As the final Thanksgiving scraps get eaten and the snow begins to pile up, we officially enter the holiday season of Christmas, Hanukkah, and the countless other December holidays. 

To commemorate the season, my family and I flew to New York City, where we wandered around Manhattan, surrounded by sparkling, light-lined buildings, flurries of snowflakes, and ribboned doorways. But, while bedazzled by the spirit of New York, I realized something.

What do any of these sparkly decorations have to do with religion?

Winter holidays do not originate in religion. In fact, they derive from early humans celebrating the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year, starting back in 10,200 B.C. and was continued by the Norse and the Romans with paganism, according to History. Religions like Christianity later adapted these pagan traditions and began incorporating a religious aspect to the celebration, according to USA Today. 

Nowadays it feels like the holidays are inseparable from religion. Most people view Christmas as a Christian holiday, Hanukkah as a Jewish holiday, etc, even though many traditions have nothing to do with faith. For example, Christmas trees derive from pre-Christians viewing evergreen trees as a symbol of hope and displaying them in their houses during the winter solstice, rather than from a biblical story, according to USA Today. 

Although the religious aspect should remain prevalent for those who use the holidays to practice their faith, we should also embrace the secular cultural traditions of the season in an undivided manner. 

Instead of getting caught up in religious divides, we can all celebrate a season of community. 

In my family, we attend church and put up nativity decorations. However, with my friends, I also participate in Secret Santa, Mystery Menorah, and White Elephant, all different forms of gift exchanges. I hang stockings, play dreidel, and watch hypnotic lightshows. No matter what you worship, we all can partake in the giftgiving, decorating, and celebration traditions of the winter season. 

Standing within one of the most diverse cities in the world, I witnessed first-hand how people from a variety of backgrounds can join together to craft a cultural phenomenon that brings light to the dullness of harsh winter. Hang the lights, set out the decorations, immerse yourself in spirit. 

Don’t just embrace your own holiday—embrace the season.