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Wednesday, September 12, 2007

Happy New Year!

That's right, the Jewish New Year began at sundown tonight. I was reading a blog post that Lawyer Mama wrote a few days ago about religion. It's not a topic I've been very comfortable writing about just because I think religion is so personal. In light of the fact that it's Rosh Hashanah, and I've been inspired by her post, I thought I would share a tiny bit about the holidays we celebrate. Holiday posts I can handle!

I was raised Catholic, and the Big Giraffe is Jewish. In fact on our very first date we discussed how we felt about raising our future children (since it was our first date, the future children were not OUR future children, but rather our individual future children) in the religion we had been raised. As soon as we were an "item" we began talking about what religion we would raise our future children. This conversation continued through our first year of marriage. Right before I got pregnant with my older son (OS) we decided to join a Unitarian Univeralist (UU) church. It's worked out quite well for us, since everyone in our church has unique beliefs and many have different religious backgrounds as well. Quite a few couples there come from mixed religious backgrounds like us. It sounds more confusing than it is. In a nutshell, you don't have to convert when you become a UU.

In our house, we celebrate both Christian and Jewish holidays. I know you're thinking it, so I'll go ahead and answer it: no we don't do presents for both Hannukah and Christmas. When I say we celebrate religious holidays, we celebrate the history and the ceremony behind them.

Since today is Rosh Hashanah, we had a nicer than usual dinner tonight. That's not saying too much if you've seen the hodge podge crockpot recipes we've eating these days. I made a dish called Creamy Chicken Lasagna. The Big Giraffe was very appreciative that I made dinner, but when I asked he did indicate that this was not a common Rosh Hashanah dinner. (The Big Giraffe would like it noted that it was a comment, not a criticism.) Then he proceeded with the ceremony.

Our older son (OS) was very intrigued by a few things. The first was the yarmulkah that BG was wearing. Some of you have asked me if OS has found a replacement for the towels that he wore on his head until his birthday. Well for a few minutes I thought that the replacement had been found, but then he gave it back to the BG. OS was also very intrigued by "big boy bread" as he, christened named the challah bread. Apples for dinner are apparently an exciting way to present fruit, as OS consumed more of it than I have seen him eat for a while.

The highlight of the evening for the BG appeared to be OS's unending stream of questions about the holiday prayers and rituals, and BG kept pausing to offer thoughtful (if simplified) responses to every question. The highlight of the evening for me though was definitely when OS found and started to use a rogue noisemaker left over from his birthday party in the middle of the ceremony. I was trying not to burst out laughing. The BG pointed out that it was New Year's after all so the noise maker was indeed appropriate.

A. Elliot's Lesson Learned: A Noisemaker is an appropriate way to celebrate a new year in any culture or religion.

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posted by Alex Elliot @ 8:34 PM   10 comments
10 Comments:

  • At 9/12/2007 10:28 PM, Anonymous Erin - ExpectigExecutive said…

    Wonderful. Simply wonderful. Happy, happy New Year!

    Erin
    www.ExpectingExecutive.com

     

  • At 9/12/2007 10:33 PM, Blogger Heather said…

    How fun to have 2 traditions to celebrate.

     

  • At 9/13/2007 6:28 AM, Anonymous Amy said…

    That's so neat how you've managed to combine both your beliefs and find a way to do it successfully. So often that's hard for families with differing beliefs to do.

    I'm an athiest for all intents and purposes and so I guess I'm not supposed to celebrate anything, but I decided a long time ago that if someone invites me to celebrate a holiday with them, any holiday, then I'm going to celebrate it! I just wish I had more culturally diverse people around me so I could have more holidays to celebrate!

     

  • At 9/13/2007 6:53 AM, Blogger Jodi said…

    L'Shana Tovah to you and your family.

    We also have an inter-faith marriage but are raising Michael jewish. Although I decieded not to take him to services today. I know, bad Jew. But the family service is in the middle of nap tim.

     

  • At 9/13/2007 7:56 AM, Blogger SUEB0B said…

    It sounds like a nice holiday. I am sure many people wish they could celebrate Rosh Hashana with chicken lasagna.

     

  • At 9/13/2007 1:23 PM, Anonymous pinks & Blues Girls said…

    I think it's so wonderful that you have incorporated both religions into your children's lives. I am sure when they are older they will be very appreciative of the different beliefs, traditions and customs you and your husband exposed them to.

    Jane, Pinks & Blues

     

  • At 9/13/2007 1:48 PM, Blogger PunditMom said…

    Sounds like our household -- I'm Protestant and Mr. PunditMom is Jewish, so we do holidays for both religions. And not, PunditGirl is fascinated with Buddha (the image, not his philosophy!) -- so who knows where she'll end up.

     

  • At 9/13/2007 5:01 PM, Blogger soccer mom in denial said…

    As I life-long UU I benefit from the mixture of faiths. Brava to you and BG for honoring both cultures.

     

  • At 9/14/2007 12:40 AM, Blogger Suzanne said…

    That sounds like a lovely way to celebrate Rosh Hashanah. lately, I have been learning a lot about the different Jewish cultures out there, and while chicken lasagna may not be a traditional American or Eastern Euro Jewish way to celebrate, I bet Jews somewhere totally eat noodle dishes. Just today I was reading about Indian Jews in Canada, and tonight we had Middle Eastern food. There's no wrong way as long as the intent and heart are there, and you guys have that and more!

    Shana tova!

     

  • At 9/14/2007 2:56 AM, Anonymous Selfmademom said…

    That's absolutely hilarious. Maybe the kid will be a shofar - blower when he's older? :) anything that makes noise, right? Happy and healthy new year.

     
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Name:Alex Elliot
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About Me:Professional Mom of two cats, a dog, an ant farm, and oh yeah...two boys: a 6 year old and a 3 year old. Also found in my house is my husband who is known on this blog as The Big Giraffe.
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