Posted on: 23-11-11 15:30:24
CDs,
Place where I live, the street is already started to light up with chrismas lights installed on houses or trees. I never celebrated chrismas (except enjoying the off time). Clearly I am not a christain. I have no plans to install the lights on my house. I wonder if I hurt my neighbors religious sentiments by not doing so. Am I ? Will their attitude change towards me ? I am new to the place and have not met many of them even once !!
People put the lights out for others to enjoy. It is not a religious practice. Christmas is a funny holiday because while it is a Christian holiday it is celebrated by many non-religious people (usually of Christian heritage, but still they are often not practicing Christians, they are not going to go to church on that day, etc.). A lot of the practices at Christmas have nothing to do with Christianity - for example the Christmas tree originated as a pagan tradition and part of the winter solistace.
Anyway, not putting up lights is not offensive. As the previous poster said you don't have to celebrate someone else's holiday and you probably aren't offended when they don't celebrate your cultural or religious holidays. Now personally I think that if you complain to your children's school if anyone SAYS Merry Christmas, that is offensive and hurtful. But even Mohamed Elmasry, a Canadian famous for his intolerant views, suggested that the anti-Merry Christmas campaign was stupid.
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My prayer to you
Is that you do all the things you set out to do
And live your life the way you love
Thurston Moore, Psychic Hearts
Also, you didn't ask for it and probably don't want to hear it but I just have to share a funny anecdote. My grandmother is Irish-Canadian (born in Canada). She lives in Little India in Toronto, but lived there since her home was built in the 50s, when there were few Indians in Canada. Her neighbours down the street are Indian or Pakistani (I don't mean to offend, I've just never met them and she doesn't know!). They are a family with a disabled child and my grandparents always stop to say hi to the child. The mother is older and can't speak English but she gave my grandma a gift at Christmas two years in a row. This is pretty unusual - my grandparents don't have much money so they wouldn't give anyone much of anything, maybe chocolate from the dollar store or something, and neighbours don't usually give gifts. Anyway one year this family gave her a pashmina and the next some bedding. My grandma was so touched. My grandma said it's her favourite gift.
My uncle's friend has a farm and recently he gave my grandparents half a cow, it's good organic meat, but they don't eat much so they told me, "we have some friends down the street, they've been nice to us so we will give it to them!" I had to beg them not to. They don't understand but I think if this family is Hindu they will not eat beef and will be offended and if they are Muslim they will not eat non Halal meat and will be offended. My poor grandparents they were so surprised to hear that I thought their gift idea was bad. They didn't know that a cow was anyone else's sacred animal. I hope they just give their neighbour some chocolate ...
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My prayer to you
Is that you do all the things you set out to do
And live your life the way you love
Thurston Moore, Psychic Hearts
Touching!!!...felt more like reading one of short stories of Christmas. Should consider publising it somewhere.
Quote:
Originally posted by san-hugo
CDs,
Place where I live, the street is already started to light up with chrismas lights installed on houses or trees. I never celebrated chrismas (except enjoying the off time). Clearly I am not a christain. I have no plans to install the lights on my house. I wonder if I hurt my neighbors religious sentiments by not doing so. Am I ? Will their attitude change towards me ? I am new to the place and have not met many of them even once !!
Don't worry if they can tolerate you as a neighbour then not having lights will not bother them at all
Jokes apart, this country is truely land of immigrants so no one would feel offended.
Merry Christmas! Ho Ho Ho ho..Happy Hanukkah! Feliz Navidad
Yeh, I am just trying to be a good neighbour here ! I guess I should light few LED strings outside, later will use for diwali and gurupurabs :-)
I have a troubled history with neighbours, May be I love life that is why ! , The loud music which I played in my condo at earlier place left some neighbours frowning So I was thinking of starting on a good note here, in due course of time they will know my 'good' habits in any case !!
Happy Holidays, I love Chrismas...holidays !!
Light your house. Neighborhood looks beautiful. enjoy holidays.
