Today I accidently dialed my friend John who answered singing my most hated Christmas song “Happy Xmas (War is Over). Then he called me while I was on my way home so I could hear the song playing on the radio while he screeched out “war is over” a few times. I told him if he kept it up, the war was not over, it had actually just begun. Like I can’t torture the hell out of someone too.

John and I worked together at a consulting company. Our COO (not her real title but the best one for her) was a member of the PC (politically correct) police. She spent a lot of energy this time of year correcting us when we said “Christmas party” instead of “holiday party” and frankly, it was a bit over the top. This was during the time people were making the subtle title change for the annual event so it wasn’t that common to say holiday instead of Christmas. Takes a bit of getting used to – not all of us are early adapters.

While we were getting the smack down on incorrectly labeling the party, the place was decorated to the max in Christmas wreaths. Someone might argue they were just holiday wreaths but they were decorated in red and green bows. For most of us that means Christmas. Being a smart ass, I looked online and found you could purchase Hanukkah wreaths. I presented her with this great news but sadly, she did not take my decorating suggestion and buy some.

Any kid that participated in chorus growing up learned “I Have a Little Dreidel” so we could balance out the plethora of Christmas songs we unashamedly sang. I don’t even know if there are other Hanukkah songs but that song was a fan favorite of all us Christians. When Kathryn was in elementary school, her music teacher led us in a semi-holiday sing-a-long. I say semi-holiday because most songs were about peace not Christmas, not that the two are mutually exclusive but there was a definite effort not to mention Christmas.

I haven’t organized any sing-a-longs myself but my gut tells me people either have to already know the songs or at least have the words or music to be able to participate and enjoy it.  We did not know the songs nor have any reference to help. There was also a clapping part that we screwed up and the teacher got mad at us. So much for peace on earth. Kathryn’s brother Jonathan had the misfortune of going with us that night and if it ever comes up, he’ll remind us we shouldn’t have made him gone since all we did was get yelled at.

Sometimes you hear Adam Sandler’s song on the radio just in case anyone wonders if the radio stations are taking care of everyone but I still love the one Hanukkah song I know by the one and only, Raffi.