Why stop calling Christmas what it is, Christmas?

Question

We call atheist day, atheist day, we call Chanukah what it is, so why not call the Christmas season, Christmas? Social appeasement, when your beliefs are not being shoved in peoples faces are to embraced in this country according to our Constitutional rights.

I find using social terms that 'offend' absurd. Good example, those trying to change the term 'Fourth of July" Celebration to the politically correct term, "Independence Day".

What is wrong with this world? It is definitely ill in need of some kind of medicine quick....it is sicker by the day.

Answer 1

How many Protestants go to MASS on Christ-mass day?

In ancient Babylon, the feast of the Son of Isis (Goddess of Nature) was celebrated on December 25. Raucous partying, gluttonous eating and drinking, and gift-giving were traditions of this feast.

In Rome, the Winter Solstice was celebrated many years before the birth of Christ. The Romans called their winter holiday Saturnalia, honoring Saturn, the God of Agriculture. In January, they observed the Kalends of January, which represented the triumph of life over death. This whole season was called Dies Natalis Invicti Solis, the Birthday of the Unconquered Sun. The festival season was marked by much merrymaking. It is in ancient Rome that the tradition of the Mummers was born. The Mummers were groups of costumed singers and dancers who traveled from house to house entertaining their neighbors. From this, the Christmas tradition of caroling was born.

In northern Europe, many other traditions that we now consider part of Christian worship were begun long before the participants had ever heard of Christ. The pagans of northern Europe celebrated the their own winter solstice, known as Yule. Yule was symbolic of the pagan Sun God, Mithras, being born, and was observed on the shortest day of the year. As the Sun God grew and matured, the days became longer and warmer. It was customary to light a candle to encourage Mithras, and the sun, to reappear next year.

Huge Yule logs were burned in honor of the sun. The word Yule itself means “wheel,” the wheel being a pagan symbol for the sun. Mistletoe was considered a sacred plant, and the custom of kissing under the mistletoe began as a fertility ritual. Hollyberries were thought to be a food of the gods.

The tree is the one symbol that unites almost all the northern European winter solstices. Live evergreen trees were often brought into homes during the harsh winters as a reminder to inhabitants that soon their crops would grow again. Evergreen boughs were sometimes carried as totems of good luck and were often present at weddings, representing fertility. The Druids used the tree as a religious symbol, holding their sacred ceremonies while surrounding and worshipping huge trees.

In 350, Pope Julius I declared that Christ’s birth would be celebrated on December 25. There is little doubt that he was trying to make it as painless as possible for pagan Romans (who remained a majority at that time) to convert to Christianity. The new religion went down a bit easier, knowing that their feasts would not be taken away from them.

Christmas (Christ-Mass) as we know it today, most historians agree, began in Germany, though Catholics and Lutherans still disagree about which church celebrated it first. The earliest record of an evergreen being decorated in a Christian celebration was in 1521 in the Alsace region of Germany. A prominent Lutheran minister of the day cried blasphemy: “Better that they should look to the true tree of life, Christ.”

The controversy continues even today in some fundamentalist sects.

In other words, Christmas is a pagan holiday.

Answer 2

In America there is this little thing called seperation of church and state. It is actually not a bad thing considering where the founders of or country came from. Relegion can be very oppressive and violent. Amazingly, though, for well over 200 years noone has ever blown anyone up over the word christmas being used in schools or government buildings.

I think atheist extremist can be just as dangerous as any relegious extremist. In other words, I think that we should all get along.

My mother raised three of us on her own and she was an aethist. However, we all celebrated christmas with a tree, good food and gifts. I admired her strength and hard work to put the food on the table and those gifts under the tree. I would really resent an aethist or other non-christian group trying to steal my admiration away from my mother's hard work every December of every year, just because THEY hate the word christmas

You know they don't pick on the governement holidays, to much, because they can't. It isn't their "constitutional" right. Gee, I wonder if they will ever grow up and realize that if it had not been for the bible the founders of this country would not have written the constitution or the Bill of Rights or the Decleration of Independance. It is all inspired by the christian faith. Why would that offend me? The Constitution of the United States of America is one of the most beautiful and inspiring pieces of work I have ever read. Next thing you know the aeithist or other regelious groups are going to claim the constitution should be abandoned because it was written by men of a christian faith.

We have to draw the line some where and I think starting with the word Christmas is a good place. As an American, I draw this line in the sand and say the word "Christmas" should remain the same from this day forward until the end of time.

Answer 3

I, as well, agree with you.

When I was in school (many, many years ago), we were "allowed" to sing Christmas Carols and paste up decorations on the school windows that represented Christmas (trees, wreaths, presents, Santa, reindeer, etc.). Now that I'm a Teacher (in the same elementary school that I attended), this practice that I've just previously mentioned, is now taboo.

I should make mention though, that the Chanukah Menorah is proudly displayed in the school office and Kwanzaa is also well represented.

