Should I send a Christmas card to my Muslim neighbour?

[SpidaMama]

I have cards for the 8 houses on my little block. She is my next door neighbour, she is a strict Muslim. I only have grinch cards, I'm not religious 😂

I'm not sure if I should or what to write?

I wouldn't want her to feel left out if she talked to every other neighbour

I suspect you are overthinking here. The reality is it's unlikely your neighbours will talk to each other about you giving them a card

I would. My Muslim friends wouldn’t object. They may not celebrate Christmas, but sometimes participate in small things like an exchange of a gift. You could write something like ‘Allahu Akbar…just writing you a little card for the Xmas period that my family are celebrating, we are giving out cards to all the neighbours. We understand you may not want to take part, but we wanted you all to feel included”.

We’re supposed to live in a cohesive multi-cultural society. In work, I’m encouraged to support people of all religions and celebrate Eid, Diwali, etc, (even though I am an atheist), and it doesn’t bother me too much. Christmas is different as it’s more cultural than religious for me, many of the traditions have nothing to do with Christianity. If I can cope with a day of fasting (encouraged by work) to support those during Ramadan, then I’m sure a Muslim family won’t object to a Christmas card. We can all share cultures, in theory.

Why wouldn't you? Nice gesture.
As for Happy holidays?? What's wrong with Season's Greetings, you know, like we've always used...

You do realise other holidays happen around the same time?
Hannukah finishes this year December 26th.
Winter Solstice is December 21st
Zarathosht Diso is December 26th.
etc etc etc.

I've mentioned on another thread that I taught in a Muslim area of the UK, and had Muslim TAs and mostly Muslim kids in my class. My team and I swapped cards and gifts, as the parents sent cards and often gifts. Then at 'Big Eid' we swapped cards again, and the day after, parents would send food from their celebrations for me and my team.

Some of the parents were REALLY into Christmas, and had trees, and their kids certainly had presents.

I loved the whole sharing of festivals thing. Especially the food bit after Eid!

Apologies, I used the word ‘cope’ in relation to only a day of fasting. I didn’t mean it like that, I was just trying to explain that we can all support each other with our cultural traditions and beliefs, and often the good spirit is returned.

Yes! They will appreciate the card ☺️

I would definitely give her one. Wishing someone love and a happy 2023 is not offensive.

I think it would be a lovely idea. We have Muslim people who come into my workplace, one took a photo of the Christmas tree, and another woman brought in her little boy wearing "antlers" on his head. It's a nice time of year to be neighbourly.

No don't.

Sure you can. You can say whatever you like.

She will most likely not give you one and then give you an eid card

Yes do!

My neighbours mum brought me round some sweet / cakes she’d made for a celebration and I’d never even met her before. I would put a very sincere ( if cheesy) message about lovely neighbours but you could just say Happy New Year. Thinking about it I might make some mince pies for my neighbour and take them round.

"Happy Holiday" sounds quite American to me, but it definitely isn't modern — there's an Irving Berlin song from the early 1940s!

Yes of course. Xmas is not religious but is an end of year holiday that is difficult for anyone not to get involved in. It's hard to imagine her being in the slightest bit offended by it

I’m muslim and i sent cards to my muslim friends aswell usually seasons greetings or happy holiday.

I'm Jewish and I wouldn't mind receiving one from a neighbour. I might not display it, but I would appreciate the thought.

Of course. Just because they don't celebrate it doesn't mean they won't like to be included and thought of.

I would. Maybe not Grinch ones as it may accidently look like a comment about her not enjoying Christmas.

Send a generic wintery scene saying 'All the best for 2023' or something like that. If you're not religious and celebrating Christmas then she may well be celebrating it too.

Definitely! Lovely thing to do

One of my lovely muslim neighbours used to come over with presents (dates mostly) for Eid. The others didn't. I gave Christmas cards to the lpvely ones. I think it was a nice way of respecting each others' cultures.

Of course! Write your own message and send it x
It’s very nice of you x

Im a Muslim and religious. I would be happy to receive one, even the merry Christmas one . Think it's a nice gesture that you're thinking of them in your festive period

Once our Muslim neighbors brought us some food as something to do with a celebration and I was touched and thought it was lovely inspite of being against religion.
Anything that makes people do nice things for others is all that's good about religion.
But I don't know about the origins of other people's religious festivals but Christmas is a total Hodge podge of lot's of different things.

Pic I think it's a nice way of simply respecting and getting to know other humans.

You're overthinking, many cultures send cards at the end of the year to wish people well in the coming year. She doesn't live in a box, she knows Christmas is a big celebration in the UK. As you said she's a lovely woman you get on well with so I'm sure she'll be glad to be included x