“Laws of Xmas [Have You Ever Wondered What Xmas Would Be like If It Were a Jewish Holiday?…]”, Akiva Miller, Ilene Miller1998 (, )⁠:

[satire of Jewish Halakha, describing the rulings of the Kringler Rav on the proper methods of preparing for Xmas, the tree, decorations, gifts, conduct at office parties & the festive meal, rulings on the existence of Santa Claus (“yes”), miscellaneous customs, the Christmas Havdalah ceremony, a transcript of the Hagada to recite on Xmas, and miscellaneous Xmas songs like “One Little Reindeer”.]

  1. PREPARING FOR XMAS


  1. PREPARATIONS FOR XMAS MUST NOT BEGIN1 BEFORE2 THANKSGIVING.3 THIS APPLIES TO PREPARATIONS WHICH AFFECT THE HOLIDAY MOOD,4 BUT NOT THOSE WHICH ARE DONE IN PRIVATE.5

1 This contrasts sharply with Shabbos, for the mitzva of honoring Shabbos applies all week long. For example, if one finds a particularly good food during the week, one should save it for Shabbos even though it is now only Sunday and Shabbos is a week away. However, Xmas preparations may not begin too far in advance, in order to fulfill the dictum, “It’s beginning to look a lot like Xmas.”
2 This is because of the principle that two festive occasions should not be mixed into each other. Note the decree of the great R. H. Macy, who established that Santa Claus may not appear in the Thanksgiving Day parade until after all the other floats have passed.
3 There are some who begin preparing for Xmas as early as Halloween. This is wrong, and they will be called upon to account for their evil ways.
4 Such as setting up the Xmas tree (some say even buying one), or playing holiday music on the Muzak.
5 Such as buying gifts or buying the Xmas dinner turkey. Cooking the turkey may not be done before Thanksgiving because it will appear to be a Thanksgiving turkey.