What's funny, I was talking to a xtian friend of mine and was telling her about the differences between our religions. The strange thing ( and the consistent thing) about secular holidays is that they are so material. Think about it..Our high holidays like Yom Kippur and Rosh Hashanah we are forbidden to handle money.. Could you imagine a secular holiday where buying/selling is forbidden??
What would happen if on New years eve, nobody could go to the bars, buy booze, etc. What would happen to Xmas?
It's strange, people spend months of the Xmas season spending money hand over fist and making out lists for things they want, right after a holiday where they give thanks for what they already have By the time the day rolls around, it lasts a grand total of a few hours and then you hear almost everyone say "I am so glad that's over!"
How sad.
Our holidays are not built around material or money, they last for days, and oddly, I have never said at the end of a Jewish holiday "I am so glad that's over" not even on Yom Kippur when I can break my fast. The Joy of Jewish holidays is so much more deeply rooted in the spiritual as opposed to "what we can get" or what we can buy, there is so much less stress involved, so much more deeper joy. If only those on the outside of it would or could know....
What would happen if on New years eve, nobody could go to the bars, buy booze, etc. What would happen to Xmas?
It's strange, people spend months of the Xmas season spending money hand over fist and making out lists for things they want, right after a holiday where they give thanks for what they already have By the time the day rolls around, it lasts a grand total of a few hours and then you hear almost everyone say "I am so glad that's over!"
How sad.
Our holidays are not built around material or money, they last for days, and oddly, I have never said at the end of a Jewish holiday "I am so glad that's over" not even on Yom Kippur when I can break my fast. The Joy of Jewish holidays is so much more deeply rooted in the spiritual as opposed to "what we can get" or what we can buy, there is so much less stress involved, so much more deeper joy. If only those on the outside of it would or could know....