I am christian, and DH is Jewish. I didn't convert, but did agree that the kids will be raised Jewish, because it was very important to DH, primarily for cultural, as opposed to purely religious reasons. We do not belong to a temple yet, and although we (read I, since I do the cooking and making a table and stuff) do celebrate passover, rosh hashannah, and hannukah, we have also had a christmas tree every year, and the whole Christmas present thing.

Now that DS1 is getting older (3 3/4) Christmas, or the commercialized, santa clause version, is making a pretty big impression on him. I think DH had a tree to decorate when he was little, but they only got hannukah presents, and he and his siblings did have bar & bat mitzvahs. I have told DH it is his responsibility to pick a temple and get the kids involved in his faith, but he has yet to do so.

In the past, we had thought we would not have a big tree and christmas celebration at our house, but would share the tree thing when we visit my family. Of course, now here we are with a tree. I was thinking of putting the big gifts out from santa, and then bringing the rest of the small ones out, one at a time, in hannukah paper for each day of hannukah.

So, to get to the point, I was just wondering what it was like for people growing up in a mixed household, or what mixed families are doing now ? I don't want the boys to be too confused, but I also love alot of the secular traditions surrounding christmas.

Any advice, stories, or memories would be greatly appreciated !