Jewish People At Disney World During Christmas Season

[ddawg]

I was wondering if you are Jewish and at Disney World do you feel out of place at Christmas time? Is it awkward? Do you feel left out? Is there any Chanukah celebrations at all? Do any Jewish people even go to Disney World at Christmas time?

 

[Scratch42]

I'm not, but have friends that are. They don't seem to mind.

I don't know if they have anything specific to celebrate, but have seen lights showing Chanukah references.


j

 

[eleanor]

The year that we were there for Christmas ,we met some Jewish families at the pool and it didn't bother them at all that it had a Christmas theme etc. I'm not sure why it would.

 

[figaromeetsmarie]

We actually met up with friends at Disney last Christmas. They didn't mind the decorations at all and are planning another trip next Christmas!

 

[bunnyfoo]

My fiance is Jewish and he didn't seem to care. I know that he really likes the Christmas decorations. I think he associates the lights, trees, decorations etc to be more of a Hallmark/holiday thing rather than being religious.

 

[challer]

I am Jewish and make it a point not to go during Christmas time. Primarily because of crowds, but I don't want pictures of my kids with the Pooh characters with red caps on. Or the Christmas audio.

I was in Disneyland in early November one year, and the park was turned over already! Small world & Haunted Mansion had the overlays, and I was disappointed. I wanted to see the originals!

 

[bunnyfoo]

Wow... talk about dusting off an old chestnut.

 

[fivebyfive]

I think he associates the lights, trees, decorations etc to be more of a Hallmark/holiday thing rather than being religious.

I couldn't agree with that statement more. I missed the passage in the bible when God told everyone to put lights around their home, then cut down a tree, bring it INSIDE the house to decorate it and to leave milk and cookies for some big guy in a red suit.

Sorry, but if Disney ever gets politically correct and calls it "Mickey's Very Merry Holiday Party" I will never attend again on principal alone. I love that Disney is still one of the few places that has no shame in recognizing Christmas.

If Christmas decorations bother you because you don't celebrate Christmas, then don't vacation somewhere that does.

 

[NEVERENOUGHWDW]

I am Jewish and make it a point not to go during Christmas time. Primarily because of crowds, but I don't want pictures of my kids with the Pooh characters with red caps on. Or the Christmas audio.

I was in Disneyland in early November one year, and the park was turned over already! Small world & Haunted Mansion had the overlays, and I was disappointed. I wanted to see the originals!

I thought hats were winter not Christmas
Your from a cold area in the country, you don't wear hats in the winter?

 

[smidgy]

the one and only time we were at disney when the Christmas decorations were up we met up with some disser friends for the first time. we had SO much fun!! (hey john and Jill and kim) Jill is Jewish, and we had fun seeking out the Sar of David in the Osbourne Lights.
Many people who are NOT Christian celebrate Christmas. I am a Christian, but the decorations were centered on santa Claus, and Christmas trees, etc.. in WOrld SHowcase, the AMerican Adventure, there is a story teller, speaking about the festival of lights. in china and japan (basically NOT christian countries) the story tellers spaek about their new year's celebrations.
Disney World is located in the United States, which is a predominately Christian country., but many atheists and agnostics celebarate christmas (they leave out the Jesus part, and center on the Santa Claus part).
as waitress, I have a family who are "regulars" who are Jewish, and gave me a Christmas "tip" ($10 and 2 jars of homemade pickels!!!)
please don't feel "left out".. just join in the festivities. I'll bet 40% of the people who celebrate Christmas don't even believe in Jesus. (as I do).
Many countires were asked to join the "world showcase". Morrocco, for example, is NOT a Christian country. It is, for the most part, a Muslim country.
I often wondered... why is there no Greece? (that would be a great restaurant!) as I learned on the "segway around the World" tour, MANY countries were invited.
this IS the United States, it Is a predominately christian country, so the theme parks reflect that.
but, like I stated before, Christmas has become SO much about santa, and so little about Jesus, that I really don't see how anyone can be offended.

 

[challer]

I thought hats were winter not Christmas
Your from a cold area in the country, you don't wear hats in the winter?

I'm sorry - I wasn't specific enough.

The red hats with fuzzy white trim & pompoms - they aren't just winter. They are Santa hats. Also, these hats/dress that are "winter" are gone after the first week in January even though there is 2 months of winter to go.
This is surely Christmas dress. I do wear winter hats alot - none look like Santa's hat.

