Oh, yes, all the wonderful traditions. The tree decorated with heirloom ornaments; the beautifully wrapped presents accumulating underneath; the mantelpiece bearing marzipan fruit and hung with stockings; the sound of Christmas music; the mincemeat pies in the oven. At least that is how it was at my friends’ houses.
But as the evening of the 24th approached, I faced a void. At a Hanukkah party with dreidels and popcorn balls, I hadn’t known the words to any songs and felt like an outsider. The menorah in my parents’ living room and the nightly lighting and gift-giving were enjoyable, but the celebrations of the eternal light had ended in mid-December. On Christmas Eve I did my best to curl up with a good book.
