"O Tannenbaum" is not a Channukah Song

Though my holiday spirit will be arriving a little late, I am listening to some Vince Guaraldi Trio to rekindle the sentiment. My sister is visiting me at the moment, so I will keep this brief. We are preparing for our flight to Shanghai, where we will spend the New Year's weekend.

A few weeks prior to Christmas, my coworkers asked if I was going to do anything special. I told them that I did not (and do not) celebrate Christmas--that I am Jewish. They seemed to understand as we had a conversation lasting a few minutes.

To my surprise (initially), two weeks later my coworkers bought me Christmas presents and had encouraged my students to write me Christmas cards. Upon reflection though, this misunderstanding or flagrant disregard for what I had previously conveyed are both entirely feasible scenarios--neither of which are in the least surprising.

I believe that Chinese people believe that "Christmas" may be an American holiday instead of a Christian one. I have also heard from some Chinese people that "Christmas" is a celebration of individuality. I am not 100% on how those dots connect, but it is an interesting interpretation. And the interpretation arises from Chinese school textbooks--in which there is an annual unit dedicated to "Christmas" and "Christmas" vocabulary. Maybe one-in-a-hundred Chinese people could explain a link between "Christmas" and Jesus. They celebrate "Christmas," not Christmas.

Anyways, I learned a lot about "Christmas" this year. It involves a lot of tinsel, few traditional foods, and a lot of Wham!. I loathe Wham!--though not George Michael. On this note, Wham! now makes it onto the short list of Chinese obsessions that irk me: Stinky Tofu, Durian, and Wham!.

I will stop "scrooging" on "Christmas." Here are some varieties of "Christmas" cards and gifts:

If you're into formality, mystery, and wizardry...

For those who speak Spanese: Feliz Navidad.

Inappropriate and disgusting: A student's phone number and a bouncy ball with mold.

A birthday "Christmas" with Spongebob and his dilated pupils

Tust for me?

I am waiting for those leaves still...

Sealed with a coffee stain wishing me "Happy."

A confusing "Christmas" with the declarative question

"Christmas" for Bill c/o Mr. Elie

"Christmas" for an Islamic Jew (Sincerely, Candy)

A student with a good sense of irony: Dancing Torah Scrolls wishing me "Merry Christmas."

Music, Books, Movies, T.V.: "Greensleeves" by the Vince Guaraldi Trio, A Funk Odyssey by Jamiroquai, "U Can't Stop Me" by Basement Jaxx, "The Sacrifice of Victor" by Prince and The New Power Generation, "Howlin' for You" by The Black Keys. Leaves of Grass and I will be starting a graphic novel about Shenzhen--the novel being a gift from my sis. Here's some journalism I can get behind. The Black Swan despite the fact that my bootleg-DVD version of it had a title screen for "Black Sean."