For the record, I am in no way offended by the Christmas themes or decorations. I also would never want them to change from "Christmas" to "Holiday." It's a Christmas celebration - enjoy! I just make it a point not to go to the Disney Parks at that time. I'll make the compromise - I don't demand Disney compromise to me on this.

 

[beavdisfan]

well said

 

[Kurby]

i don't know that many jewish people but the ones i do know love christmas. they all watch the christmas programs, sing christmas songs and love driving down the streets looking at all the lights.

wish more people were like that.

 

[kaytieeldr]

I see it hasn't been stated, but... Chanukah is actually a (relatively)MINOR holiday on the Jewish calendar, celebrating the Festival of Lights - when one day's oil miraculously burned/lasted for eight days. It's really NOT a gift-giving holiday. It's turned into one in response to Christmas - apparently it's easier to give gifts thant to explain to children why their friends get presents and they don't.

As the relatively minor holiday it is, whatever minor appropriate decorating Disney does is more than sufficient.

 

[challer]

i don't know that many jewish people but the ones i do know love christmas. they all watch the christmas programs, sing christmas songs and love driving down the streets looking at all the lights.

wish more people were like that.

Why do you wish this?

Why is it better for Jews to love Christmas season and all that comes with it?

Who is it better for?

What would be the value in a situation like this?

I don't wish more non-Jews listen to Jewish music, adore Chanuka candles, eat matza on Passover, or appreciate Jewish culture or religion. If they're interested - great! Enjoy. If not, not.

I don't buy the idea that Christmas is a standard, and all that is related to it can or should be applied to or appreciated by all. That's quite "Christo-centric." (I think I just made this up.)

 

[challer]

I see it hasn't been stated, but... Chanukah is actually a (relatively)MINOR holiday on the Jewish calendar, celebrating the Festival of Lights - when one day's oil miraculously burned/lasted for eight days. It's really NOT a gift-giving holiday. It's turned into one in response to Christmas - apparently it's easier to give gifts thant to explain to children why their friends get presents and they don't.

As the relatively minor holiday it is, whatever minor appropriate decorating Disney does is more than sufficient.

Yes, Chanukah is minor on the scale of Jewish holidays. It is well below Biblical holidays, including Rosh Hashana, Yom Kippur, Succot, Shemini Atzeret, Passover, and Shavuot. It is on par with another very joyous holiday named Purim, which celebrates the story of the Book of Esther. This being a given, it is fairly significant nonetheless - just not as major as Christmas would be in the Christian religion.

Yes, it is celebrated much more than most of the holidays listed above because it has become (sadly, in my opinion) the Jewish "angle" to the holiday season.

I wouldn't expect Disney to do any decorations for Chanukah or any Jewish holiday. If they are doing a Very Merry Christmas Party, Jews don't need to see a menorah there. Personally I wouldn't want it - Chanukah is not the Jewish Christmas.

Personally, what I am thankful for that Disney does is provide kosher options at their meals. That is a true treasure and helps many observant Jews enjoy the Parks without packing 3 meals, or eating ice cream & coke all day, or starving.

 

[smidgy]

of course Chanukah is not the Jewish Christmas. and Passover is not the Jewish Easter, either, but they occur around the same time. as a child, I looked forward to the showing of The Ten Commandments (Charlton Heston) at Easter time, and it wasn't till later that I wondered "what has that to do with Easter?" then discovered.. the showing of the movie was in celebration of Passover! (the angel of death passes over those whose doorways have the blood of a sacrificial lamb on it, a percursor to eternal death passing over those who have accepted the blood of the sacrifice Jesus). anyhow, some holidays of different faiths occur around the same time.
this is why I wish my Jewish friends a happy Chaunkah during my Christmas season.
however, unlike the Jewish relgion, many of the Christian holidays have "morphed" into secular holidays, celebrated by many in this country who have no religious beliefs at all. (easter becomes, not the raising from the dead of Jesus, but... the easter bunny). this is why I think a santa hat or a christmas tree would not offend non-christians, be they jewish, or buddhist, or atheist. (example: how many people at MardiGras in New Orleans are Catholic, and about to observe the lenten season?)
I understand if you don't want to attend Disney at this time. I however, think it would be great fun to visit an area of the world at their holiday time, for example, Chicago's Chinatown and Chinese New Year. even though I don't celebrate it.