A Muslim Guide to Christmas

Muslims and…Christmas?

Now that Thanksgiving has come and gone, it’s time to think about the holidays! Is it odd for me to be writing a Muslim Guide to Christmas? Well, these past few weeks I have had some interesting conversations about Christmas with my Muslim friends. Much of it revolves around do we/don’t we. And if we do, how much and where we draw the line.

Before I go on, I should make it clear that Jesus is very much loved and revered in Islam, so the objection isn’t actually to the celebration of a revered prophet’s birth. As a parent, I just want to make sure my kids have a solid Muslim identity, so it is more about the preservation of our own faith traditions than a rejection of a different one. I also want my children to understand they do not have to be part of EVERYTHING. Only time will tell, but I think they’ll be okay if we don’t have a Christmas tree.

So, Do You or Don’t You Celebrate? Sort of…

What makes it difficult is that I personally love this time of year. Much of it is nostalgia of my childhood in Indiana surrounded by my majority non-Muslim friends and neighbors. I also love all things peppermint. Here is my compromise: in our home we put up winter decorations – think snowmen, snowflakes, and the occasional penguin. We also love to go out and see Christmas lights in a nearby neighborhood.

We also attend work and friends’ Christmas parties. Everyone is different, but I feel comfortable enough in my faith to celebrate a holiday with friends of a different one and want to teach my children to feel the same. I also enjoy the goodwill between everyone this time of year and like to partake. Plus, I like to opportunity to get dressed up. If you have a Christmas party coming up, check out some of my looks below. Anything from a gala, to a neighborhood party I’ve got you covered!

Formal

Here’s an outfit for a gala or more formal Christmas party. Remember that Pink Elephant Sale I wrote about last month? I picked up both these pieces from there. I have affiliate links to similar items.

top (similar, affiliate link), skirt (similar, affiliate link), earrings (similar, affiliate link), clutch (affiliate link)

Semi-Formal

Have a work Christmas party or an evening one? This sparkly pleated midi is perfect for such an event. Again, items that have been hanging in my closet, but here are affiliate links for similar items.

sweater (similar, affiliate link), skirt (similar, affiliate link), clutch (affiliate link), shoes (affiliate link)

Casual

I have shared this before, but I’m sharing it again because I think it’s a great Christmas sweater for a casual get together with friends. Also a vintage piece.

sweater (similar, affiliate link), jeans (similar, affiliate link), shoes (similar, affiliate link)

If you are not Christian, do you celebrate Christmas? I’m always curious to hear other perspectives. Please share in a comment, or email me!