What does Christmas mean to you?

Question

I live in France, and here Christmas seems just like a tradition. It's only a moment when you can spend your time with family, give some Christmas presents, and decorate the Christmas tree. You don't have to be a Christian to celebrate Christmas, and noone says that you should go to church on Christmas day.
I got some impressions that Christmas, that used to be a religious event, is too commercialed now. It's all about gifts, christmas tree.
What do you think? What does Christmas mean to you?

Answer 1

A day off from work.

Answer 2

Well first off other than the mass or other obviously religious events,the vast majority of what Christians call a part of Christmas are actually things that come from previous pagan celebrations and therefore there's definitely no necessity to be a christian. It really has become too commercialized,that I will agree with,and most of what you mentioned is what I consider Christmas to be. Even as far as gifts that's really something I keep to the children mostly,and particularly important members of the family,of girlfriend. Luckily don't have one of those this Christmas so I get to save a little money. It's just a time to get together with family and enjoy each others company,and if you're not a religious person then when some family member starts getting into the whole religious aspect of it at a gathering I just choose that convinient moment to take a smoke break outside.

AD

Answer 3

To me, Christmas means unbearably crowded shops and rude, stressed out people. We've been force-fed the idea that a good Christmas is an expensive one, especially if kids are involved.

Coming together with friends and family is especially needed during this time of year, but what should be a healthy affirming tradition has become a two-month consumer frenzy. The pressure isn't good for anyone and it's destroying what's valuable about winter celebrations.

Answer 4

First, I think you are very astute to present such a question... I actually appreciate that it gave me time to reflect.

As a born again Christian I know the "reason for the season" and I know the commercilization of "CHRISTMAS" has nothing to do with Christ our Savior.

I have come to learn that traditions have led us far away from God's intent... Mark Chapter 7 of the New Testament in the Bible reads this from the lips of Jesus Christ...

" 'These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men.' You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to the traditions of men."

Having lived in Europe, Asian and America... I have been privileged to learn and enjoy many cultures traditions of celebrating Christmas... but I feel most blessed that I know the "truth" and "the way" and "the light".

Celebrations of special occassions are not a bad thing... the Bible tells us Christ, Himself participated in Jewish (of which He was) fesitivities (remember the Wedding where he turned water into wine and the celebreation known now as the "the Last Supper"... others are mentioned... look at the Jewish holiday of "Purim".)

Celebrate... my friend, as I and many others do... all year round... so as Christmas comes upon us... it is "just another day to Praise the Lord".

Merry Christmas to you and yours and a Happy New Year.

Answer 5

"christmas" has been around far longer than christ has.... it was a pagan holiday, called Yule. heres a little bit of text i found on the holiday.

"There is a custom that on Christmas Eve an enormous log of freshly cut wood called the Yule log would be fetched and carried to the house with great ceremony. On Christmas Eve, the master of the house would place it on the hearth, make libations by sprinkling the trunk with oil, salt and mulled wine and say suitable prayers. In some families, the young girls of the house lit the log with splinters from the preceding year which they had carefully tucked away. In other families, the mother had this privilege. It was said that the cinders of this log could protect the house from lightning and the malevolent powers of the devil. Choices about the variety of wood, the way in which it was lit and the length of time it took to burn constituted a genuine ritual which could vary from region to region.
The custom, which dates back to the XIIth century, was known in most Europeans countries, notably in France and in Italy where the Yule log was called a ceppo. This tradition persisted in Quebec as it did in France up until the last quarter of the XIXth century. Its disappearance coincides with that of great hearths which were gradually replaced by cast-iron stoves. The great log was thus replaced by a smaller one, often embellished with candles and greenery, placed in the centre of the table as a Christmas decoration."

I have also read that christmas was developed by the europeans during the catholic reformation to bring in pagans to christianity, so alot of the holidays are the same...
Halloween (pagans call it Samhain- pronounced sowen) which is the holiday for the end of summer, and is the pagan new year.
Christmas( December 21st- called Yule pronounced EWE-elle) Rebirth of the Sun, The longest night of the year, The Winter Solstice, Introspect, Planning for the Future.
Easter-(March 21 -- Ostara -- Spring or The Vernal Equinox ) As Spring reaches its midpoint, night and day stand in perfect balance, with light on the increase. The young Sun God now celebrates a hierogamy (sacred marriage) with the young Maiden Goddess, who conceives. In nine months, she will again become the Great Mother. It is a time of great fertility, new growth, and newborn animals.
May Day (April 30th -- Beltane) Beltane has long been celebrated with feasts and rituals. Beltane means fire of Bel; Belinos being one name for the Sun God, whose coronation feast we now celebrate. As summer begins, weather becomes warmer, and the plant world blossoms, an exuberant mood prevails. In old Celtic traditions it was a time of unabashed sexuality and promiscuity where marriages of a year and a day could be undertaken but it is rarely observed in that manner in modern times.

This is not all the holidays, but simply the ones that happen to follow on the same day as christian holidays...

Answer 6

Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Jesus, the Savior- according to Christian teachings. It is too commercial and many have lost the true meaning. It's a day when we celebrate His incomprehensible love for us.
And it's Merry Christmas, not happy holidays.

Answer 7

you seem perceptive. You are right. Its becoming way too commercialized. Honestly, to me around Christmas, I get really sentimental about Jesus being born as a fragile baby, "tender brow prepared for thorns" God's greatest gift to mankind; the greatest story ever told. I get tears now just typing. Its just beautiful beyond description. After that, goodwill toward all men and women, and a special capacity to look beyond their faults around Christmas, and seek to help those in need. Also, it represents all the nostalgia of being a child and is a rare chance to feel once more a little of the magic that disappears as we get older.

Answer 8

to celebrate JESUS birthday even though the Christians took over the Pagan Holiday in order to more easily convert the Pagan Worshipers to Christianity. now in modern times ( especially here in the U.S. ) the commercialization of this Holiday seems to become one of greed on the merchants wanting to make money.

Answer 9

for thousands of year it was a celebration of the winter solstice.
It became "religious" for marketing purposes when pagan roman emperor Constantin decided to team up with christian sects that convinced him that religion would help him maintain domination of the people. Dates of old celebration were given so called "religious" meanings.

Answer 10

To me, Christmas is the celebration of the fact that God so loves the world that He came as Jesus to die for our sins so that we may be able to spend eternity with Him. Merry Christmas, and go to church, even if nobody is going to make you.

Answer 11

Well being a Cajun & Catholic, when I was a Kid we did the stuff you mention execpt on Christmass eve we would all go to midnight mass except for the adults that were to drunk.
When I grew up and had a family of my own I did away with it & it's been more plesent