There's little unusual about such a gathering this time of year, except for one thing: Zonneveld, a practicing Muslim, had invited mostly Muslim friends, and she had a unique highlight for the evening: a lesson for the kids on the role of Jesus in Islam.
"Celebrating Christmas is not really a contradiction to Islam because Jesus is our prophet, too," says Zonneveld, 49.
At her party, she says parents talked with their kids about the "similarities and differences between the Islamic and Christian Jesus," to teach them that Islam is "not all about Muhammad."
"I love the Mass, I find it inspiring and uplifting," says Shireen Ahmed, a 34-year-old social worker and mother of four from Toronto, who doesn't have a Christmas tree or decorations but does let her young children take photos with Santa.
"I'm not accepting of Jesus as the Son of God, I don't take communion, but I will attend, I will respect, and I will kneel when they kneel."
"I look at it from a cultural tolerance perspective. We live in a society that's diverse," she says, adding that she recently used the Christmas season as a chance to talk about Jesus to her 7-year-old.
"I explained the Holy Trinity, and my son said 'What do you mean? Allah doesn't have a father or son.' I said "that's what we believe, but others don't and you have to respect that."
What does the Quran say about Jesus?
... sent down to thee (step by step), in truth, the Book, confirming what went before it; and He sent down the Law (of Moses) and the Gospel (of Jesus) before this, as a guide to mankind, and He sent down the criterion (of judgment between right and wrong). (Surat 'Āli `Imrān 3:3, Quran.com)
And [mention] when the angels said, "O Mary, indeed Allah has chosen you and purified you and chosen you above the women of the worlds. (Surat 'Āli `Imrān 3:42, Quran.com)
He (Angel) said, "I am only the messenger of your Lord to give you [news of] a pure boy." (Surat Maryam, 19:19,. Quran.com)
... said, "O Mary, indeed Allah gives you good tidings of a word from Him, whose name will be the Messiah, Jesus, the son of Mary - distinguished in this world and the Hereafter and among those brought near [to Allah ]. (Surat 'Āli `Imrān 3:45, Quran.com)
And (remember) she who guarded her chastity [Virgin Maryam (Mary)], We breathed into (the sleeves of) her (shirt or garment) [through Our Ruh - Jibrael (Gabriel)], and We made her and her son ['Iesa (Jesus)] a sign for Al-'Alamin (the mankind and jinns). ... (Surat Al-'Anbyā' 21:91, Quran.com)
And He (Allah) will teach him ['Iesa (Jesus)] the Book and Al-Hikmah (i.e. the Sunnah, the faultless speech of the Prophets, wisdom, etc.), (and) the Taurat (Torah) and the Injeel (Gospel). (Surat 'Āli `Imrān 3:48, Quran.com)
And will make him ['Iesa (Jesus)] a Messenger to the Children of Israel (saying): "I have come to you with a sign from your Lord, that I design for you out of clay, as it were, the figure of a bird, and breathe into it, and it becomes a bird by Allah's ... (Surat 'Āli `Imrān 3:49, Quran.com)
[Jesus] said, "Indeed, I am the servant of Allah. He has given me the Scripture and made me a prophet. (Surat Maryam 19:30, Quran.com)
And [mention] when Jesus, the son of Mary, said, "O children of Israel, indeed I am the messenger of Allah to you confirming what came before me of the Torah and bringing good tidings of a messenger to come after me, ... (Surat Aş-Şaf, 61:6)
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