Christmastime. The infamous period at the end of the year in which red and white take over. Decorations and advertisements for Noel are plastered everywhere- storefronts, cereals, books, shows, everything! But what about those who don’t celebrate Christmas?

“To be honest, I think people take Christmas too seriously,” junior Jacob Dorm said, “My family is Jewish, and we celebrate Hanukkah. We have been since before I was born, and it’s the only winter holiday I participate in.” The Hanukkah will begin the evening of Sunday, Dec. 2 and ends in the evening of Monday, Dec. 10.

“During the celebration, we do the lighting of candles, give gifts, you know.”  Dorn said, “I’m not really into the religious aspects of it. But it’s fun!”

Senior Ameena King, does not celebrate Christmas for religious reasons. “Muslims have Ramadan, I guess,” King said, “But I wouldn’t call it a holiday. It’s not even in the winter season. We just give up everything fun for a month. I still don’t really care about ‘missing out’ on Christmas.”

The school majorly celebrates Christmas and Christmas alone, yet there is a multitude of both religious and secular holidays still observed in modern society- for example, Kwanzaa, an “African American and Pan-African holiday celebrated by millions throughout the world”, according to the official Kwanzaa website. Cultures all over the world claim their own version of the winter holiday. Yet, still, there are not many students at the school that perform them.

King said that she “doesn’t know anyone who wouldn’t celebrate Christmas,” and Dorn mentioned he wasn’t “really aware of any other Jewish people” in the student body.