It's that time of year again,December, when many different religions celebrate their faith.  I love Christmas, it's always been my favorite time of year.  But I also learned to appreciate the other Celebrations like Hanukkah.  I remember as a teenager going to Temple with my best friend, and not really understanding anything, but trying to learn anyway.  I also went to Mormon Temple, Baptist, Lutheran, Nazarene and Presbyterian.  I wanted to know what each Organization believed.  I think this is what helped me respect the diversity of our Religious Holidays today.

Marketing during this time of year has gotten both tricky and touchy.  When it comes to Religion so many people let their emotions take over and don't stop to think that someone saying Merry Christmas isn't trying to "make a statement" or put someone else down.  In fact Merry Christmas has become so commercialized that it does't even have a Religious Connotation to some people. 

Hanukkah or Chanukah is another Ceremony/Holiday.  Blue and white candles or lights, or a Menorah in a window are a couple of the symbols of Hanukkah, a Jewish Tradition.  Hanukkah is celebrated for 8 days, and this year it is from Dec. 21st-29th. When I was a kid I wanted to be Jewish because they got gifts and celebrated for a week longer than my family did.  That was my childish view of the difference between Christmas and Hanukkah.

Now that I'm grown up, I know there are even more Religious Holidaysduring this time of year, and I respect everyones right to their own views.  So for my Holiday Marketing I have made 2 different Wallpapers, one for Christmas and one for Hanukkah.  The Hanukkah one is special to me because of the memories of going through the Jewish Quarter in Budapest, Hungary, and seeing some of the memorials in other European Countries. This Photo is one I took in 2006 and I enhanced it, and manipulated it for my Marketing this year. This Synagogue is the largest in Europe and the second largest in the world.  It was almost destroyed during WW II and the Nazi's used it for a Horse Stable, but as you can see it has been beautifully renovationed. 

The Wallpapers will be available tomorrow on my other Blog.  I hope everyone embraces Diversity this Holiday Season because no matter what OUR beliefs are , respecting someone else's right to theirs is what Peace on Earth is really all about. 

So, when you're doing your Marketing for the Holidays don't forget not everyone believes the same.  I chose to offer the 2 varieties of Wallpapers, and my newletter has several different other Holidays highlighted.   But that's just me...

***I believe in Respect for Diversity and still hope for Peace on Earth***

By: Kathy McGraw of CELLing Realty  note:  Photo Copyrighted 2006 by K. McGraw