Fra-gi-lay -- it must be Italian! (photo by kevindooley on flickr)
One of my family’s favorite movies is “A Christmas Story.” We recite lines from it. (I found new meaning in one we repeat often — “My mother hasn’t had a hot meal for herself in 15 years” — after I had my own kids). We have considered buying my dad one of the replicas of the infamous leg lamp (we settled for a DVD instead). Growing up we spent many a Christmas Eve and/or day at a Chinese restaurant (a traditional Jewish way to spend the holiday) — so that part of the movie is always extra hilarious to us.
When my husband — who was not raised Jewish, but became a Jew by choice before our wedding — discovered our predilection for the film, he was completely freaked out. To add to the irony he had never even seen the aforementioned classic.
I mention this because it is Christmas Eve, and the annual marathon of “A Christmas Story” is about to begin (7 p.m. local time, I believe; TBS). And, because we all have our own Christmas story.
My childhood memories of Christmas entail waking up early in the morning and venturing out in the cold in my mom’s station wagon. We would get donuts, and coffee and hot chocolate in huge thermoses, and deliver them to men and women who worked for my dad and had to labor on their special holiday. This was my parent’s way of teaching us that to appreciate what we had, and why we had what we had. It also taught me that because Christmas isn’t my holiday, I should volunteer my time to make it better for others who aren’t able — for whatever reason — to celebrate it the way in which most are accustomed.
Although in recent years I have spent the holiday in a more “traditional” way with my in-laws, I vowed that this Christmas would be different. I wanted to do what I could to make Christmas brighter for someone else. Serendipitously — over Twitter — I found a Jewish woman who is organizing a free Christmas dinner near my mother-in-law’s home where anyone who wants to can come and eat. And she needs volunteers.
So this year I will return to the roots of my Christmas story, and in the coming years I hope to pass on the tradition to my daughters as well. Because a Jewish Christmas story doesn’t have to be just about Chinese restaurants and going to the movies.
Laura Weisskopf Bleill, a co-founder of chambanamoms.com, and her modern favorite Christmas movie is Elf (written by several Jews). She writes “Being a Jew in C-U,” a column about being a Jewish suburban girl in a cornfield, on Thursdays. You can reach her at laura@chambanamoms.com.
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You’re such a good mom. We’re going to the Chinese restaurant.
It always amazes me to meet someone who hasn’t seen A Christmas Story… I’m so glad you introduced your hubby to this classic film!
What a lovely story. We are Catholic and used to enjoy Chinese dinner on Christmas because it was the only place open.
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How wonderful….thanks for this post….
This is so lovely, Laura. Merry Christmas, my dear friend.
Thanks for sharing a really insightful post, and I learned something new. I didn’t know it was a tradition for Jews to go to a Chinese restaurant on Christmas Day. I love that your mom taught you to help others–which is the whole spirit of EVERY holiday (or at least it should be, IMHO). Thanks so much for sharing.
Margo
I work for Laura’s father and do remember when they use to do that. Believe it or not that is the spirit of Christmas. I do wish more people would realize that. Thanks for that great story.
Debbie
Laura – What a nice post! Thanks for sharing your story and your love for the fantastic movie.
And I can’t believe Tony had never seen it. I feel somehow that I failed him as a friend.
Good luck in your volunteering tomorrow. Cheers, Lesley
nice
dan had never seen it either. what’s up with that? merry christmas! see you soon!
Thanks for all the lovely comments everyone. Merry Christmas to all who are celebrating.
I am looking forward to giving you a hot meal soon. Beautiful post. Thank you.
Loved this post! I guess a Jewish Christmas is really what you make of it.
There is a house in Brittany Trail that is very tastefully decorated…and there is a leg lamp in the front bay window! We discovered it the first month we moved here in Dec. of 2006. I look forward to seeing it every Christmas.