We (as Teachers) have been "advised" by the school board, that singing carols, and/or displaying anything which might be considered offensive to other religions, such as Christmas trees, Santa Claus, etc., are expressly forbidden.

I don't understand why all religions can't display their beliefs in school. If we are all represented equally, I don't see a problem.

The last that I heard - we live in the United States - Land of the
Free - Home of the Brave. Gee - doesn't seem very free to me with all of the restrictions on Christmas (considering that this country was founded based on Christian beliefs).

Have a lovely rest of the day and thank you for posing such a good question. By the way "Merry Christmas" in advance.

Answer 4

It depends on what else people are calling it. If it's "winter break" that is useful for non-Christians who want to participate in the positive social atmosphere, especially since the holiday was 'absorbed" by the Christians from pre-existing solstice (Dec. 22 -25, depending on the culture) festivals. The US government should not use any religious name for a vacation time, including the word "holiday" (holy-day). This obviously violated the seperation of church and state.(1)

If you're referring to calling the day Xmas, that's not a change.The word Christos in old Greek begins with the letter chi, which resembles the Roman X, so this has been around for centuries. The abbreviation X was used for Christ by scribes making copies of the New Test. before the King James bible was produced in 1611.

Answer 5

I missed Atheist Day!! Do they give presents? Probably science stuff like microscopes and telescopes, but who knows?

As for your second paragraph, I celebrate Independence Day, not the 4th of July. That's not political correctness, that's correctness. If not for the recognized event of US independence, what makes the 4th of July any more special than the 5th?

As for the decline in Christmas, well frankly an increasing number of Americans recognize Christmas as a secular gift holiday and not as a religious holiday. Hence, the name of the holiday is becoming increasingly irrelevant, but it is the traditional name of the holiday and many nominal Christians have attachment to the term if not the meaning.

Answer 6

There is no element of political correctness in calling the holiday celebrated by Americans on the 4th of July, Independence Day. It's been called Independence Day since the founding generation. "Fourth of July" and "Independence Day" are both correct.

There is no Atheist Day.

As for Christmas, I assume you're leading us back to the mythological "War on Christmas" that right-wing Christians like to pull out of the closet every year to get people stirred up. There is no war on Christmas. People say "Happy Holidays" in the last part of the year because not everyone is Christian. Jews have Chanukah, Humanists have Human Light, Pagans have Yule or Winter Solstice, and African Americans have the wonderful secular holiday Kwanzaa.

When I know someone is Christian, I wish them a Merry Christmas. When I know they are Jewish, I say, "Happy Chanukah." When I know they are Humanist, I say, "Happy Human Light!" When I know they are neo-pagan, I wish them a Happy Winter Solstice or Yule.

But when I don't know what faith or core philosophy a person identifies with, it makes sense to say "Happy Holidays."

Is that so hard for Christians to understand? I refuse to believe that the vast majority of Christians are so selfish that they want their holiday to be the ONLY one recognized, to the exclusion of all others.

Answer 7

In my view, the real problem with the "Holiday Season" isn't what it's called, but how overwhelmingly pervasive it is.

It's like the mainstream wraps its giant present of frenzied commercialism in ecumenical paper and thinks we should all be absolutely delighted with it.

So the answer isn't in changing the name but in reclaiming it as a time of gathering together with friends and family. Everyone who celebrates Christmas can do just that -- buy a few presents, have a small party, or make a point of visiting with the people you usually don't have enough time for. Each of you can re-make the season into something more meaningful than your credit card bill. The economy will adjust soon enough.

Answer 8

Xmas is not Jesus' birthday, first of all. It is a continuation of winter soltice festivals. Read your Bible and see Jesus wasn't born in winter. Read the First Amendment while you are reading...if you can indeed read. It forbids a state religion. Jehovah's Witnesses do not celebrate Xmas I've heard. Who ever heard of "atheist day"? You are being absurd. You should know much about shoving your beliefs in people's faces. Your grammar needs improvement, so I cannot understand all of your immature tirade. What is wrong with the world? Much of it is such ignorant tyrants as you. I am not religious, so I do not observe Xmas, Chanukah, Ramadan, etc. By the First Amendment, people may do as they please privately, but they cannot force their beliefs upon others in any way.

Answer 9

I think that Christmas is just such a huge thing now, the commercial industry has started ramming the season down our throats starting in November. I think that the majority of people who celebrate it seems overwhelming to people who do not believe in it. It has been changed from the holy day and family event that it was supposed to be, and turned into some money-making scam. Its sad...but I think that what we call Christmas today should have another name...something that doesn't insult the true meaning of the holiday...it has nothing to do with being considerate to people who don't want to hear a word (which is just completely stupid), but it is about the personal meaning of Christmas to me.

Answer 10

I've never heard of Atheist day... but as for Christmas - Here is what I did last year... Turn off the news and just read the newspaper headlines if you need to stay somewhat connected to the world. Not listening to the constant debate makes the whole season so much more enjoyable. Believe what you believe and leave the rest alone for awhile.