MHS students celebrate Christmas regardless of religion and culture

Allie Keim | The Chronicle

The ringing of jingle bells dismiss students off to winter break. As Mason High School (MHS) students look forward to two weeks off school, those who celebrate Christmas are filled with excitement knowing they are nearing the later days of December. 

Christmas is a Christian holiday that celebrates the birth of Jesus, the son of God, on December 25. Christmas is known for enhancing the principles of generosity, togetherness and joy, making the end of year a joyful time for those who participate. While Christmas does have a strong Christian influence, many people of other backgrounds have come to embrace the traditions and imagery of the holiday. 

Junior Amelia Eshman has celebrated Christmas her entire life. Celebrating the holiday season surrounded by her family, Eshman enjoys the cheer and reflection time that comes with Christmas. Following the Catholic faith, she also observes Advent, which takes place in the weeks leading up to Christmas. 

“As Catholics, [my family] celebrates Advent,” Eshman said. “Advent is the preparation time for Jesus being born, and we celebrate his birthday every year. It’s time to get our hearts prepared to welcome [Jesus].”

While students such as Eshman celebrate Christmas in a more traditional way, junior Izzy Masters and her family have put their own twist on the holiday season. With both a Jewish and Christian side of her family, Masters has found over the years that both Hanukkah and Christmas can coexist together. While the stories of both holidays differ, Masters is able to draw connections between their themes that pervade. 

“It’s like the season of giving, because you do gifts for both,” Masters said. “I think it’s different. Because with Hanukkah, you tend to get one gift per eight nights, [while for] Christmas, it’s all in one. I think the season of giving is the thing that connects them.”

The festivities of Christmas, however, are not limited to just Christians. A Pew Research survey conducted in 2013 found that 81% of non-Christians in the US celebrate Christmas. The values of family and giving that are highlighted throughout the Christmas season are what drew junior Santhosh Rajan’s family towards the holiday. Rajan, a practicing Hindu, looks forward to the joy of Christmas day this holiday season. 

“[For my family] it wasn’t really about any Christian values, but it’s more of an escape for us to treat ourselves,” Rajan said. “I mean it’s presents and whatnot, but for us, it’s more about the value of giving and treating ourselves to a gift at the end of the year.”

As a member of Students Involved and Befriending Students (SIBS), Rajan helped collect donations for the annual Season of Giving donation drive. Highlighting the importance of giving back, Rajan explained that along with receiving gifts, you must also put effort into supporting the community. 

“A lot of people in Mason are more fortunate than others,” Rajan said. “I think a lot of people don’t understand that it’s not just giving money to a cause, but you’re actually changing people’s lives. You’re giving them at least a moment during the year where they can relax and enjoy something. I think as a school, we take a lot of things for granted. We have so many special opportunities that many people don’t have, so it’s really important to give back and give a chance for everyone to enjoy the same special moments.”

Between Black Friday shopping and endless Hallmark Christmas movies, some feel that Christmas is being over-commercialized. Twisting the narrative of giving into overconsumption, Christmas can become overstimulating and greedy. This has led students such as Eshman to feel that the holiday has somewhat strayed away from its core and is now profit-oriented. 

“I think there’s two Christmases that are celebrated: the commercialized Christmas and the religious Christmas,” Eshman said. “The religious Christmas is focused on Jesus and His coming to the earth. And I think the more commercialized is, buy this, buy this, buy this, and give this, and give this and give this. And I think it started off good, but of course, over time, things change.”

Eshman has found a balance between the traditional values and celebratory fun during the holidays. Putting a focus on the original story of Christmas, has helped her remain true to her faith and respect for the holiday. 

“We have an Advent wreath, and we go to different prayer services at our church that allow us to reflect and focus on our religion,” Eshman said. “But we also like exchanging gifts, and our youth group always does a sock exchange or a white elephant thing, which is not necessarily religious, but it’s fun.”

Rajan argues that people, despite their religious affiliations, are valid in whichever way they choose to celebrate the holiday season. But, he does see the significance of holding space for others beliefs and traditions. 

“There is celebrating Christmas in a general way and celebrating for religious reasons,” Rajan said. “Both are important regardless if you only do one, do both, or none of them. Just like any other holiday, [for example] Thanksgiving, you don’t have to celebrate it. But there are people who really take the time and do special things each year, and it’s important to respect those values.”

Masters also offered the idea that while many people have trended toward Christmas over the years, the holiday season has also become more inclusive for people who do not celebrate Christmas. 

“I feel like, even in elementary school we’d have the Christmas party and there was nothing surrounding Hanukkah or anything,” Masters said. “I feel like now, even just the fact that we say it’s ‘winter break’ is more inclusive.”

Rajan emphasizes using the time of Christmas and winter break to self-reflect on the year and spend time with family. Thinking through his favorite Christmas traditions, Rajan explains that his best memories are of him being surrounded with the people he loves. 

“[The end of the year] isn’t just about the holidays, but also relaxing and winding down,” Rajan said. “Christmas allows people to come together and share connections [with one another]. The inclusivity of Christmas comes from the time to deepen connections and get to know people.”

Throughout the years Christmas’s teachings of love have spread to people of many demographics. While highlighting the importance of honoring religious values, Christmas allows people to come together and celebrate. From nutcrackers to Christmas cookies, each person’s specific traditions come from a place of joy. 

“I think the true value you get from Christmas is giving other things to other people and feeling good about what you are giving,” Rajan said. “It doesn’t even have to be a gift, but sharing your feelings to another person, which is why I enjoy spending time with my family during Christmas. [At Christmas] you can give your time and affection to the people you love.”