I said this on a mailing list on Lambda:

I actually like it when cashiers and other strangers wish me a Merry Xmas. I am always happy to reply with “actually I’m Jewish, but Happy Hanukkah!” I would probably do this even if I weren’t Jewish, just because it’s fun.

And msmellow responded:

I like Etoile’s attitude. She appreciates when people are trying to be nice, even when their approach is misguided. Some of you could learn a lesson here.

Somebody else didn’t get it, but Mellow really has summed up my holiday-season worldview. I know these people mean well in wishing me Merry Xmas. (I wonder if they say it to people who are obviously from cultures that don’t celebrate Xmas?) I just like pointing out that not everybody is Christian, and not everybody celebrates Xmas, but that I appreciate their well wishes. I’ve never had a bad response to this. And yes, I do happen to celebrate Xmas, but Judaism is part of my cultural heritage and that’s important to me.