Jon's Knit Blog

On "Happy Holidays," Plus A Knitting Photo

And once again, as it were, Christmahanukwanzukah, aka Festivus, is upon us. Yet this year, it's full of debate about whether we should say "Happy Holidays" or "Merry Christmas" or something else.

I vote for "Merry Whatever, Bitch."

No, seriously, I don't. But I think that people have made way too much of a big deal about how we greet people during the holiday season. As a lapsed Jew, I come to this from a rather unique perspective. See, once anyone finds out I'm Jewish, they get all bent out of shape to want to wish me a Happy Hanukah. And while that's all nice of them and everything, there are a few things about it that they don't realize.

First of all, almost none of them know a thing about what Hanukah celebrates. And while I could type the whole story of the Maccabees here for you, I'll simply give you this link.

Secondly, Christian people assume that since Hanukah is close to Christmas, time-wise, and since there are gift-rituals that have become a part of the way it is celebrated, that it's a big deal, like Christmas. Well, it is actually a rather minor holiday on the Jewish calendar. It's not the kind of holiday where you have to stay home, or spend the whole day at temple, or fast, or anything like that. I mean, it's a very happy time for the Jewish people, but all the "Happy Holidays" and "Happy Hanukah" stuff is just... more than it's supposed to be in my opinion.

I guess I think the whole Christmas/Holiday debate this year has been silly. If you're going to get offended by people wishing you a merry yet not-applicable holiday, you need to get over it, because it's going to happen. But if a store wants to be non-religion specific, or if they want to contribute to the "decommercialization" of Christmas, well, let it be.

Anyhow. You came here to read about knitting. And you shall!

Look at that armsteek. I'm really impresed with how much less time it's taking me to get through each row. And it's not because they're shorter. Honestly, the rounds are only two stitches less now with the steeks and the decreases, and it's a tad more confusing to keep track of where the pattern sits on either side of the arm steeks. But I'm getting the rounds done a lot more quickly than before! And that is something to be proud of. Of course part of it is that I'm becoming more familiar with the pattern. This is the fifth repeat, after all. But I like to think that I'm actually knitting faster. Mostly because it would be a good thing if I were.

In other news, please forgive me in advance if my posting for the next few weeks is rather spotty. I'm on the planning committee for a big conference that is the second week of January. And just to make matters worse, my mom is coming back to the City the first week of January. Because, you know, I don't have enough stuff to occupy my time. And work hasn't been, like, you know, totally insane the past few weeks, causing me to need to have at least a little bit of time to recuperate.

So bear with me, because I ain't goin' nowhere.

Posted by Jon at December 26, 2005 01:12 AM