why are people that do not believe in Jesus celebrating it? Do you think that the Big Business Commercializing has many people brainwashed?
2006-12-05 02:00:31 · 24 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Holidays ➔ Other - Holidays
The birth of Jesus was just something the Christians tacked onto the holiday.
Originally, it was to celebrate life continuing through winter. That's why green things, such as pine trees, holly, and mistletoe are used. It is the time of the winter solstice.
Christians tacked on the birth of Jesus to this holiday because it was already a celebration. According to the Bible, Jesus wasn't even born in winter.
These days, other secular ideals have been added to the holiday. The idea of peace on Earth and goodwill towards men is a fairly universal ideal. The same is true of visiting family, remembering loved ones, giving to each other, and taking care of the poor. None of those really had any basis in the original Christ Mass.
Yes, it has become a bit over-commercialized, but I think that irks secular people and sectarian people alike. Still, I think that most people really enjoy Christmas for the unique ideals it promotes.
It's one of the best secular holidays we have.
2006-12-05 02:02:43 · answer #1 · answered by nondescript 7 · 4⤊ 3⤋
Good question. People who do not believe in Jesus still celebrate it because they enjoy the feeling they get this time of year. The closeness of family, gift giving, etc. However, they completely miss the entire true meaning of the season, which means that they are not getting the full experience. Imagine how much more they would enjoy Christmas if they had that part of it to look forward to! :)
I always wondered the same thing when I would watch "All in the Family" and they would show Michael Stivic celebrating Christmas with the rest of the family. Any other time he is a die-hard athiest and Gloria is an agnostic, yet they want to celebrate Christmas?
Someone else stated that pagans were celebrating this holiday long before Christians. Not so. Pagans celebrated winter solstice which is far from celebrating CHRISTMAS (the birth of Christ). Admittedly, some of our Christmas traditions are adopted from winter solstice pagan rituals, including the tradition of a Christmas tree. However, I know very few Christians who put up a Christmas tree because they want to participate in a pagan ritual - they just do it because it's what has become a Christmas tradition for today's society.
2006-12-05 11:08:08 · answer #2 · answered by dino00digger 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Jesus and the birth of Jesus is a belief not shared by all faiths. While Christians began celebrating others thought of ways to profit by selling ornaments and trees and all the gifts that the Christians would buy in order to demonstrate the giving of gifts. Soon it was realized that fortunes could be made on this "Once Upon A Time Sacred Celebration" and so it has become just another "Retail Frenzy" of frantic shoppers trying to appease themselves. Meanwhile non-believers are getting wealthy.
Most holidays have become a facade of glitter and show without any real attention to the meaning. Easter is now about rabbits, eggs and chocolate. I asked some kids last year what the 4th of July meant and most responded with "That's when we shoot off the fireworks".
Christians are fools for the fact that they keep supporting the very people that would rather see them dead than to recognize their religion. They actually feed the enemy.
2006-12-05 10:21:03 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Christmas has evolved into a very commercialized holiday...but even though I am not into any organized religion, I do enjoy the traditions and celebrating with my friends and family...it gives us an opportunity to share, and gather. I very much enjoy the traditions of Christmas time, anyone who visits my home would clearly see this, but I do wish we as a culture, especially Americans would spend less time shopping, and more time appreciating. Merry Christmas all, and Happy New Year!
2006-12-05 10:13:05 · answer #4 · answered by catywhumpass 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Many Pagan holidays were replaced in Christian religion with Christian holidays people were used to celebrating that time of year
With celebrating it is a personal thing how far do you allow yourself to be pushed when was the last time you spent an afternoon making ornaments or filling out Christmas greetings or just having friends in to share a night
Merry Christmas to all and to all a Goodnight
I love the holidays
2006-12-05 10:12:01 · answer #5 · answered by Cheryl J 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
That's what it is to Christians. Pagans were celebrating this holiday long before the the birth of Jesus.
But even secular people can celebrate light in the darkest time of year, and life, giving, caring, and community. These are universal human concepts that don't belong to any one religion.
2006-12-05 10:52:13 · answer #6 · answered by KC 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Christmas is a secular holiday. It may be celebrating the birth of christ to you but it isnt to many people. Several traditions are involved that were around way before christianity. The festival was already in place before the birth of christ was tacked on.
2006-12-05 10:05:20 · answer #7 · answered by KathyS 7 · 3⤊ 1⤋
For sure. I believe that the meaning of Christmas was killed by the media a long, long time ago. Nowadays, too many people celebrate Christmas only as a time to reunite their families and exchange presents.
2006-12-05 10:11:18 · answer #8 · answered by Rafael L 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Sadly, I think that business has forgotten the true meaning of Christmas.
The Hymns are being played but the words are not penetrating their heart, mind and soul.
Personally, I love to kneel at the Creche each year (O Holy Night)and reflect about that tiny Baby who changed the world by his Birth, Death & Resurrection.
2006-12-05 10:06:21 · answer #9 · answered by kidlet_animal_luv 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I am a Wiccan, and I celebrate Yule, which is the celebration of winter, being with friends and family, and giving thanks to nature for our crops that are buried and will bloom in the spring.
Many Christian Christmas traditions came from Pagan beliefs, but at least I don't kill my tree. You are supposed to decorate the fir trees in the forest, not chop them down and stick them in your living room.
2006-12-05 10:14:44 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