Christmas is upon us, and, especially if you’re living in the United States, it’s easy to assume that the Christmas spirit has undertaken everyone in its path. But what if you don’t celebrate Christmas at all? You’re bound to have some questions about the holiday and some of its wacky traditions, including Santa Claus. Now, I love Christmas, but if I were an alien that got dropped here from another planet and saw that people brought outdoor trees inside, left desserts out in the middle of the night, expected a man to reverse-burglarize their house, and hung socks up in their homes, I’d have more than a few inquiries about just what the hell was going on. Luckily, Tracy Soren and Jessie Jolles — better known as comedy duo Soren and Jolles — are here to help with their latest video, “If Santa Chilled With Two Jews On Xmas Eve.”
Both Soren and Jolles are Jewish, so when Santa pays them a visit on Christmas Eve in the video, boy, do they have questions for that jolly head elf. Why do kids sit on his lap? Why does he drink so much milk? It’s probably really bad for his digestion. Interestingly enough, the tradition of leaving out cookies and milk for Santa (and a few carrots for hungry reindeer) only dates back to the time around the Great Depression. According to History.com, even though things were bad for most families, parents wanted to instill in their children a sense that it was important to show gratitude for the gifts they were lucky enough to get. The food left out for Santa also changes depending on where you are in the world. History explains that British children give mince pies, while Swedish kids leave rice porridge as Santa’s sustenance. In Ireland, a pint of Guinness is a common treat.
Soren and Jolles’ questions for Santa are of course hilarious (and things that I have also always wondered… because why doesn’t Mrs. Claus have a first name?), but they touch on an important point. In cultures where one religion or ethnicity is overtly dominant (like Christianity in the United States), other religions and traditions tend to get swallowed up or pushed to the side. Soren and Jolles are two Jewish ladies with plenty of knowledge about Santa, but what, if anything, do you think Santa could tell them about their traditions and festivities? Probably not much.
All of this underlines just how important it is to be mindful of every culture that surrounds you, not just your own. Not only does that open your eyes to the rest of the world, it also opens your stomach to many more categories of treats. International cookies are what make the world go ‘round, you know what I’m saying?
Watch Soren and Jolles’ full video for “If Santa Chilled With Two Jews On Xmas Eve” below and dream up your own questions for Santa Claus.
Images: Soren & Jolles/YouTube (3)
