The holidays are a special time of the year for many people: everyone is cheerful and “Merry Christmas” greetings will welcome you wherever you go. However, if you are Jewish, the holidays can lead to many awkward situations.

Winter break is coming up soon, but around here the break is known as “Christmas Break.” It seems as though all the events and activities around the area have adopted a Christmas-like overtone, making the Jewish population feel forgotten.

There is also a bit of misconception about the Jewish holidays. Many people tend to think that just because Hanukkah occurs around Christmas that it is the most important Jewish holiday. However, it is actually one of the least significant holidays. In fact, some people do not even go to temple over the course of Hanukkah.

As someone who is Jewish in Arlington, I have had first-hand experience with these awkward situations. For example, during the holidays, people often ask what I am getting for Christmas. Without even thinking twice, people assume that I am either not Jewish or that Jews celebrate both Christmas and Hanukkah. Since being Jewish is not too common at Yorktown, people tend to act surprised when I tell them that I am Jewish.

It is also common to exchange gifts with other people whether it be family, friends or strangers. However, gift giving can be uncomfortable if someone gives you a gift specifically designated for Christmas, such as an ornament. You cannot help but graciously accept and say “thank you,” but inside there is a feeling of being left out.

In Arlington specifically, there is a large amount of generalization around the holidays. Some people are quick to assume that everyone celebrates Christmas, and being Jewish seems to be something that surprises people. Being Jewish in Arlington is not very common, but there are some holiday neutral activities that can help prevent awkward situations in school such as “secret snowflake.”

Secret snowflake is a fun activity that involves gift giving and spending time with your classmates. Usually, someone will pick a name of another person in the class and get them a gift, without letting them know who chose them. It’s a fun activity around the holidays that serves as a way to get to know your classmates while not celebrating any one religion.

Despite all these inconveniences, being Jewish can lead to more freedom during Winter break. There are no family obligations or services that we must attend, so my family has more freedom to travel to exotic, warm places. My family loves to travel to unique, tropical places during the break. Getting out into the sun is a nice, relaxing way to destress during break.

It is nice to be able to experience the holiday season with close friends and family. It may be awkward at times, but it is nice to see people being joyous and to be surrounded by a lively environment during this time of festivities.