Growing up in Randallstown, Debbie Cohen Huntington was surrounded by Jewish people and immersed in the religion and culture.

"I grew up with chopped liver, gefilte fish," she said. "I think I was 17 before I realized I was a minority."

Now 46, Cohen lives in Glen Burnie with her Methodist husband, 16-year-old son and their 6-year-old daughter. She has lived in the county for 21 years, the last 12 of them in Glen Burnie.

But this is only time of year she feel like a fish out of water. With Christmas lights as far as the eye can see, carols playing everywhere and Christmas commercials and sales galore,...