Best. Reply. Ever.

I disagree. There is no Egyptian link. Christmas is actually the Catholic incorporation of two pagan cultures winter festival. These being the Roman Saturnalia and the Germanic Yule. This was done to make conversion of the European pagan tribes possible, or at least easier.
The same thing happened with the Lord's Day. The seventh day of the week is actually Saturday. Since the pagans found it easier to switch religions if left to have their Sunday (worship of the sun), the decision to switch the Saturday in favor of Sunday was made.
There is no mention of Christmas, or an urging to making any celebration like it in honor of Jesus, in the Bible.
Many people argue that this practice actually deviates from the core values of Christianity.

Well, I still celebrate Christmas because it's something I enjoy doing, and as an atheist I'm not stuck believing that everything enjoyable must be a sin. Therefor, if I enjoy something, I do it.

I also celebrate Easter, because I enjoy it. I am not a pagan, but I celebrate Halloween. I don't believe that the number of Earth's revolutions around the sun since my birth is of any real significance, but I like to celebrate my birthday.

For me, holidays are not about what I believe or don't believe. They are about what I enjoy doing. They are a time where I can have an excuse to shun logic for awhile and just use the "holiday" as a reason to celebrate.

can you say "cake and eat it too"

Ummm I dunno let me try....

caaaakkee...
caaaaaakakaeee...
caakaekeekekekekaa...

No... I can't say it .

reply to post by slave2thelord

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Actually, on holidays my family has pie.

But I get what you're saying... if I'm not a Christian, I shouldn't be allowed to have fun, or do things I like, or celebrate seeing my family, or exchange gifts.

Because everyone knows Christians invented those things. Just like they invented Christmas, rather than simply renaming somebody else's holiday, right?

Can we say "eat your cake and choke on it?"

It is not even Jesus' birthday - he was born in March apparently - and why worry?

You people are too full of worries - what will happen will happen - nothing you can do about it. Why not just relax and love your loved ones?

Well, I'm an atheist and my family celebrated Hanukkah and Christmas. It's all about the kids, they're inundated with Christmas and it's a great way to make them behave for a good month or so! Nice to have the families all get together for good food, we don't do presents for adults, it's a children's thing. We have absolutely no religion attached to our celebration. First night of Hanukkah we had bbq pork! A fat man with flying reindeer and elves making toys isn't remotely religious, though no more unrealistic than what's in the bible. I have no problems teaching my kids all about various religions, if they find one they want to cling to when they get older that's fine by me, I'd never push religion on them at all, I'd never try and stop them from making a personal choice either. I have no problems with religion, it's just not for me.

reply to post by Terra Serranum

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What a brilliant idea! It gets rid of awful social obligation to get people stuff.
When I forge my own family down the road, I'm going to do that.

Glad I could be of service.

Saves $$ that way regardless. I figure adults are smart enough to shop for themselves, kids need a little help. It's great getting woken up long before the sun appears because the kids are convinced Santa came to the house!

To answer your question OP, they are not celebrating a christian holiday. Christmas is not, and has never been a christian holiday. It is a pagan holiday that celebrates, among other things, the Sun of God. He who gives all the greatest gifts. I don't think there's anything wrong with somebody who doesn't believe in God celebrating and appreciating the power of the Sun.

I don’t think that Christmas is a religious holiday anymore. Christmas is a marketing tool for businesses that want to squeeze that last dollar out you before the New Year and keep you trapped in the system for another year. Christmas and Easter is all about the money. They want us to believe that we can buy peace, love, and happiness and though it has never happened we keep reaching in our pockets and selling our souls for something that can not be bought. How many Brooklyn bridges are there?

For me Christmas is just a one more day to get drunk a little bit. Nothing more