To be Happy I do not have to worry about Christmas...Because I married jewish?

[Chickensoupyum]

That's all really

[Fifilosttheplot]

Christmas is nothing compared to a Seder for 30 people where you've had to clean the house from top to bottom, swap your entire kitchen over and had a last minute trip to ikea as you only have 26 glasses and your sieve has gone missing and a mouse decided to move in to the plastic box that was full of leftover food from last year while it was stored in the loft.

Ahem..I have a question? why do you have to swap the kitchen over and eat last year's food? Wont it have gone a bit mouldy?

[HarderToKidnap]

You swap the kitchen over because there might be some chametz left, in the fridge or cooker or whatever. I've only known very observant Jews to do it though. I must admit I'm at a loss to think what the leftover food might be...

[HomeHelpMeGawd]

Talking of Jews and Chinese food, does anyone remember a restaurant called Cohen and Wong? 'twas in central London, and we went there annually when I was a kid. An extraordinary place!

[twistyfeet]

Most people just have a different set of plates.saucepans/utensils etc for pesach. Not fridges and cookers. Those you make kosher for passover which requires cleaning the entire kitchen to within an inch of its life to make sure not a molecule of chametz is left. Because if you miss a single crumb you can be sure someone will spot it!
Plus the rest of the house.
I have saved kosher for passover matzoh. It lasts for all eternity because not even mice will eat it

[sonlypuppyfat]

Sorry if I sound stupid but what is the reasoning behind the two sets of crockery

[HarderToKidnap]

Oh yes, matzos! Wouldn't happen in here because DH would die before he allowed an uneaten matzo to leave the room.

[twistyfeet]

oh, in traditional homes its 4 sets. You would have a set for dairy and a set for meat dishes and never the twain shall meet.
Then, because those dishes have been in contact with chametz (leavened foods) they are not considered 'kosher for passover' so observant jews would have a meat and dairy set for passover as well. We dont eat meat so dont have to worry about mixing meat and dairy things but many friends have labelled cupboards and drawers.

And Matzoh's make superb frisbies

[sonlypuppyfat]

I bet you have massive kitchens!

[twistyfeet]

sadly no

[sonlypuppyfat]

It all seems so complicated do you just grow up knowing what to do, I sound really dim don't I. Do you have lessons in what to do, is it more your faith that you do it or its more a tradition?

[TigOldBitties]

Sonlypuppyfat, it's a bit of a combination, but lots of these rules depend on the level of observance in the family and each individual families habits.

From the very observant to my family, who are hardly observant at all, nearly every family I know has slightly little ways of doing things. Most people just learn it as they go along.

[DENMAN03]

Christmas is a fantastic time in my family! We all look forward to it and celebrate in a very traditional way, with presents, food and great family time. I love it and would hate to have to go through the whole of winter without anything to look forward to. It brings us all together and is very special, even though I am now in my 40's! The magic has never really gone.

[AdventureTed]

I love Christmas, and my family do too. It is a magical time of the year.

[TheSporkforeatingkyriarchy]

There are dozens of ways to enjoy and http://seetobe.tumblr.com/post/38226983188/11-winter-holidays-you-might-not-know-about celebrate in the winter without Christmas. I mean seriously, New Years is just a week later and even in many Christian cultures is a far bigger celebration, the mega focused Xmas celebration is a very Anglo-thing.

I know people love it, but the concept that those of us who don't enjoy it and/or don't do it have nothing to look forward to or enjoy or have no magical times in our year is quite a frustration. Most others have several and spread the joy throughout the year.

[TheSporkforeatingkyriarchy]

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