How Non-Christians at Stone Ridge Celebrate the Holidays

As a Catholic school, Stone Ridge necessarily focuses on Christmas during this holiday season, involving the entire community regardless of faith. In the spirit of Goal IV, The Here and Now interviewed some non-Christians in our Stone Ridge family about their faith traditions.

Describe how you generally practice your faith.

Zoe Sheppard, ’16 (Jewish):

• I observe the High Holidays by going to synagogue. I attended Hebrew school for eight years until I had a B’nai Mitzvah (a joint Bar/Bat Mitzvah with my brother). On special occasions, my family and I will celebrate Shabbat. My grandmother keeps Kosher, but my immediate family does not.

Mr. Peter Rook (Jewish):

• I observe the High Holy days (Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur) at synagogue, we’ll have a traditional Passover Seder with either family or friends, and generally we say the standard blessings before meals and on special occasions. My family does not practice the more daily Orthodox rituals or keep consistently Kosher.

Nayantara Mukerji, ’17 (Hindu):

• My family usually goes to the temple once or twice a year for major festivals and holidays. For festivals like this, we often celebrate at home. Other than that, we are not very religious.

Sanaz Ghorbanpour, ’19 (Muslim):

• I generally practice my faith by fasting in a certain way during Ramadan and sometimes saying a Muslim blessing before meals with my cousins. Besides that, my family is not strict about practicing our faith.

Tatiana Bennett, ’17 (Jewish):

• My family is Reform, so we do not practice Orthodox traditions. We go to temple for all the big holidays (Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur), but we celebrate the rest at home. I grew up going to Sunday school and Hebrew school up until I had a Bat Mitzvah when I was 13. After my Bat Mitzvah, I began going to the synagogue only for holidays and special events.  

Meghana Pai, ’19 (Hindu):

• My family and I go to the temple and celebrate certain Hindu festivals with the family. Most festivals are a time to reflect on spirituality and oneness with God. It usually involves fire, harmonious chanting, singing along with friends and family, and getting together and sharing special sweets. Usually temples are beautiful architectural structures with ornate carvings of different representations of elements of the universe or of the cosmos. All temples have an inner sanctum with a statue of a deity that represents a higher energy (since it is very helpful to have a form to pray to  although God is considered formless, or all pervading); it is a place for people to commune with God through prayers and rituals. It is place to perform different type of rituals, including marriages and thread ceremonies, etc.

Talia Scott, ’18 (Muslim):

• Occasionally I go to the mosque with my family. I also fast during the month of Ramadan, and every night before bed I say my Arabic prayers. I am not a very strict Muslim, as I do not go to the mosque every Friday, pray five times a day, or wear a hijab, so faith is more personal and spiritual.

Which holidays, if any, do you celebrate over Christmas break?

Zoe Sheppard, ’16 (Jewish):

• I celebrate Hanukkah, but this year it does not overlap with winter break. My older sister celebrates Christmas with her husband and children, so we usually go to their house on Christmas day.

Mr. Peter Rook (Jewish):

• Depending on the calendar, Hanukkah can overlap with winter break. This year it’s early, Dec. 7-15.

Nayantara Mukerji, ’17 (Hindu):

• There are no Hindu holidays that overlap with Christmas break, but we celebrate Christmas without the religious aspect.

Sanaz Ghorbanpour, ’19 (Muslim):

• We celebrate Christmas and Ramadan (if it occurs at that time) over Christmas break.

Tatiana Bennett, ’17 (Jewish):

• Hanukkah is not over winter break,  so only New Year’s.

Meghana Pai, ’19 (Hindu):

• We celebrate Christmas just like all Christians do. For our family we celebrate Christmas at home only in this country, to enjoy and share the spirit of season and the U.S.

Talia Scott, ’18 (Muslim):

• Over Christmas break, we celebrate Christmas. My dad was raised Catholic in Jamaica, so he has always celebrated Christmas. Though a Muslim, my mom is from Guyana, South America, where everyone of the three primary faiths there (Islam, Christianity, and Hinduism) celebrate and respect each other’s holidays. My mom was raised celebrating Ramadan, Christmas, and Diwali, and that tradition has travelled with her to the U.S.

How do you celebrate them? Does your family have any special traditions?

Zoe Sheppard, ’16 (Jewish):

• We celebrate Hanukkah by lighting the menorah. Every year my family has a Hanukkah party with a gift exchange game (called a White Elephant or Yankee Swap), and we eat latkes and Hanukkah cookies. When my family goes to my sister’s house on Christmas day, we spend quality time together and have a big feast.

Mr. Peter Rook (Jewish):

• There is no real religious significance to Hanukkah. My family does small gift exchanges and traditionally lights the menorah each night and plays dreidel. My mom’s potato latkes and Hanukkah cookies (in the shapes of dreidels, menorahs, and Jewish stars) are a favorite family tradition.

Nayantara Mukerji, ’17 (Hindu):

• We don’t really have any special traditions, but we have a Christmas tree and put presents under the tree. We celebrate Christmas pretty normally, just without going to church or doing anything religious.

Sanaz Ghorbanpour, ’19 (Muslim):

• We put up a Christmas tree and stockings over the fireplace and exchange gifts like most Christians. But if Ramadan falls at that time, we’ll fast in some way while still celebrating Christmas.

Tatiana Bennett, ’17 (Jewish):

• For Hanukkah, every night we light the menorah and sing a prayer. My parents leave a pile of 16 gifts in front of the fireplace, eight for me and eight for my brother. Each night after lighting the menorah, we pick out one of the eight presents. My mom usually prepares traditional Jewish foods like potato latkes and applesauce.

Meghana Pai, ’19 (Hindu):

• We have many family traditions during Christmas. We celebrate and follow the traditions of this country–decorating a Christmas tree, sharing presents and sweets during the season, and always having a nativity scene to remember the real reason for Christmas.

Talia Scott, ’18 (Muslim):

• During the Christmas season, we give out meals to the homeless in D.C. We also distribute backpacks at Shepherd’s Table, filled with warm clothes and toiletries for the homeless. My family goes to Christmas tea at the Willard–the scones, mini-sandwiches, and pastries are incredible. Of course, we take part in the usual Christmas morning traditions, opening presents and later going to my grandparents’ house, where all of my extended family gathers. Most of our Christmas season is spent with family.