Atlanta, Georgia (CNN)  -- As Christmas season went into full swing this year, Glen Fullmer's 7-year-old son came home from school with an assignment: Make a poster illustrating his family holiday traditions.



The boy wasn't sure how to proceed because he and his family are Baha'is, not Christians, and they have no holidays during the Christmas season.



Thus, Fullmer encountered the "December Dilemma" -- the term used for the quandaries and anxieties non-Christians and interfaith couples face during Christmas season.



Fullmer, a Baha'i faith spokesman who lives in Evanston, Illinois, said he saw the poster assignment as a "teachable moment" for his 4-, 7- and 10-year-old sons who associated holiday traditions with Christmas.



He reminded his boys that Baha'is have a gift-giving and charity period in February called Ayyam-i-Ha, a stretch of time not unlike the Christmas season.



And he helped his son design the poster about that holiday, which precedes a fasting period and then the Baha'i New Year in March.



"His classmates asked him questions about the holiday, and one of his friends came up to him and wants to celebrate that holiday," Fullmer said, pleased that his son's peers helped him reaffirm his identity.



Navigating the Christmas season can be a challenge for the millions of people who don't celebrate the holiday. Many acknowledge and sometime embrace the season's customs, such as gift-giving and sending out greeting cards, while at the same time they are conscious of maintaining their own religious identities.



"They strongly try to maintain their own integrity, but they really want to find bridges across holidays," said the Rev. Dr. Paul Numrich, a professor at the Theological Consortium of Greater Columbus in Ohio. "I think that's the majority."



L.S. Narasimhan, chairman of the Georgia Indo-American Chamber of Commerce, is a Hindu and doesn't celebrate Christmas. But he said he admires the Christian celebrations of his friends and has attended Christmas Eve services at several churches.



"Hindus are typically more open-minded and tolerant. Hinduism is very comfortable in accommodating a diversity of ideas," he said.



"It is very common for Hindu families to have Christmas trees at their homes, purely as a fun thing to do for their children. When they visit shopping malls, Hindu parents in general are comfortable with a photo-op for their little kids with Santa."



But at the same time, there are pressures about the encroachment of Christianity on Hindu life.



"Television commercials, good selection of merchandise and great sale prices persuade Hindu-Americans to take advantage of the shopping spree," Narasimhan said. "Several Hindu temples have risen up to the challenge and added some special Hindu prayers and ceremonies to engage Hindus who are on winter holidays but not on overseas vacations."



Dr. Shefali Chheda, an Atlanta-area pediatrician, is a Jain -- practicing a religion with Indian roots. Growing up in Houston, Texas, she said her parents "felt comfortable letting us celebrate Christmas," perhaps to help fit into American society and maintain a sense of normalcy.



"The spirit and meaning of Christmas, of helping others and of giving, are nice messages. Therefore, it is hard to consciously object to it," Chheda said.



"Jains, as a whole, are a minority in India. Many Jains celebrate Hindu holidays, so celebrating Christmas with Santa and a tree and presents is no different. Since Jains wholeheartedly believe in 'ahimsa' -- peace toward all living beings in thought, word and action -- the Christmas spirit is a very Jain-like philosophy."



The religious aspect of Christmas -- believing Jesus is the savior and that December 25 is his birthday -- is not celebrated in Jainism, but the customs and symbols are interwoven into daily life, she said.



"Now that I have toddlers in the house, they come home with stories about Christmas. They sing songs about Rudolph and Santa, and Kwanzaa, and Hanukkah. But it's Santa that everyone talks
Atlanta , Georgia ( CNN ) -- As Christmas season went into full swing this year , Glen Fullmer 's 7-year - old son came home from school with an assignment : Make a poster illustrating his family holiday traditions . The boy was n't sure how to proceed because he and his family are Baha'is , not Christians , and they have no holidays during the Christmas season . Thus , Fullmer encountered the " December Dilemma " -- the term used for the quandaries and anxieties non - Christians and interfaith couples face during Christmas season . Fullmer , a Baha'i faith spokesman who lives in Evanston , Illinois , said he saw the poster assignment as a " teachable moment " for his 4- , 7- and 10-year - old sons who associated holiday traditions with Christmas . He reminded his boys that Baha'is have a gift - giving and charity period in February called Ayyam - i - Ha , a stretch of time not unlike the Christmas season . And he helped his son design the poster about that holiday , which precedes a fasting period and then the Baha'i New Year in March . " His classmates asked him questions about the holiday , and one of his friends came up to him and wants to celebrate that holiday , " Fullmer said , pleased that his son 's peers helped him reaffirm his identity . Navigating the Christmas season can be a challenge for the millions of people who do n't celebrate the holiday . Many acknowledge and sometime embrace the season 's customs , such as gift - giving and sending out greeting cards , while at the same time they are conscious of maintaining their own religious identities . " They strongly try to maintain their own integrity , but they really want to find bridges across holidays , " said the Rev. Dr. Paul Numrich , a professor at the Theological Consortium of Greater Columbus in Ohio . " I think that 's the majority . " L.S. Narasimhan , chairman of the Georgia Indo - American Chamber of Commerce , is a Hindu and does n't celebrate Christmas . But he said he admires the Christian celebrations of his friends and has attended Christmas Eve services at several churches . " Hindus are typically more open - minded and tolerant . Hinduism is very comfortable in accommodating a diversity of ideas , " he said . " It is very common for Hindu families to have Christmas trees at their homes , purely as a fun thing to do for their children . When they visit shopping malls , Hindu parents in general are comfortable with a photo - op for their little kids with Santa . " But at the same time , there are pressures about the encroachment of Christianity on Hindu life . " Television commercials , good selection of merchandise and great sale prices persuade Hindu - Americans to take advantage of the shopping spree , " Narasimhan said . " Several Hindu temples have risen up to the challenge and added some special Hindu prayers and ceremonies to engage Hindus who are on winter holidays but not on overseas vacations . " Dr. Shefali Chheda , an Atlanta - area pediatrician , is a Jain -- practicing a religion with Indian roots . Growing up in Houston , Texas , she said her parents " felt comfortable letting us celebrate Christmas , " perhaps to help fit into American society and maintain a sense of normalcy . " The spirit and meaning of Christmas , of helping others and of giving , are nice messages . Therefore , it is hard to consciously object to it , " Chheda said . " Jains , as a whole , are a minority in India . Many Jains celebrate Hindu holidays , so celebrating Christmas with Santa and a tree and presents is no different . Since Jains wholeheartedly believe in ' ahimsa ' -- peace toward all living beings in thought , word and action -- the Christmas spirit is a very Jain - like philosophy . " The religious aspect of Christmas -- believing Jesus is the savior and that December 25 is his birthday -- is not celebrated in Jainism , but the customs and symbols are interwoven into daily life , she said . " Now that I have toddlers in the house , they come home with stories about Christmas . They sing songs about Rudolph and Santa , and Kwanzaa , and Hanukkah . But it 's Santa that everyone talks
Non-Christians and interfaith couples experience anxiety at what time?
Non - Christians and interfaith couples experience anxiety at what time ?
Christmas season.
Christmas season.