How do you handle it? It is hard to not celebrate Christmas when it seems like the whole world around you does? Do you tell people you work with that you don't celebrate it? Do you still attend "holiday" parties? If you have kids, do they feel as though they are missing out on something?
I like the idea of "family time" but I just don't like the holiday. It seems like it is something that you can't get away from. No one understands why you wouldn't want to celebrate it. My husband thinks its too commercial, and I think that since I don't celebrate Hanukkah because I'm not Jewish, if I'm not Christian, why would I celebrate Christmas?
2006-12-08 11:14:30 · 8 answers · asked by NJ 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Holidays ➔ Christmas
I personally don't celebrate Christmas myself and I do se the people looking strange when you make the conscious decision to not celebrate but I can say that I enjoy the day off from work and it is always nice to volunteer.
2006-12-08 11:29:46 · answer #1 · answered by kArMaRiFiC 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Christmas has become an extremely secular holiday. Americans celebrate it often if they are *not* Christian. I've seen Jewish families that celebrate it, perhaps to be more mainstream. You probably know how Christmas began as a winter festival, so perhaps you should look to those traditions to find a way to celebrate it that works for you.
If you don't celebrate it, then it's just another Labor Day or Memorial Day. Barbecue and kick back.
2006-12-08 19:18:11 · answer #2 · answered by Link Correon 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
My sister is married to a Jewish man and all of us, Christians and Jews, celebrate all the Jewish holidays as well as all the Christian ones. My brother in law he even puts up a Christmas tree. The togetherness that we are all having, is such a wonderful feeling!
2006-12-08 19:21:25 · answer #3 · answered by markos m 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Why don't you and your family make Christmas a day for showing each other how much you all love each other?
Why don't you pull names out of a hat and for the person each picks, they find something wonderful to do for that person.
None of us knows how long we are to be here, take at least one day a year where you can celebrate each other as a miracle and as someone who is loved.
Have a blessed Christmas
2006-12-08 19:20:14 · answer #4 · answered by wildmedicsue 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Being a CHristian, I agree with your husband, it is too commercial. People forget the true meaning of Christmas and that is that the Christ Child was born. You do not need to celebrate christmas to have family time. All the customs with christmas these days have been adopted by the RC church and christianised. It is just better to reflect on the true meaning of christmas and enjoy fun time with your family.
Cheers and Mery Xmas.
2006-12-08 19:20:30 · answer #5 · answered by iamwhoiam 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
my dad was atheist and all i heard growing up was Christmas is a time when the rich get richer and the poor get poorer and would hate going back to school in Jan. cause you had to write paper about holidays and every one showing off new stuff i would go in bathroom and cry cause i just felt cheated and i got to where i lied when i wrote papers to make it sound like this wonderful time in my house but really it wasn't and i knew so when i had kids i swore they would always have Christmas and no i didn't go broke usually one or two items a piece of what they really wanted and we always put out oatmeal for the reindeer's and read Christmas stories my way of making up for living with the Grinch
2006-12-08 19:32:32 · answer #6 · answered by theessenceofrose 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I do celebrate Christmas. However, I too find it to be way too commercial. I do not like that aspect of it so I keep it any way but that in our home.
There is someone at work here who does not celebrate any holiday - not even birthdays. He's told everyone here and we all seem to be accepting of that. He's my best buddy at work, in fact. I think it's so okay for him because he doesn't try to cram his religion down anyone's throat and he absolutely respects everybody else's right to do what they want to. So I think he gets that same respect in return. I've asked him if it's difficult for him - he says it's not because he grew up that way. But his wife and daughter do have a hard time. For different reasons...the daughter has been raised the same way, but kids at school do tease and it makes it more difficult for her. The wife was not raised that way and her family wants her to be a part of their celebrations, but she is torn between her marriage and her family's beliefs. Tough. They manage to deal with it pretty well. I have a lot of respect for my co-worker because he sticks to his guns even when people may give him a hard time. I may not agree with his choices and beliefs, but I absolutely respect him for abiding by them.
Things that matter typically do not come easy. It takes a lot of strength - I wish that for you. Best of luck with your situation.
2006-12-08 19:23:06 · answer #7 · answered by Grá 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
just like ant other day
2006-12-08 19:43:25 · answer #8 · answered by george p 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