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 Â
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."