https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Thu, 16 Apr 2026 16:14:35 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/questions-for-muslim-bees-or-multi-cultural-families#post-1163412 Mon, 21 Oct 2013 12:05:36 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 1163412@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My cousin is married to a Muslim woman. My IL doesn't mind celebrating Christmas with our family. She welcomes the gifts she receives for her and her LOs. My cousin and his wife give gifts too. I think my IL would draw the line at attending mass, but for our family Christmas is more of a gift giving and eating holiday than a religious one. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/questions-for-muslim-bees-or-multi-cultural-families#post-1163403 Mon, 21 Oct 2013 12:01:35 +0000 Anagram 1163403@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Beyond2: agree with the PPs, it depends on the guy and how religious he is. I've known many Muslims who will do Christmas exchanges w friends, but they also unabashedly date around ( and don't call it "courting", at least until they want to settle down which is a whole other subject.</p> <p>So, the fact that they are using terms like courting and she's already thinking about converting and is learning Arabic when they haven't known each other that long leads me to believe he may be a little more on the fundamentalist side.</p> <p>Edited because: not really any of my business! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/questions-for-muslim-bees-or-multi-cultural-families#post-1163285 Mon, 21 Oct 2013 11:29:10 +0000 Mae 1163285@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'd ask your sister. People have various levels of obedience to Islam and various feelings on their practice of it, just the same as Christians do. Your sister will be the one who knows his feelings on the topic best and will be able to guide you to being sensitive to his practices/customs. But I do think in general anything done with a spirit of kindness is generally appreciated, even if it's not the exact "right" thing, so I wouldn't stress too much. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/questions-for-muslim-bees-or-multi-cultural-families#post-1163277 Mon, 21 Oct 2013 11:28:00 +0000 plantains 1163277@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Beyond2: Good on you for being so thoughtful about it. I grew up in a multicultural extended family with both Muslim and Christian members. we celebrated both Christmas and Eid and always gave presents for both. </p> <p>I think it is okay to give him a present while finding a way to acknowledge that this is your opprotunity to celebrate him and his entry into your family in spite of religious differences. That said, it is probably best to ask your sister for her opinion on the issue as she will know best whether he is likely to be sensitive about it or not. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/questions-for-muslim-bees-or-multi-cultural-families#post-1163275 Mon, 21 Oct 2013 11:27:46 +0000 Mrsbells 1163275@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm not muslim but I have a lot of muslim friends, I think it depends on how religious the person is. My muslim coworkers participate in secret santa and are not offended by xmas gifts </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/questions-for-muslim-bees-or-multi-cultural-families#post-1163258 Mon, 21 Oct 2013 11:22:52 +0000 Beyond2 1163258@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My SIL has started seeing(? not sure of the correct term, maybe courting?) a Muslim man. She is also learning more about Islam, learning Arabic and very seriously considering converting. We have all met her friend and like him a great deal. </p> <p>Our family is Christian, although not very religious (although I am trying to immerse myself more recently) and we celebrate Christian holidays. With Christmas coming and the start of Christmas shopping, I've been wondering what I should do. I am assuming that my SIL will still be celebrating Christmas with us, at least this year and I'm not sure if her friend will be joining us. Would it be appropriate for our family to give him a Christmas gift? I don't want to be insensitive or insulting by forcing our traditions onto him, but I also don't want to exclude him! I don't know much about Islam or their holidays and maybe there is a better way to approach the holiday season altogether? Can anyone help shed some light for me? </p>