When I was growing up, my dad worked at the North Pole Express at the Essex Steam Train. The train was like a winter wonderland, and I used to ride it every year. Mrs. Claus served homemade cookies, reindeers walked on the roof, and elves served me steaming hot cocoa. It was all so joyful and surreal. I was speechless when Santa finally arrived, put me on his lap, and asked me what I wanted for Christmas.
My joyous Jewish holiday season had come to an end, and Hanukkah had already passed.
This was only the start of my realization that I don’t observe the winter holidays the way most of my friends do. It also marked the beginning of my feelings of alienation and jealousy during the festive season.
I celebrate Hanukkah, a widely observed holiday that falls in December and lasts for eight nights. This holiday commemorates the Jews’ military triumph over foreign rulers. Hanukkah focuses on spending time with family. Although we receive gifts, our holiday isn’t centered primarily on them, and I really love that because it allows me to focus more on spending time with the people I care about. I wouldn’t trade Hanukkah for Christmas, but I do understand the joy and love that surround the holiday.
It’s tricky not being Christian in a community that is decked in Christmas decorations as soon as the Thanksgiving meal is cleared from the table. In 3rd grade, during December, teachers had us finger-painting Christmas ornaments with a multitude of festive-themed glitter and pom-poms. I had no clue why I was painting a ball red and green, but I did see the pure joy radiating off of the kids around me. I wanted that same joy but felt excluded since, despite being there, I was unable to fully share it with them. As I’ve grown older, I’ve discovered that my celebration can be just as festive as Christmas, without the holiday stress and overwhelming commercialism.
An eight-day holiday drastically reduces stress. Christmas requires you to pack all of your festivities into just one night. Both Hanukkah and Christmas revolve around spending time with loved ones and exchanging gifts, but Hanukkah is a longer celebration. While Christmas is packed into one or two days, Hanukkah spans eight days and emphasizes family time. Instead of just going through the motions of the day, the prolonged celebration of Hanukkah allows one to reflect more deeply on the holiday and its meaning. Although I don’t partake in Christmas festivities, I enjoy the boost of serotonin its music gives me and the fun little Christmas activities like light shows and gingerbread house making.
Despite being disappointed that I don’t get to have the same experience that my friends do, I still recognize that it’s a magical time for many, even if my holiday season does not match the beloved Christmas celebration.
