As I stand behind the register at my part time job, I hear “Merry Christmas!” or “What are you doing for Christmas?” for hours on end. I politely say it back or sometimes I will even make up some fictional story about spending it with my friends. Most people just assume that everyone celebrates Christmas without giving it a second thought.

Sure, Christianity is in fact the most popular religion throughout the country. Although, that doesn't mean everyone has those beliefs. Every time people ask me what I do for Christmas and I tell them that I don't celebrate the holiday, they tend to be taken aback for a moment. They ask why, as if there shouldn't be a reason for me not to. I usually end up saying “I’m Jewish, actually.” The response is always the same, “Oh.”

Have I ever wanted to change who I am to conform to these standards? Of course I have. Although as time went on I have learned to be more open and accept the fact that I will never have the family Christmas experience that all my friends have had. I will never have a snowy morning where I rush to look under the tree for presents, I never had to leave out cookies and milk for “Santa,” and I never felt fully involved in Christmas celebrations with friends. I have accepted that I will never have these moments.

Just because I don't celebrate Christmas does not mean I can’t still enjoy the movie marathons on network TV, or the festivity of cuddling up in sweaters and blankets and drinking hot coco. I will however still celebrate Hanukkah with my family. Why have ham when you can have potato latkes for dinner?

I will never fully understand what the tree means to the holiday or why people get presents but it is not my holiday to learn. It is a beloved holiday throughout the mind of the citizens and I get that. Sometimes I just wish people would not assume everyone celebrates the same holiday as them. A simple “Happy Holidays!” is a well-liked, practical saying that can go a long way for some people.