Santa Isn't Coming To Town

Santa Claus isn't Jewish.

That was my daughter the other day, explaining to her friend why, though she believes in Santa, he isn't coming to our house this, or any other, year.

Well, can't say she's wrong, can I?

I was relieved to hear her give her friend such a casual explanation, because I've been wondering how my kids feel about the fact that Santa doesn't come to visit us.  Even in New York, which feels like a Jewish town, it can make you feel a bit left out. 

There have been quite a lot of posts floating around lately about how the spirit of Christmas has been watered down by the whole Happy Holidays phenomenon.  Say again?

Since Thanksgiving, every store, every streetlamp, every ...everything, it seems, has been festooned with Christmas paraphernalia.  And the music.  Endless loops of Frosty the Snow Man, and Baby it's Cold Outside.  Not that I'm complaining. (Well, maybe about the music) I realize that Jews make up less than 1.8% of the US Population and I don't remotely expect equal time. In fact, I kind of like the decorations -- they're festive and twinkly, and make even the dingy bodega on the corner look sparkly and happy.  It's just that I don't buy that people who do celebrate Christmas are somehow being pushed out of the mainstream. 

Christmas is  the mainstream.  And that's as it should be. We live in a country that's predominantly Christian, so Christian holidays and customs get a lot of play.  As long as I'm allowed to be Jewish, to practice my religion as I see fit, and as long as everyone else is allowed to be whatever they are, too,  the number of Christmas decorations at the Hardware store really doesn't matter to me. In the immortal words of every professional sports coach in America -- "it is what it is."  ( Is it just me? Or do losing coaches always invoke that phrase at press conferences?)

But that's me.  My two seven year olds are a different story.  I worry: will they feel marginalized?  Can a little menorah compete with the majesty of an 8 foot tree?   Do they feel that the kindly old guy in the red suit -- who brings gifts to ALL the good little children is somehow telling them they're rotten?

So when I overheard them nonchalantly talking about how Santa just isn't MOT (member of the tribe),  I heaved a sigh of relief.  Maybe they've already realized what Christmas in New York teaches Jews in this city:  it's OK to be whatever you are.  It's OK to enjoy the celebrations of others, to go to Rockefeller Center  and ooh and aah at the  tree.  And it's OK to be MOT, too.  And to know that  while Santa Claus is coming to town, he just isn't planning on stopping by. It isn't depressing, it isn't a slight, it isn't marginalizing, it just "is what it is."