As a Brit, I found this fascinating as it is a history I'm only slightly familiar with - thank you. I also enjoyed your ending, and it reminded me of how I explain why, a Jewish woman celebrate Christmas while I don't really celebrate any other religious holidays at all - my grandfather believed we should embrace the traditions of a country that accepted us as migrants, and it is today now a reason for us to come together as a family, cook together, spend time together, and appreciate each other! (Though, also there was probably some canny parenting in there, with three girls I think he saw one day of Christmas feasting and gifts easier to handle than every day of Chanukkah!)
Thanks, Rachel! American "traditions," like in a lot of colonized and colonizing nations, are hard to disconnect from their original intent, but I am all for reinterpreting what holidays mean to us. In the US in particular, Christmas has become fairly secularized, which I appreciate. But I also get how people feel othered or left out by celebrations that are supposed to be accessible to the whole community, but which traditionally have excluded specific people. So much of human history's impact on community celebrations (religion, race, gender, etc.) aren't as relevant in today's life. But I'm glad your family was able to embrace something that brings you joy (and presents)!
As a Brit, I found this fascinating as it is a history I'm only slightly familiar with - thank you. I also enjoyed your ending, and it reminded me of how I explain why, a Jewish woman celebrate Christmas while I don't really celebrate any other religious holidays at all - my grandfather believed we should embrace the traditions of a country that accepted us as migrants, and it is today now a reason for us to come together as a family, cook together, spend time together, and appreciate each other! (Though, also there was probably some canny parenting in there, with three girls I think he saw one day of Christmas feasting and gifts easier to handle than every day of Chanukkah!)
Thanks, Rachel! American "traditions," like in a lot of colonized and colonizing nations, are hard to disconnect from their original intent, but I am all for reinterpreting what holidays mean to us. In the US in particular, Christmas has become fairly secularized, which I appreciate. But I also get how people feel othered or left out by celebrations that are supposed to be accessible to the whole community, but which traditionally have excluded specific people. So much of human history's impact on community celebrations (religion, race, gender, etc.) aren't as relevant in today's life. But I'm glad your family was able to embrace something that brings you joy (and presents)!