Christmas is about celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Why, then, do non-Christians celebrate it?
2006-11-21 11:34:31 · 27 answers · asked by Savannah 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Holidays ➔ Christmas
because for most people christmas represents something other than the birth of Christ...it is the commercialism that everyone is caught up in....very sad...but true...
2006-11-21 11:39:11 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 15⤊ 4⤋
I think the point of the question is directed at many people in the media of modern America who bash Christianity and then turn around and celebrate Christmas. The answer that most would give is that to them it is a cultural holiday, not a Christian Holiday. I think this shows how hollow people in America have become- they don't believe in anything so they have to make up reasons why they celebrate Christmas or anything. It is probable that the American media will start to push the idea that Christmas is not a Christian holiday anymore to suit their own conscious and to make Christmas available to a more diverse America. In the end we will all be empty and hollow human shells with no beliefs in anything.
2015-09-13 08:53:01 · answer #2 · answered by billy66179 1 · 6⤊ 0⤋
Christmas was not originally a Christian holiday. Early Christians, trying to convert pagans to their religion, replaced the holiday of Yule with the birth of the Christ, even though historians have calculated that Jesus was actually born sometime in September or October. If you've ever been to a Catholic Christmas Mass, you will see many rituals held over from pagan celebrations (anointing the alter with incense, "closing the circle", wine as offering).
To be perfectly honest, though, I don't believe that modern Christmas is about celebrating the birth of Jesus the Christ. It's more about materialism.
Happy holidays.
2006-11-21 12:17:54 · answer #3 · answered by nonesuch 2 · 10⤊ 2⤋
With the exception of those few who do NOT celebrate Christmas for religious reasons, we all, Christians and non-Christians alike, celebrate Christmas because we have to. It's the one holiday that is mandated by our culture, and to not celebrate is to be labeled a Scrooge or a Grinch. Simply put...there is no way out. And that's probably one of the reasons for the stress ( along with financial concerns and the mayhem) Why don't we stress over the Labor day, the 4th of July, or Easter? Because we don't have to participate if we don't feel like it , that's why. Some Christians are able to keep the focus on 'Christianity', but it takes an effort. Non-Christians are in it for the cultural custom. But it doesn't matter. We can't get out of it even if we wanted to.
2006-11-21 12:34:42 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 7⤊ 0⤋
Christmas means Christ's birth. It does NOT predate Christianity. Historically any Pagan similarities came about as a way for Christians to include Pagans into the celebration so that they may some day consider Christ as their savior. I suspect we Christians tolerate the gross commercialism of our sacred holiday for the same reason...that maybe for just a little while everyone finds some joy.
2016-11-01 08:41:25 · answer #5 · answered by Beverly Runyan 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Even for Christians there are two aspects of Christmas - the birth of Christ and the non-religious holiday season. Non-Christians can enjoy the lights, trees, and general goofiness as well as a Christian. I'm not a Ca jun and I like Mardi Gras, I'm not Irish but I've been known to have a beer on St. Patricks day. Holidays should be inclusive rather than exclusive.
2006-11-21 11:50:31 · answer #6 · answered by Yo it's Me 7 · 6⤊ 4⤋
Non-Christians don't celebrate it, they just enjoy it. Since I'm not a Christain, I enjoy it by having a week's vacation for free, sitting back and relax, taking advantage of all those big sales. Sometimes a friend will invite me for a party or dinner to have fun but I don't partake in any religous aspects. I think that the best way to learn about other religons is to take part in their celebrations and learn how and why they celebrate. I know that I invite my friends on my religous days too to have dinner or experince the moment...
2006-11-21 13:05:14 · answer #7 · answered by letseat 4 · 6⤊ 1⤋
People celebrate and it may not be the birth of Christ they are celebrating. There are probably as many reasons as there are people. Hannakuh, Kwanzaa, Beltane, the winter solstice, many people when they are no longer christian because it was a tradition. And many Christians such as Jehovah's Witness don't celebrate Christmas by gifts and parties, How many people go to church on Christmas? There are midnight services and other things on Christmas eve. But very few church related celebratory events for Christians either. Christmas is bring in the Yule log, drink the Wassail. Find the mistletoe to steal a kiss under (that was for less enlightened times I think). While a lot of us have Nativity sets and light candles, few of us give thanks that God sent Jesus to us as his birthday. Our BIG celebration is Easter when we celebrate his Death. That He died for us, He AROSE, He beat Death. He hung around for awhile to get things set up to run while he was away and then He ascended to heaven. So, in him we can beat Death too. No presents tho. So Christmas is a great time for food, gifts , and parties!
2006-11-21 12:12:04 · answer #8 · answered by silverlasha 1 · 4⤊ 3⤋
For some, it's celebrating the secular part of the holiday - peace on earth, good will towards man, etc.
For some, we're actually celebrating another holiday that "just happens" to fall around the same time and "oddly enough" has many of the same symbols and customs of "Christmas".
For unto us the Sun is reborn.
2006-11-21 12:02:06 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
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They don't celebrate the religious aspect of the holiday. Hell, even most "Christians" don't acknowledge the Christian aspect of the holiday, they, just like everyone else, just buy presents. Very few actually go to church and KNOW the history of the holiday. Jesus wasn't born on December 25th. There's a lot of your own history you religious folk "think" you know, or take to be true, but isn't. In short, they just buy presents for their friends because, well, with all the holiday discounts and low prices, why wouldn't you? You don't have to be religious to take advantage of those incredible prices.
2016-04-03 04:08:59 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Ha...how many Christians do you know that actually celebrate Christmas because of Jesus? I think the majority of Christians celebrate Christmas by getting each other presents and eating, not by celebrating Lord and Savior. Christmas has become a holiday devoted to family, not Jesus. It's marketed very heavily in retail. That's why everyone celebrates it.
2006-11-21 11:43:15 · answer #11 · answered by two_kee_kees 4 · 6⤊ 8⤋