Is 'Christmas' offensive?
Every year at Christmas, I encounter people who are particularly zealous: "Merry Christmas! Oh, no, you're not celebrating. I mean, happy holidays!"
Yes, as a German with Turkish heritage who comes from a conservative Muslim family, I did not grow up celebrating Christmas. For my family, the holiday was just a long weekend. We watched the Four Hills Tournament ski competition, Little Lord Fauntleroy and, of course, Three Wishes for Cinderella. That was Christmas season for us.
Now, I ask myself every year why people are so careful to not wish me a Merry Christmas. I, too, look forward to the holiday season: That's when the people around me think about their religion at least once a year.
I enjoy the contemplation and the deceleration. Christmas grounds people, at least those with whom I deal from day to day. It's a nice feeling. Every year, my family and I are happy to receive Christmas cards from our friends, just as we likewise send out Christmas greetings — not because we have to, but because it is a form of decency to respect the religion of others.
Integration, Migration and Refugees Commissioner Annette Widmann-Mauz was acting with honorable intent when she omitted "Christmas" from this year's holiday cards; her aim is to not hurt, offend or exclude people who do not celebrate the Christian holiday. But the word does not offend me: I, too, would like to have a Happy Christmas!
Non-Christian parents know that Germany's heavily Christian calendar generally overlooks the holidays celebrated by their religions. Our family has one strategy for this.
When I celebrate the end of Ramadan with my daughters, they get presents, as they do at Christmas, but without the tree or the nativity scene. Yes, I know that the holiday is about more than just presents. But that is how Christmas is celebrated at our place. If anyone asks, I simply respond that we Muslims also celebrate the birth of Jesus. He is also an important prophet in our religion.
What about Ramadan?
Instead of excluding me from German traditions out of fear of insulting me, it would be much nicer if Christians would show awareness of the holidays of my religion. I've never had a non-Muslim congratulate me on the end of Ramadan or on the Eid al-Adha.
We could all generally be more considerate of the beliefs and traditions held by the people around us. But I would like to continue to receive Christmas greetings, cards and gifts.
I'm a fully fledged member of society. And I don't live between two cultures, but with two cultures.
In my view, this enriches — and by no means creates an obstacle to — integration.