Why this Jew loves Christmas

Merry Christmas – or perhaps, I should say, Season’s Greetings. The festive period can be something of a minefield for the culturally sensitive: even a presumptive or mis-worded greeting, however well meant, may be misconstrued as an affront to diversity and an expression of non-inclusivity. Not least to those who don’t celebrate Christmas, perhaps due to their ethnicity or religion.

Being Jewish, this must surely then include me. After all, I don’t sing Christmas carols or believe in the chap with the white beard. So shouldn’t the greatest care be taken when offering greetings of the season or making mention of pigs – pigs! – in blankets?

Bah humbug. I’m actually offended by the idea that I might be offended. Just because I don’t officially celebrate Christmas – no tree, no presents, no Michael Bublé compilation albums playing on repeat – doesn’t mean I have to be ring fenced off from all its spangly, tinsel-draped wonder.