I love that scene from Better Off Dead, the neighbor mom is squeezing Monique's face and saying, "Do you have Christmas in France?  Christmas!  Chriiiiistmaaaas."

Of course, I pretty much love that movie in general.

Christmas is done now, after several different points of celebration, and while it was fun, I am still adjusting to the whole "I celebrate Christmas now" thing.  It goes against the grain.  I'm Jewish, I'll always be Jewish, and I don't even have much of a strong sense of God as a Jew.  So, of course I respect the religion and tradition of my husband and his family, but I still have trouble with the basis of the holiday.  It feels just a little disingenuous to be at mass, though I don't participate except during the handshaking bit.

I wonder how Joey will feel if I bring him to Rosh Hashanah services or whatnot sometime.  It might be easier as the stories Jews tell are also part of the Catholic sacred text.  Or it might be just as weird, since lots would be in Hebrew, and I'd know all the words, and he wouldn't.  I'm a big believer in science and things that can be proved, and have some trouble with faith in God in general, but the Jewish tradition is very important to me and I went to a lot of years of religious school, so it's home to me.

I was in Southeastern Massachusetts on a business trip a few weeks ago, and I overheard a (very loud) conversation between what appeared to be a married couple, but I could be wrong about that.  The man was spouting gems such as, "I respect all the Judeo-Christian religions, but those Muslims, I can't (expletive) get them."  I really wanted to tap him on the shoulder and say, you know the God you like so much?  Same God the Muslims believe in, dude.  And have you heard of Buddhists?  Sikhs?  Hindus?  Baha'i? etc. etc. etc.

It's all about respect.  And yes, they have Christmas in France.  Also other holidays.