'Tis the season. Even at a school like Binghamton, which is not so arguably, very Jewish, Christmas is in the air as soon as Halloween ends. Winter break is all that is on anyone's mind. Some even call it "Christmas break." When people found out that finals this semester went up until the 22nd, they were in an outrage. Many of my friends were upset they couldn't have the week to go Christmas shopping with their siblings or families, and that they only had two days to prepare for Christmas. Prepare for what, the Jewish girl from New York City wonders.

The only time I ever feel out of place with my non-Jewish friends is during Christmas. Up until college, I never had that many non-Jewish friends. But at college, I am surrounded by the Christmas Spirit. I had also never seen all the Christmas holiday preparations and decorating firsthand. Of course, living in New York, you have the tree at Rockefeller Center and store windows on 5th Ave. dressed to the 9s, but it's not the same as seeing your friends struggle to cover your suite door in festive wallpaper.

But with everyone so worked up over Christmas, I figured it must be about more than just the presents. I never put the pieces of where that holiday spirit came from together until speaking to my friends about what Christmas means to them. Everyone I spoke to had a story to tell. Whether it meant the first time they really connected with their siblings over planning a present for their parents, or the whole family getting together to decorate the tree, or even just the baking of Christmas cookies with their grandma--everyone had a very personal affection for the holiday. They spoke of the holiday bringing their community together and watching it grow and develop in a special and communal way.

I got to experience this firsthand this semester, when some girls from my sorority invited everyone to their apartment for a "tree trimming party." I had never been to one before, but I thought it would just be a fun way to get together with all the girls before break. When I got there, everyone was hanging out, watching "Elf" in their festive holiday attire. Once everyone on the Facebook guest list had arrived, the girls who lived in the apartment brought out ornaments to decorate the tree with. In the Facebook event, they had said you could bring your own ornament, or help them decorate the tree using their ornaments. I didn't really know the significance of this, so I hadn't brought one. When standing by the tree with the ornaments, the girls explained they wanted everyone to put one up so their Christmas could have a little bit of all their sisters in it. This was a touching gesture, and something I hadn't even considered as a motive for the get-together.

I love Hanukkah because, like any holiday, it brings people together. Celebrating it makes me feel connected to others also celebrating, even if I am celebrating alone or at school without my family. It makes me feel a connection to something bigger, and I take comfort in that. When I think about what celebrating Hanukkah means for the future, it means keeping a tradition and a spirit alive, and a history that I can make myself a part of.

But until college, I didn't see Christmas as anything more than movies and presents. I never considered the significance. After all, the only thing better than Christmas is eight Christmases ;). But when I heard all these answers, it sparked something for me. If you look past all the commercialization, there really is a connection there. Whether it's to your family, community, yourself, or something else, these stories have shown me Christmas is truly something I can relate to. I'm so thankful that college has taught me many things, including how to respect and even love those customs that may be different from mine. And I gotta say, those Christmas cookies aren't so bad either.