Christmas As A Muslim

When I was younger, I always questioned why my family never had a Christmas tree like everyone else. Why I never got any presents from Santa (oddly enough, I still believed in him). I watched Christmas movies like "Elf" and "Polar Express," and would sing along to the classic Christmas carols. Whenever anyone asks me what my favorite holiday is, I am tempted to say Christmas because I think of beautiful green and red holiday lights, brightly lit up Christmas trees, exchanging presents, but then I remember... it's not really my holiday to celebrate.

As I got older, I got slightly more involved in the festivities. My friends and I would have annual Christmas parties, secret Santa exchanges, and our tradition of going into NYC to see the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree. It is something I would look forward to every year. Once in a while I think to myself, "Is it weird that I get so excited this time of year when it is not really my holiday to celebrate? It's not like there are any Christians celebrating Ramadan or Eid." Obviously Christmas is a much more represented and advertised holiday than Ramadan in America, so it is more likely for people to partake in those kinds of celebrations, but it has always felt weird and confusing to me.

It is pretty unlikely that I will set up a Christmas tree when I have a home of my own, but I don't think there is anything wrong with admiring the Holidays and going to a Christmas party or two. There is nothing that is going to stop me from visiting the Rockefeller tree and even planning a festive-themed city trip. It is kind of hard to not get into the Christmas spirit when you're constantly surrounded by it and basically slapped in the face with it for all of December. As long as it's here, I might as well have fun and make the most of it.