Re: Q: Your favorite holiday and why *note - this post has been screened for political correctness*

I'm feeling your answer lorsin!! You forgot scary movies and haunted hayrides...GOOD!! Halloween is my absolute favorite holiday. You don't have to scramble to buy everyone gifts they don't want or need, you can just have fun and it gives you the perfect excuse to act like a kid and dress up/be someone else for the day. I get so into it, I buy little candy baggies and fill them up with plastic toys and treats for the kiddies. I decorate my house like a professional haunted house and run the fog machine/scary music soundtrack. Bob used to dress up and 'scare' the kids (hide in the bushes, etc.) a few years back but he doesn't do it anymore because we're afraid of a lawsuit in case someone gets hurt. My house is the most popular in the neighborhood. So if you live in the Patchogue area, c'mon by!

E/T/S Thanks Jax - hey, after hearing how cool Purim is, I think it's one of my favorite holidays too (dressing up and getting drunk whoo-hoo!! )

Re: Q: Your favorite holiday and why *note - this post has been screened for political correctness*

I love Thanksgiving and Halloween (I ALWAYS dress up!!) . I definitely love the Passover Seder- just not the 8 days of no bread. We have no family issues since FH's family lives in Israel.

As for Purim- Purim is comparable to Halloween in that we dress up (Mostly just kids). It is a celebration of how we survived (again). PLease forgive me if I mess anything up- but here is the story as I know it. We tell the story of a Greek king whose henchman (HAman) was plotting to kill all the Jews. The King ends up marrying a woman he does not know is Jewish thanks to her uncle. In the end, she tells the King that she is Jewish and if the edict goes through to kill the Jews, she and her family will be killed. the Jews survive and the man who tried to have the Jews killed (Haman) is himself killed by the King's order. While reciting this story (its called the Megilla or Story of Esther - Madonna's new Hebrew name), the kids and adults have noisemakers and they are supposed to make noise when Haman's name is said. We also eat Hamantashen cookies which are shaped like a triangle- the hat that Haman wore.
ETA: A traditional custom on Purim, is to get really drunk!

Re: Q: Your favorite holiday and why *note - this post has been screened for political correctness*

There are 2 books about Jewish customs that were actually texts in a class I took in college.

One is called 'To Be a Jew' and it's a popular book to be given at bar mitzvahs, etc, and it realy outlines a lot of jewish beliefs from the orthodox perspective. it's really aimed at people who are jewish and not at the outsider.

I also have 'the Jewish Way' which is oly about the holidays, and it offers a lot of information and sotries and perspectives, and I think it would be a great way to learn to relate to jewish relatives because you would then really have all of the information about the most visible parts of judaism- the holidays. Most people don't go to synagogue every day and put on the teffillin, observe shabbat etc, but most of them do celebrate the major holidays.

Re: Q: Your favorite holiday and why *note - this post has been screened for political correctness*

my favorite is christmas. aside from the presents, i just love the whole season leading up to it. i love christmas songs and movies and baking cookies and it being all cold out and hoping for snow on the day. and i love seeing my nieces and nephews get so excited. although it is a pain in the butt trying to balance the families. i always want to be with mine b/c of the kids. we'll see what happens this year.....

Re: Q: Your favorite holiday and why *note - this post has been screened for political correctness*

Christmas!!! Because love to decorate everything and wrap gifts!!!!!!
I also love the music

Re: Q: Your favorite holiday and why *note - this post has been screened for political correctness*

I love Christmas. I love the decorations and I love to give people presents and seeing them open them up!

Re: Q: Your favorite holiday and why *note - this post has been screened for political correctness*

---

Posted by ambersmom

What is Purim? I've never heard of it. Curious because I have a soon to be SIL who is Jewish and it would be nice if I could learn about and appreciate her holidays and customs.

---

I didnt know what Purim was either until I started working in a jewish hospital..And decided after that, I am celebrating this year or I am taking that day off!!

They get so smashed, and get dressed up like its halloween. Looks like a lot of fun!!

