Wednesday, December 3, 1997
Christmas creates dilemma for those of other faiths
RELIGION:
Non-Christian students share winter season with holiday giantBy Michelle Navarro
Daily Bruin Contributor
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas.
From store windows to television, the religious and commercial images of the jolly holiday are everywhere, constantly reminding everyone of the current festive season.
Even the many aisles of merchandise in Ackerman are dressed in the frosty fashion. But for some, the holy baby born in a manger, Santa Claus, blinking lights and, yes, a Charlie Brown Christmas don't apply.
There is a considerable number of students who practice religions Buddhism, Islam and Judaism, to name a few that do not recognize Christmas as a part of their faith.
Living in a society that largely celebrates Christmas immediately after the clock strikes twelve on Thanksgiving may be difficult.
"The Jewish community calls it the 'December Dilemma,'" said Sheri Wohlgemuth, program director of the Hillel Jewish Student Center.
"As adults, it's a difficult situation, but you just shrug your shoulders and it's no big deal. For the children it's the hardest."
Wohlgemuth explained how growing up in a country that changes into a virtual Christmas wonderland come December can be confusing when it's not your religion.
"(Children) will ask, 'Why are there lights on their home and not on ours?'" she said. "At elementary school you sing Christmas carols and then one dreidel song."
Some families do put up lights or buy a tree to join in the celebration, but Wohlgemuth said that even buying a tree "because it's a nice-smelling plant" carries a lot of indirect symbolism anyway.
One example she gave was that the wooden beams at the bottom of the tree, used to stabilize the towering array of pine needles, form the shape of a cross a major symbol in Christian religions.
"It's not our holiday," Wohlgemuth said. "When you're at another birthday party you don't open up presents. It's not our birthday."
For one student, images of sugar plums and Rudolph don't bother her because she hardly sees the religion in Christmas anymore.
"Christmas is more of a commercial holiday," said Haeli Kim, a third-year biology student and member of the Seventh Day Adventist community.
"Christmas doesn't hold any religious significance for me."
Kim said the holiday wasn't largely celebrated at home. As a Seventh Day Adventist, Kim doesn't recognize Dec. 25 as the day of the birth of Jesus Christ.
"Basically I know it's not the day Jesus was born. It's not Biblical, it's not fact," Kim said. "But we go along with it in the sense of giving presents and as a time to get together with family."
One Muslim student enjoys the holiday atmosphere but concentrates on the Islamic holidays for example, the month of Ramadan where Muslims fast from sunup to sundown.
"It's not necessarily difficult. It's just a different culture, and we have our own holidays of equivalent importance," said Ahmed Shama, a third-year computer science student. "It's actually kind of nice; everyone's in the spirit of giving. We just don't celebrate it.
"Throughout Ramadan, there is the spirit of giving. It may not be the same as the one here, but it's the same idea."
That spirit of Christmas, strong enough to even turn Scrooge around, is very hard to ignore. The key for some is to keep remembering that it's not a part of their faith.
"I enjoy the atmosphere that Christmas creates and the sense of community," said Rachel Metson, a second-year political science student and president of the Jewish Student Union, "but I realize that it's not a part of my beliefs. It's a nice holiday, but I realize that."
The Jewish holiday, Hanukkah, coincides with the Christmas season. But shops tend to market the latter holiday more, leaving a small corner for Hanukkah gifts and products.
"It's really just about the numbers and what society tends to focus on," said Wohlgemuth. "Westwood Boulevard is blue and white so it's not totally offensive. You find that most try to even it out."
Metson explained that in actuality, Hanukkah isn't a large celebration.
"The thing is, Hanukkah is not a major Jewish holiday," she said. "It doesn't need to be amplified like Christmas. It's only highlighted because it occurs around Christmas."
For the most part, Wohlgemuth said not celebrating Christmas isn't too hard of a task for those strong in their faith.
"I don't let it bother me," she said. "I think most don't if they're mature enough. You don't have to celebrate Christmas."