When many people think of December, thoughts of putting up Christmas trees, stuffing stockings and unwrapping presents underneath the tree typically dance through their heads.

For some, however, this time of year brings about festivities that aren’t typically represented in the media or in holiday decorations around town.

Dana Rosenblum, senior, is Jewish and celebrates Hanukkah this time of year.

“Hanukkah is considered the Festival of Lights, so we light a menorah that lasts for eight days,” Rosenblum said. “I usually celebrate with my individual family a couple nights and, depending on the year either during Hanukkah or before or after, we’ll have a big celebration with all of my cousins and extended family.”

Rosenblum enjoys the story behind the holiday of the Maccabees, hearing her father dramatically sing prayers as the candles are lit and spending time with her family during a family-oriented holiday.

“With all my little cousins now it’s really fun because they always get these cute little toys,” Rosenblum said. “We’re actually not really supposed to get presents on Hanukkah and it’s supposed to be a really minor holiday, but because of Christmas, it’s become a lot bigger.”

While celebrating Hanukkah doesn’t necessarily make her feel like an outsider, Rosenblum said it’s people’s general lack of knowledge about the holiday and assumptions they make that emphasize her religious difference.

“A lot of people assume it’s like the Jewish Christmas and people don’t necessarily know the whole story behind the holiday,” Rosenblum said. “I feel like people kind of forget about it unless they have a friend that’s Jewish. Sometimes people don’t fully understand and I wish that they would ask more questions about it because, if not, we’re just kind of thrown in the background and nobody really knows about us.”

While some religions hold large holidays near the end of the calendar year, some do not have one around the times of Christmas and Hanukkah.

Arsalan Ali, junior, is Islamic and doesn’t celebrate any holiday around the time of Winter Break.

“It can be weird to hear about people getting really extravagant gifts for Christmas while I don’t celebrate anything,” Ali said.

While he doesn’t celebrate a particular holiday over break, Ali takes this time off from school to relax and destress after first semester.

“It’s fun to spend time with friends since school’s off and everyone’s at home,” Ali said. “I like not having any homework to do and just being able to hang out with friends, play video games and not have any stress.”

Even classic Christmas traditions can be observed in a different light. Arjun Madhavan, senior, celebrates by putting up a Christmas tree and giving presents to family and friends yet has identified as non-religious since the beginning of high school.

“I think that most of our generation isn’t as religious as previous ones,” Madhavan said. “I never grew up around the Christian denominations, but as a part of my culture I kind of feel set apart.”
Even though his family is Hindu, Madhavan has chosen to take control of what he believes in an effort to form his own identity.

“It’s my life so I get to decide what I’m going to live by,” Madhavan said. “I shouldn’t have to live by anyone else’s beliefs even if they are my parents, siblings, grandparents or relatives.”