It's funny how America has no official religion yet we assume that all Americans are Christian. Not in the sense that Christianity is the best religion in the world, but in the sense that unless we see someone wearing a hijab, turban, mangalsutra, or a star of David, we mentally label that person as a Christian. Just like Indians are generally labelled as "Hindu" or people from the Middle East labeled as "Muslim," America has become synonymous with Christianity.

A recent survey for example has found that nearly one in three Americans would make Christianity the official religion of America, and would support a constitutional amendment stating that clause. Would you? Would you make Christianity America's official religion?

When I was in fourth grade, a boy named Oliver went around to my classmates asking if they believed in Jesus, and everyone had said yes. When he asked me, I shook my head. I then proceeded on to say that I didn't know who Jesus was. This boy looked at me as if he saw a ghost and found it necessary to make a PSA about my unfamiliarity with Jesus. For the first 10 years of my life, I grew up knowing that Allah, not Jesus, was god. Allah was my god. When I told this to Oliver, he immediately retorted back and said that Jesus is god, he is the main God and the God of all Gods.Of course, my hometown is predominately Christian and lacking diversity. If I, a non Christian, found it shocking to see someone walking around with a turban, then Oliver and his Jesus-loving mafia have the right to faint at the scene.

Growing up, understanding Christmas was confusing. I could be wrong on broader terms, but based on my observations, Christmas has evolved into more of a cultural holiday than a religious one. Meaning that even if you didn't read the bible or go to church on Sundays, you still celebrated Christmas, as many of my school friends did the same. Heck, I even had friends who were self proclaimed atheists invite me to their holiday parties. Christ-less Christmas is becoming increasing common.

Of course it's hard not to be in the Christmas spirit even if you don't believe in its origins. The second after Thanksgiving is over, stores have an automatic transition to Christmas related merchandise. From clothing to fancy chocolates to makeup and kitchen appliances, everything is on sale during the month of December. Maybe your gift wasn't sitting under a tree or had fallen into the fireplace from the chimney, but I think you would have been lying if you said that you never bought or received a "Christmas" gift.

Now, we have to understand that America's Christmas loving culture had long since been established. Public schools for example do not teach Christianity (or any religion for that matter) but they find it necessary to do Christmas stuff. When December rolls around, the main office sets up a box for toys to be given to underprivileged children. Secret Santa's and class Christmas parties are a must. Teachers have an excuse to online shop instead of teach. Why? Because they let their students watch reruns of "The Polar Express" and "Elf." Seriously, how many times will I be forced to listen to "Seeing is Believing" and vomit from maple syrup with spaghetti?

For us non-Christmas celebrators, the struggle is real. More than real. It's easy to know where I live during the holidays because every single house in every single neighborhood is lit up with decorations and my house is pitch black. Both my parents don't have work on Christmas day, and that means that we as a family are forced to stay at home due to the fact that every damn store and restaurant is closed. There are no elves on a shelf or candy canes. Like I said, the struggle is real.

Now let's go back to what I do celebrate: Eid. Many say it's the "Muslim Christmas." And in some aspects, they are right. And in some aspects, they are wrong. Christmas always falls on the 25th of December, but the date of Eid is determined by the sighting of a new moon. Christ-less Christmases may be popular but I cannot imagine celebrating Eid without doing a morning prayer at the mosque. Families typically spend the day together at home with the occasional visit to Grandma's or Uncle Joe's on Christmas. But on Eid, it is migrating from one house to another from dawn till midnight. And as far as feasting on food, the problem is that since Eid is preceded by the holy month of Ramadan, the habit of not eating translates to poor appetite during Eid dinner. And last time I checked, Macy's didn't have an Eid Sale. So I guess Eid and Christmas are kind of not the same. What do you think?

Merry Eid or Christmas Mubarak? Or Happy Chrismukkah? Whatever it is that you do celebrate, celebrate it with love.

And for everyone who feels bad for people who don't celebrate Christmas, don't feel bad. We still celebrate Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

Sincerely,

Someone who just wants to be kissed by the pizza delivery man under the mistletoe, but can't because Dominoes is closed on Christmas.