Re: Q: Your favorite holiday and why *note - this post has been screened for political correctness*

My favorite holiday is Veteran's Day... because it's my birthday

My second favorite holiday is Thanksgiving. I LOVE Thanksgiving. It's my all-time favorite meal, there's no gift issues/pressure, it's just a nice time to be with your friends and family and pig out!

Re: Q: Your favorite holiday and why *note - this post has been screened for political correctness*

I love Christmas, because my family really spends a lot of time together; we decorate the tree together, and sing christmas songs, and wrap presents together, and bake cookies together, etc. I make my Christmas cookie platters for my friends (I love baking!) and I love giving presents to people (receiving's not so bad either! ).

Re: Q: Your favorite holiday and why *note - this post has been screened for political correctness*

New Years! We have always celebrated it ever since I was a very little girl, it the time for gathering together with friends, having lots of fun, getting and giving gifts, eating and cooking great food, drinking champaign, time for new hopes and dreams. New Years always brings me back to my childhood when I was allowed to stay up till midnight and got gifts! I just love that holiday!!!!

Re: Q: Your favorite holiday and why *note - this post has been screened for political correctness*

HALLOWEEN!!!!
I love the time of year, seeing the leaves on the ground. Love the fact that you can get dressed up. Love giving out candy to the little kids & seeing them in their adorable costumes that make them look sooo cute and soo awkward walking down the street b/c they never fit right .

Re: Q: Your favorite holiday and why *note - this post has been screened for political correctness*

THanksgiving. Because DH is English, there's no question about where we're celebrating AND, flights are cheap at that time of year. No pressure to buy presents. One of the best meals. PUMPKIN PIE!!! I just love the time of year. And don't forget, Friday off!!! (If Christmas falls on a Thursday, do you get Friday off automatically? NOPE!!!).

Then there's turkey sandwiches, turkey al a king, turkey pot pie, turkey casserole....

Re: Q: Your favorite holiday and why *note - this post has been screened for political correctness*

My favorite holiday is Purim- you have licence to dress up in costume, crack jokes, eat a lot of junk food, drink, and laugh. I love it!

Re: Q: Your favorite holiday and why *note - this post has been screened for political correctness*

When/what date is Purim celebrated on?

Re: Q: Your favorite holiday and why *note - this post has been screened for political correctness*

Usually in early to Mid-March, but because the Jewish calender is a lunar calender, sometimes its as early as Feb, sometimes towards the end of March

Re: Q: Your favorite holiday and why *note - this post has been screened for political correctness*

Christmas. It makes me feel like a kid again. I still get the same excitement, love the Christmas spirit, buying and receiving gifts. I can't wait to do Christmas with my children.

ETA: I hope that I was politically correct enough, I know the thread is being screened.

Re: Q: Your favorite holiday and why *note - this post has been screened for political correctness*

I LOVE CHRISTMAS! It is easy for us. His family celebrates on Christmas Day and mine celebrates on Christmas Eve.

I do however...dislike New Years Eve. My FI and I have the same bday and it is 12/31, New Years Eve. It always stunk having a bday so close to Christmas but now the two of us have it. Our families fight for us and our friends always do stuff without us!!!

Re: Q: Your favorite holiday and why *note - this post has been screened for political correctness*

I love Halloween, hence I am getting married on 10/29 - who doesn't love to get dressed up and eat candy!!!

Re: Q: Your favorite holiday and why *note - this post has been screened for political correctness*

Thanksgiving...because we got engaged the morning of thanksgiving 2002!! It was one of the best days of my life

Re: Q: Your favorite holiday and why *note - this post has been screened for political correctness*

Thanksgiving!!! Why? Because of all the delicious food (I'm a piggie), everyone gets together even if they have to stop at three different houses and it forces you to look at all you've been blessed with in life and give thanks ... how can you not be happy on a day like that?!

Christmas is a major PIA, New Years never quite works out the way you'd like, Easter is blah, Halloween hardly anyone dresses up anymore... oh sorry, you didn't ask why we didn't pick the other holidays!!