Merry Christmas!

Over the years of my life in this country I have been asked by my friends, neighbors and acquaintances a question that never gets old. ''Do you celebrate Christmas?''

I distinctly remember my first time around the holidays. Imagine if you could, being 22 and in a foreign country experiencing a culture that is far modern and advanced than anything you had ever known. Shops filled with Christmas merchandise, every commercial on the radio and TV and conversations among people, who you have just come to know revolves around the holidays. You still  haven't made connections with ''your people'' and your nearest and dearest are 10,000 miles away. None of your own holidays are recognized in any shape of form and even if  you do celebrate those at home, they just aren't the same without your loved ones near you.
At this point you have two choices - Make some sense of everything that is going on around you and be part of that or shut yourself out.

Living with a tight budget like every student of foreign nationality on a scholarship does, for us two Hindus, Christmas was hardly about the religion or gifts under the tree or being around family. It was about missing our families back home, feeling lonely and waiting for it to pass. We chose to join the fun rather than to feel lonely.

After I gave birth to my first son, we bought a little Christmas tree and few ornaments and we decided to celebrate Christmas at home. For first couple of years he did not have a clue.. I'd say the celebration was more for my husband and I than for him. After my second and third child's birth, it was fun to watch them open presents under the tree on Christmas morning. In following years, in spite of having many moments of wondering about why we were celebrating this holiday that wasn't ''ours'' we continued to bring the fresh tree, buy ornaments and cook all vegetarian meals.

Slowly and steadily baking became a family tradition and so did the decorating. I enjoy decorating with my daughter. Each year I made or bought three new ornaments in hopes to collect enough for each one of them when they celebrate their own holiday at home. And just like many of you out there, we have enough stories of our adventures of buying 'just the right tree'.

Now that two of the three kids are settled with their jobs, I don't see them all at once during the year. This year they all will be here under the same roof at the same time for the first time. In fact, as I write this, my oldest is on the flight from Seattle to Philadelphia. His flight does not get in until 11:30 pm on this Christmas Eve. He almost cancelled his trip due to his busy schedule, I insisted on him being here because that was not an option just yet. We don't go to the church and have any significant meals planned. This year we decided to not exchange gifts in efforts to take the stress out of the equation.

Christmas for me is having my children at home, playing cards and board games. My husband taking time off from work and be here in the middle of the afternoons for the whole time when they are all here. It also means I cook many meals that my children have not had for the entire year and if that keeps me busy in the kitchen all day long, I say it's because it is Christmas! I enjoy watching them enjoy their favorite foods and talk about their past. My husband helps me out around the house, now grown kids take turns doing chores and there is non stop noise of  TV, video games and laughter. It is about tradition of being together no matter what.

I do celebrate Christmas for all the reasons that work for our family.

I hope you too have a very Merry Christmas with your family and friends.