During this time of the year, there are many holiday celebrations occurring. Whether it is writing letters to Santa Claus and decorating Christmas trees with ornaments and multi-color lights or lighting the candles of a Hanukkah Menorah, every culture celebrates the holidays differently.

Because of these various holiday celebrations, OU encourages a holiday-neutral outlook, so no religion feels neglected.

The effort is appreciated by people such as Daniel Reches, director at the OU Hillel Foundation.

“It is nice to be in a community that celebrates all holidays and puts up decorations that are winter oriented, not specific to any religion,” Reches said.

Maria Granados, supply chain management and international business junior and an international student from Peru, said she thinks OU does not focus too much of its attention on Christmas, but students and faculty members definitely can tell it is that time of year.

“I was surprised because I think here, people decorate more than my country. People put up a lot of lights and decorate trees, but in my country we really do not do that much,” Granados said.

The annual holiday lighting celebration, which was scheduled for Monday but was canceled due to inclement weather, is an event that promotes the various holidays that take place during this time of the year.

Even though many would think a holiday lighting leans more toward a Christmas aspect, every member of the OU community was invited to attend the event regardless of their culture and traditions, said Omar Alamoudi, exploration geophysics senior and president of the Muslim Student Association who presented an opening speech at the holiday lighting celebration.

University spokesman Michael Nash said the event is meant to be open for all students so that they can celebrate in their own way.

“I think it’s great because it is open for student organizations to celebrate their holidays during this time of the year,” Nash said.

OU makes an effort to reach out to every holiday celebrated and also encourages student organizations to host holiday events, Nash said.

During Eid al-Adha, a Muslim holiday of celebration that started Nov. 6, the Muslim Student Association organized an Eid al-Adha cultural night Nov. 9 with the Pakistani Student Association and Sooners for Peace in Palestine.

The OU Hillel also hosted its 6th annual Latkes for Love Hanukkah philanthropy Dec. 1, which raised $3,000 for charities during this holiday season.

“OU does a good job walking a very delicate line where people’s traditions can be celebrated without excluding all holidays,” said Reches.