jewish activity!

We do not celebrate Christmas.

I'm very much looking forward to Call the Midwife

@duvetdayforeveryone

We do not celebrate Christmas.

I'm very much looking forward to Call the Midwife

We're not religious at all but do the Xmas thing because who doesn't like an excuse to eat chocolate for breakfast and get presents Have to say though new Call the Midwife is way up high on my list of things I'm excited about for Xmas day.

@IcedAbstinente, it's not a great story as I don't know the details really - my mum is now in her 80s and has started sharing things about her childhood which she's never talked about before. I gather that it was immensely abusive, and know she left home early, but don't know more and don't dare pry.

I feel like it would be disrespectful to dig too closely, but the connection has intrigued me - presumably at least a few of my close ancestors lived lives I knew nothing about, so I've been looking up everything I can find to learn more.

I hope what you find is not too painful @yeahitlookslike.

I only very recently found out that a family member was from her dad's second family. His first wife and children died in the Holocaust and even she did not know about this until just before he died and revealed it. Family histories - of any ilk- can be very painful.

DP was born Jewish. I converted, so my family observe Christmas and the day for us a bit of a mixed bag.

This year we will have some nice food (which we do anyway), go for a walk and I'll attend a synagogue service online - possibly also an online havdalah. I am also planning to attend the Limmud Festival from Boxing Day.

We don't celebrate it but will go round for lunch to in-laws who insist on having a turkey etc. I'm also planning to do an extra day of Hanukkah this weekend so my DC don't feel left out (since actual Hanukkah now feels like ages ago).