Atheists and Christmas

Wow Benevolent Heritic,

I am begining to realize that there are more than I had thought out here who have given up this "tradition".

I had always known there was sort of a treadmill to this thing. I always tired of how it came around annually. I suppose what began to really turn me off about it was when I worked in retailing and the annual event came around. I became more aware and in time resentful of this holiday. It became more of an intrusion to me. By that I mean the commercialism of it.

When I became converted I began the trek and learning experience posted above. Also of intrest to me in a book, was a list of when and what states adopted christmas as a holiday. It is quite an intresting list to see.

I agree...as stated to Whitewave..I too love the non hassle of holidays. I just let them pass by. I choose where and what treadmill I will step upon..this holiday is not one of them. No thanks.

I like the manner in which both you and Whitewave have simplified.
Congratulations.

Orangetom

Originally posted by orangetom1999
I like the manner in which both you and Whitewave have simplified.
Congratulations.

Hey, they don't call me "heretic" for nothin', ya know.

I see where you guys are coming from definatly. However, for me, many of my most sentimental memories come from Christmastime, and not really because of the presents. Most of the memories surround my grandmother. She would invite me over to help her do her christmas baking and she would go all out, putting love and care into every cookie and treat (probably where my obsession with food started). She would decorate her house beautifully (using a fake tree, not killing a fresh one), and cook a huge feast, all out of love for her family.

Since she died when I was 13, we were lucky if we could get the family together without fighting, and you definatly couldn't feel the love in the air that was so thick when she was around.

Therefore, I like having Christmastime to be the one day where I can set most of the worries of everyday life aside and truly focus on giving my children and my future grandchildren a day to look forward to every year. Especially this year since this is our first year owning our own home and being able to actually enjoy the holiday without superficial, bickering family members. Just me, my fiance, my children, a homecooked meal, home baked treats made with love and the serene ambiance of a candle lit and specially decorated house.

In my case, I use the time to get together with good friends, have a good meal, and basicly enjoy ourselves. Gifts are optional but not needed. The important thing is being there.

This thread, or ones like it, are becoming almost as traditional (gasp) as Christmas.

I am neither pagan, nor what Christianity would call a christian, and I don't partake of it as much as I used to. Since my mom passed, geeze is it 16 years already?, the holiday doesn't mean as much to me as it used to. Christmas, I think, was my mom's time of year, first school day after Thanksgiving, mostly so we were out of the way I think, she'd break out the decorations, and by the time we'd get home from school, loe and behold, Christmas had arrived. Night before Christmas, up goes the tree, so beautiful and shiney. Bright with the promise of the turning of the year. The tree would usually stay up 'til middle of January, once it stayed up 'til Valentines day. I think Mom liked Christmas trees .

Christmas is whatever version you prefer is about the the turning of the seasons, the return of light to us mere mortals. The days begin to get longer, the nights shorter; the world as we know it begins to be reborn. Something to celebrate, no?

Christmas means what you want it to mean. Whether negative, or positive. My memories of Christmas are all positive, so I'll always love it. I could do without the over the top commercialisation, though .

Nobody owns the rights to holidays. There was an article in the local paper here a few years ago, written by some bible-thumper who was demanding that all non-Christians stop celebrating Christmas... I wasn't sure if I wanted to laugh or find the guy and punch him in the face. Like it's his business if I have a tree in my house?

I don't believe that "celebration" is specific to any religious (or non-religious) belief. Just because some people are celebrating different things doesn't mean they can't celebrate with the same traditions.

I for one am neither Christian nor Pagan, but I celebrate Christmas. I celebrate good food, holiday pay, and having the same day off from work as my entire family.

And yes, I celebrate the fact that I get presents. Is it commercialism? No, it's being thankful that I have friends and family that like me enough to give me stuff. I get them stuff, too. They usually give me better stuff than I give them, but that's because by the time December rolls around I can barely pay my heating bills.

To each, his or her own. I think we all should celebrate / not celebrate as our own hearts dictate.

I, myself, am an atheist by most standards, and not only do I celebrate Yule/Christmas, I also observe Kwanzaa, and Hanukkah.

I do feel like most "traditional" elements of Christmas are Pagan. While I can certainly understand wanting to observe the birth of Jesus, what does a Yule tree have to do with it? I don't remember anything in the Christian Bible about stockings. Mistletoe? However, the gift giving, lights, St. Nicolaus, and the creche are obviously Christian. My point being that is seems to me to be such a mixture of different things that it seems that anyone who wished could find plenty of reason to celebrate and more than ample meaning to lend to the symbols used.

What I would find fascinating is if there are any Buddhists who celebrate Christmas.

edit for spelling (as always)

[edit on 11/19/07 by wellwhatnow]

I dont care if people celebrate christmas or not. It is just not for me and I dont want people foisting it off on me as if it was Christian. I just happen to know that christmas is not Christian at all and for the reasons stated in my other posts.

My parents dont particularly like or approve that I do not observe anymore but that was my decision and I will live with it. I do not cut myself off from my parents because of this. I just dont celebrate this holidy..nor any others for that matter.

I care nothing for all the fluff and lights . If I want lights I build a fire in my fireplace out in my back yard and enjoy a quiet evening/music and a glass of wine.

However ..as some of the athiests have correctly stated on this thread..it is pagan in origins. They are correct in this. To bad more believers dont know or care to know the truth on this.

Also the commercialism sickens me. I have made and carried out plans not to be out in the stores tomorrow and as little as possible through the end of December. I greatly dislike the seasonal commercial rush. Very happy to just let it pass by.

As much as it is possible for my sinful soul to do I care not for mixing leven with unleven and new wine with olde. Not intrested. That is what this represents to me.

Thanks,
Orangetom

Well, I work at wal-mart, and those of you who are sickened by the over-commercialism during the holidays will be happy to know that at least at my store, there wasn't much of a rush on Black Friday.

However I don't think it has anything to do with a choice to consume less. I read in the paper that this holiday season was going to be less busy because of rising gas prices and a faulty housing market.

Originally posted by snowflake_obsidian
However I don't think it has anything to do with a choice to consume less. I read in the paper that this holiday season was going to be less busy because of rising gas prices and a faulty housing market.

Snowflake,

I dont know if it was less busy as I did not venture out to any stores on Friday.

However, I tend to agree with you in that gas prices and housing markets will have an effect on the shopping trends. IN this I think you are correct.

You know..I did briefly venture out into the BJ's wholesale type store and get a few things and it did not seem extra crowded ..more than normal. I was grateful for this as I dispise standing in line for very long. In Wal Mart I am prone to checking out at the Jewelry or Sports counters to avoid the long lines at the front of the store. Gardening Center too if need be.
I am not one of these people who delight in the "Shopping Experience."

I have many times in our local Wal Mart just left my shopping cart complete with perishables and walked out when the service was bad or the lines to long and not enough cashiers or bad service. My time is to valuable to be standing for long in lines at any store for very long. It is the same at the local Food Lion. I have done this there too.

Thanks,
Orangetom

My family, with a few exceptions, are all atheists. I myself am an Atheist born and raised. We do celebrate "Christmas", however it has no real religious meaning to us. We use it more as an excuse to get everyone together once a year and catch up with eachother, share gifts, that sort of thing since we all live quite far away its just not practical to have more regular visits.