The one thing that I love about winter approaching is that the days are getting shorter. Â Yes, I understand that this can be kind of depressing, especially when it feels like the hot days of summer were upon us only a week ago. But, when the nighttime falls earlier and earlier each day, we have more time to appreciate the Christmas lights that twinkle all around Gambier. Â
While this may sound like a stupid excuse to love the colder air and less sunlight, I can’t help it.  I just love Christmas lights, and I don’t even celebrate Christmas.  The reason why I love seeing them around campus is because I rarely experienced them growing up.
I grew up in a predominantly Jewish neighborhood and was really never exposed to different kinds of religions until I was older.  It is so easy to tell that my neighborhood is very non-Christian during winter nights because the only lights that illuminate the streets are streetlamps and car headlights.  I have always wanted to decorate a Christmas tree, string my house with colored lights, and believe in Santa Claus. I love reindeer, ugly Christmas sweaters from Goodwill, and jingle bells.  I even love Christmas music even though it can get annoying sometimes.  I watch Christmas specials and Christmas movies on TV religiously, and anybody who says that the Christmas episode of Hey Arnold is not one of the most heartwarming twenty-two minutes of animation is just plain wrong (watch it again if you don’t remember; you might cry).
Sure, I celebrate Hanukkah, which is in itself a very beautiful holiday. But there is just no magic in Hanukkah, as corny as that may sound. Â Yes, the candles on the Menorah may shine beautifully, but nothing compares to the flickering strings of Christmas lights decorating the house fronts. Â
There are many people who complain about how secular and commercialized Christmas has become, as the holiday shopping has taken over November and December.  They say that it gets old after a while, and that the Starbucks red cups and Black Friday deals detract from what is really important about the holiday. While I may agree with this when Christmas music starts playing on the radio the day after Halloween, I actually appreciate the fact that Christmas has extended into a more inclusive, winter celebration. I don’t mean to undermine the importance of this holiday to the Christian religion.  Instead, I am just grateful that people who are not Christian can still partake in jolly holiday cheer even if they don’t celebrate the religious aspects of the holiday.  Because there really is so much to love about it.
Christmas is all in the attitude.  The deep red and sparkly green, the peppermint hot chocolate, and the wishing for a fresh dusting of snow all make me feel something.  It’s that shivery feeling of being cold outside but warm and happy inside. It’s about bonding with your family and taking a much-needed break from school.  It’s about appreciating the simple things.
No matter your religion, Christmas is just too magical to ignore.