Not up for a mating dance? That's okay too. Christmas Eve get-togethers have become a yearly tradition for many, a way of catching up with old friends from high school and camp, and an opportunity to forge platonic and professional connections, as well as amorous ones. Though the crowd is obviously predominantly Jewish (if skewing to the less observant end of the spectrum), non-Jews are welcome to attend, and often do.
"The event has really become a party on Christmas Eve for people who are not with their family," says Rudnick." So if in a few weeks you're looking for a way to stave off the seasonal affective disorder, take comfort in knowing you have a perfect excuse to get your drunk on and dance on a date once declared dead of nightlife, now resuscitated.
Jacqueline Houton wants her mother to know she expects to spend Christmas Eve doing anything but ordering Chinese or playing mahjong with the girls. She can be reached at jacqueline.houton@gmail.com.
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