>>OP: But surely you have a tree?
>>Me: No, I don't celebrate Christmas.
>>OP: There are presents, right?
>>Me: No, I don't celebrate Christmas.
>>
>>I find the ignorance of some Christians in this multi-cultural country troubling. I have no problem with the people who have never encountered a Jew and ask honest questions about differences. But the folks who can't see that not everyone does things their way annoy me a lot.
>
>having lived besides very secular muslims for a couple of years (who also spoiled there kids) I can say that the set of non-christians giving presents at christmas without a tree or other optical celebration, but having lots of guests over these days is not empty - so such an array of questions is not always senseless. Even offering them wine IMO is not overboard - if they decline, I might ask if that was typical for them (might not be motivated by religion).

Yes, no question that there are non-Christians who use Christmas as an excuse to celebrate, but when I've had this conversation, it wasn't about that. It was about somebody truly not understanding that there are people in America who do not celebrate Christmas. It was simply unfathomable to them.

Tamar