Christmas season celebrations cross cultures

’Tis the season, but for what?

According to a Gallup poll, about 95 percent of Americans celebrate the Christmas season in some way, whether it be solely secular gift-giving or attending a religious service. But the line between what is religious and what is secular, and even from where it all originates can be fuzzy, according to Kevin McElmurry, Indiana University Northwest assistant professor of sociology.

"Things are becoming more hybrid as the world is becoming smaller, more global," McElmurry said. "Some scholars might refer to it as some sort of postmodern phenomenon as people are pulling little bits of different cultural traditions and creating something new out of it."

That rings true for Aleksandra Dimitrijevic, a Serbian-American who said her family celebrates Serbian Christmas in early January. Serbian traditions include the Badnjak, an oak tree also known as a Yule log that is blessed and burned during Christmas Eve ceremonies. Dimitrijevic said parish members also put an oak tree in their Sunday school for children to decorate.

But as the Christmas pine tree has become iconic of this time of year, Dimitrijevic said almost everyone she knows has a decorated pine tree at home. And Santa doesn't come for her three young children Dec. 24, but Jan. 6, on Serbian Christmas Eve.

"You leave the cookies, you know, the milk, and Santa comes and takes his little note and goes on to the next house," Dimitrijevic said.

Those blended traditions are all human creations, McElmurry said. And some communities, such as African-Americans, have worked to establish their own celebrations this time of year with the invention of Kwanzaa. The holiday celebrates family, community and culture Dec. 26 through Jan. 1.

"It is so ingrained in the culture to have this kind of winter celebration that of course is attached to Christianity but is also attached to a whole lot more: family, food, the exchange of gifts," McElmurry said. "All these things that are as secular as they are rooted in religious tradition."

He said this time of year has shorter days as the harvest season ends and winter begins. Winter Solstice festivals celebrating the shortest day and longest night of the year have been honored in many cultures for as long as scholars have records, he said.

"In terms of how people experience the world, even if it's not on a conscious level, you get a sense of death, rebirth and renewal," McElmurry said.

For Aurora Tengesdal, an eclectic Wiccan from Lowell, the Winter Solstice is a major celebration this season. She said the Solstice, also referred to as the Yule, took place Dec. 22 this year.

"Nature is a big part of our religion," said Tengesdal, who was ordained in 2002. "We're about everybody coming together regardless of what your faith or belief is."

Starting at nightfall, their rituals involve casting circles, where they call to the Gods and Deities of the season, she said. They have a gift exchange, share a large meal and place a small plate of food, called a blessing, outside for the animals.

"People hear the word 'pagan' and automatically think 'devil worship,'" the 32-year-old said. "That is not the case. People who are devil worshipers are called 'satanists.'"

Tengesdal said she plans to celebrate Christmas Eve with her boyfriend's daughters, and will take her 4-year-old son out for dinner and give him a gift to honor the Solstice.

"When the kids are so young, they don't get explained very much about what the religion is or what the religion is about," she said.

This time of year, Tengesdal said she sends holiday cards to family and friends and Christmas cards those who are Christian.

"For us, this is just a time of being with friends and family and a time of peace and happiness," she said.

Which is something Dimitrijevic echoes in describing her church's full halls bursting with carols.

"It's really the time of year everyone comes together and you get to see old faces," she said.