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Reed Students discuss the meaning of Christmas

Christian Socaris, a senior at Reed College, was so put off by the idea of Christmas that he didn't think it warranted being associated with the word "meaning." "I don't think Christmas has a meaning," he said.

What is the meaning of Christmas? The answer is easy for most Multnomah students: Christmas is the celebration of Jesus Christ's birth. But, non-Christians don't have such an easy answer. In November, The Voice surveyed students at Reed College about what Christmas means to them. The question brought forth many expressions -- mostly blank stares, puzzled faces, or regret that they had agreed to take the survey.

For some students, Christmas is about a time of togetherness and love. "[Christmas is about] celebrating life and the people in life," said Juli Lawler, a freshman. "Christmas is my favorite holiday. [To me it means] happiness and family," said Alison Wellman, a sophomore.

For others, the idea of Christmas was more complex. "It's a very aesthetically pleasing holiday," said Krista Orr, a sophomore. "There are good smells. I get good vibes. Then again, I find it completely repulsive. It's just a phase we go through and then it's over. I find it weird that we've totally manipulated this religious idea of Christmas and that it's so commercial. It's a one day ideology of what every day should be like."

"Christmas is this bizarre phenomenon which is both sick and amazing," said Wyatt Krajeski, a senior. "It's a bastardization of a Christian concept. Billions of people who aren't Christians celebrate Christmas. It's a weird thing." Krajeski revealed that his mother had wanted him to experience church to see if he liked it. He attended a Mormon church for a short time but was kicked out of Sunday school for asking too many questions.

"I'm not religious so [Christmas] is nothing special, really," said Megan Nicholls, a sophomore.

Ann Clifton, a sophomore, is a linguistics major at Reed. For Clifton, the meaning of Christmas is "music and convergence or temporary construction of family. I think this because of all the accoutrements of Christmas I have encountered. These elements are what seem to bring out the most universally lovely things in people," she said. Clifton has attended church five times. She has visited a Buddhist service, a Quaker meeting, a Hare Krishna meeting and two Unitarian Universalist services.

To Clifton, spirituality is playing the piano in the dark and watching the film "Harold and Maude." "I think God sounds like it must be nice," Clifton said.

Aheri Asiyo, a freshman, said she thinks Christmas is about "true feelings. Warmth, familiarity, family." She always celebrates Christmas with a family gathering. They share a big dinner and exchange presents. "There's always lots of prayer," she said.

Asiyo went to church regularly as a child. "I think that everything we do should basically follow a path we're about to recognize was set before us. If you feel yourself on that path, then no one else's system of logic should make you stray. Whether they be academic, political, religious, etc. It shouldn't matter. I think your concept of God is intrinsic," Asiyo said. When asked what her feelings about God were, Asiyo said, "I think you foster God in other people's lives by following God within yourself."

Bessie Oster, a senior at Reed, is an economics major. For Oster, Christmas means eating a big Christmas dinner and going back east to visit her friends and family. Oster goes to church on Christmas day. She likes singing in church. Oster experiences spirituality when she sings in church and rides her bike. "I don't talk to God too often," she said. "I think that spirituality is good," Oster said. "I am open to anything except hate."

The simplest answer came from freshman Pam Rasmussen. "It's the celebration of the birth of Christ." She was the only one with a definite answer about what Christmas means.