Juan Pablo Rivera Garza
Reporter
Religion, the very source of all major winter holidays has been repeatedly pushed aside recently by those who feel it is a downer on an otherwise joyful holiday season. In a time when 15% of Americans do not identify with a religion, many see the holidays as a secular affair. Many people still believe that religion needs to be at the forefront of the holidays, others think that without religion, we get rid of an unnecessary stick in the mud during the winter festivities.
For many like sophomore Joao Rocha, who is a Roman Catholic, holiday traditions involve religion “My dad forces me to go to church on Christmas,” he said.
Senior Taylor Wilson, an agnostic, follows the tradition of St. Nicholas Day “Something we my family have always done is put our shoes outside during St. Nicholas Day,” he said.
For sophomore Jeremy Singh, a Sikh, it is difficult to add religious elements to his holiday celebrations. “Unfortunately, due to my location not being near any Sikh places of worship it makes it difficult to follow my religion during the holidays,” he said.
But, some wonder, does religion really matter while celebrating the winter holidays? Jeremy say he believes it does. “The holidays in the winter months are when families can gets together and is a time to strengthen moral and religious beliefs,” he said. In fact, large amounts of people believe this as well.
Religion can provide a source of joy and happiness during the holiday season. Sophomore Kenneth Phillipson is Jewish and believes that the holidays would be much worse without religion and wouldn’t even exist. “Without religion we wouldn’t have the holidays, or cool holiday songs,” he said.
Others believe that religion allows people to understand the holidays better. Freshman Kwaku Gyasi, a Presbyterian, believes that religion allows you to understand the true meaning of the holidays better. Saying “Religion is important to the holiday season, because if you don’t understand it, then you’re not really into the Holidays. Someone can celebrate Hanukah and not really understand it,” he said.
Sophomore Azadeh Amir-Aslani, a Muslim, also said she believes the holidays need religious influence. “A lot of religions reflect how to celebrate the holiday and what they’re about,” she said.
“I would say that the holiday season for me, has always not been religious. It’s a beautiful thing, the holidays, but that doesn’t mean you need a religious aspect,” Taylor said. “I see the holidays as a human tradition, rather than a religious tradition.”
Senior Olympia Bordelon, an Agnostic, agrees. “If you are religious, then yes, it’s important. If you are not, then no, it’s not,” he said.
This sort of live and let live attitude was not shared by everyone. Senior Tyler Pelli a Roman Catholic thinks that the substance of the holidays is religion itself. I feel without religion Christmas would be another day of getting and giving presents,” he said.
These varied views do not prevent people from enjoying the joyful Holiday season. But, the question remains, does religion really have a place during the Holiday season? And if so, what makes it vital for celebrating?
