By Emma Bynes
@emma_bynes4
In a time filled with holiday spirit, Christmas trees and decorations can be found across campus. Last week’s snowfall and the newly set-up Christmas tree on the Naismith Green were a perfect and welcoming winter sight. The bright, slightly cheesy decorations make the three weeks between Thanksgiving and winter break feel more festive. However, something is always looming in the background for a small group of students: Springfield College doesn’t offer any real celebration for Hanukkah, aside from the inconspicuous table in the Union. Why is it not too early to put a beautiful Christmas tree up on the green, but not a Menorah?
This week in Cheney, while Christmas music played as expected, a friend asked me if I got a real or fake Christmas tree. I had to explain that I don’t have a Christmas tree because I don’t celebrate Christmas. Nine out of 10 times, I get this response: “Wait, so you don’t celebrate Christmas at all? Not even with one parent?” It seems baffling to many students that some people don’t find their holiday all that pleasing, or don’t celebrate it at all. Christmas music is one thing, as most of it is catchy and there are seriously no good Hanukkah songs – I’m looking at you, “Dreidel, Dreidel, Dreidel” – but when Yuletide Carols are played in the dining hall before Thanksgiving it gets extremely annoying.
In third grade, I accidentally let it slip that Santa Claus was not real. This caused a commotion in my class. Every other kid celebrated Christmas, and I quickly got in trouble. I remember telling my teacher that “at this point, only the stupid ones still believe in Santa Claus.” Turns out, plenty of kids wholeheartedly throw their faith behind a made-up character who has become a commercialized version of Saint Nicholas.
Sophomore Skylar Prinzhorn – whose favorite song of all time is “Last Christmas” by WHAM! – believes the opposite: “I think Christmas brings people together. It transcends social barriers. It gives college students a sense of nostalgia and allows for some peace in the world.”
While I agree with Prinzhorn, I don’t think Christmas should be the sole reason that students reunite with their families and show appreciation for those they love. Frankly, I think it is an excuse to spend money irresponsibly in the “spirit of Christmas.” Instead, I encourage students to participate in the many food and clothing drives around campus, to help those who are really in need this holiday season. It’s important to remember that many of us are privileged to be here, attending Springfield College, and we have the opportunity to help others.
Although the college has access to a Hillel club and a synagogue nearby, many Jewish students do not participate simply because of the inconvenience. It is rarely advertised around campus except for during the high holidays, where the sign-up deadline for transportation was two months before the actual holiday. When I moved in this year, I was not aware of this until the opportunity to sign up had passed.
One thing I am enjoying is introducing my traditions to my new friends here at Springfield College, such as playing dreidel in Reed Hall while gambling for M&Ms, which was one of my favorite activities that I had always shared with my friends from home. Although Hanukkah is at the same time as Christmas this year – most of the time it is earlier in December – I can’t wait to show others my holiday traditions.
Photo courtesy of Flickr