I could not be happier that July is officially over. Not because the U.S. has had one of the hottest months in recent memory, but because I no longer have to hear about Christmas in July.

Seriously, I am over it.

Christmas is not my religious holiday, and that's okay by me. I work retail, and over the years, I have learned to smile and graciously listen to well meaning people wish me a blessed and joyous Christian holiday sentiment. I listen to Jesus music for six weeks leading up to this single day celebration. People assume that everyone must be celebrating the birth of Christ right along with them.

News flash: lots of people don't believe Jesus was the Messiah, and have no need to celebrate his birth.

But, here's the thing - those of us who don't celebrate the religious aspect of Christmas roll with the punches and embrace our Christian friends and this holiday cheer in December. Mostly, strangers are kinder around Christmas and unsolicited gifts from friends are really lovely. I can handle "the Christmas spirit" in the trenches of a cold snowy winter. It's nice.

HOWEVER, I have had it with Christmas in July. It is a lot to ask of your non-Christian friends to not only happily embrace winter Christmas, but now we have to be subjected to a celebration for Jesus's half birthday too? And it's not just for one day - it's now an entire month? I don't know of any other religion who subjects non-believers into reliving a holiday over and over again throughout the year. I certainly wouldn't attempt to popularize Purim to non-Jews halfway through the year. (Even though it's one of my favorite holidays. Look it up - it involves costumes and booze!) Know why? Because it feels wrong to impose my holiday on non-believers outside of its dedicated time frame! I would never ask my Muslim friends to come over for Hanukkah in May, nor would I expect a major retail chain to offer a "Halfway to Rosh Hashanah" sale.

Anyone who is not Christian is aware of the Christian privilege that runs rampant in the U.S. We feel it when we have to remind our bosses and professors of our absences due to holidays that we don't automatically have off. It hits us when we are asked where we go to church. It hurts when, living in the "melting pot of the world," a stranger says something anti Semitic to my face and "apologizes" by telling me "oh, you don't LOOK Jewish." The American assumption that all people are Christian is tiring and, to be frank, condescending. It's time to realize that along with a mix of cultures in the country are a mix of religions that don't want Christianity slapped in their face all the time.

While writing this article, it was brought to my attention that "Christmas in July" is just a gimmick used by retailers in an attempt to surge the economy with sales that otherwise wouldn't have a clear purpose. But that's the point! It's again the usage of a Christian holiday to spark interest in something otherwise nonexistent. Come celebrate something because it has a connection to Jesus.

But it isn't just retailers who jump on this. I have seen several Christmas in July parties and events. I even worked a Christmas in July golf outing two weeks ago. Imagine, if you will, a 105 degree day and a golf course filled with decorated Christmas trees and candy canes. It was absurd - and people loved it.

There is little to nothing I can do to change this trend in America, and I am sure that I will hear from people who call me a Jewish Scrooge of some sort. All I have to say is come September, I am putting up an inflatable Moses in my yard and having a "Leaving Egypt" garage sale. Though I will say, I highly doubt it will be received as warmly as Christmas in July.