If you don't believe in God,do you still put up a Christmas tree,etc?

Question

I was just curious if people that don't even believe still celebrate and why?

I appreciate the mostly polite answers,not trying to make anyone mad or defensive,I am just curious what people of other beliefs do:)

Answer 1

I am a believer and I dont put up a tree,but many celebrate the season rather then the reason wich we celebrate Christmas,
Great question and you are a blessing too

Answer 2

There is no mention of Christmas trees, Christmas Ham Dinners, Turkey Dinners, Mashed Potatoes, Gravy, Cranberries, Candied Yams, Mistletoe, Holly Wreaths, December 25th, Snow, Jack Frost nipping at your nose, Chestnuts roasting on an open fire, exchanging wrapped gifts, sending cards, sleigh rides, polar bears, penguins, reindeer, elves, Yule Logs, Egg Nog, or anything else that most people associate with Christmas, in the Bible.

Christmas trees, and most of the other things I mentioned, are pre-Christian Pagan or cultural traditions, mostly northern European. You can add Caroling and Wasseling (Pre-Christian British). None of these things have anything to do with Christianity. They are European/American Mid-Winter traditions that were being celebrated long before anyone ever heard of Christianity, and we will still be celebrating them long after Christianity has been relegated to the scrap heap of history.

December 25th has no connection to the Bible. It is the ancient Roman date of Sol Invictus, the Winter Solstice. The correct date is December 21-22, but a shift occured when the calendar was changed from the Julian to the Gregorian and it was never corrected. No one seriously believes Jesus was born on December 25th, or even in the winter months. The date was chosen by Christian Romans to compete with the more popular solar religions.

Substituting one false 'sun-god' for another hardly changes the real cultural origins of these traditions.

The Germanic tribes, of which I am descended, were decorating evergreens long before Rome converted or invaded.

Answer 3

I do not believe in the "Christian" God but yes I do put up a tree and so forth. Mostly for the kids I don't think many people sit down and exchange gifts thinking "oh this is the baby jesus's birth day" I do not celebrate the birth of "Christ" I celebrate time with my family and it has NO religious undertones at all.

Answer 4

If you live in the U.S., which I'm assuming you do [Arizona]
then yes, many still put up a Christmas tree.
It's not that people that are atheists are supporting god, it's just that it's TRADITION here.
You know, you hear about people saying Merry Christmas to someone and the person isn't religious and they just flip out.
I mean that's what comes when you live here.
Don't trip, it's just tradition.
Like the tradition that we celebrate Thanksgiving.
I have an Indian friend who is Hindu and likes to celebrate Christmas. He doesn't think it's wrong, it's just what people do.

Answer 5

If I didn't believe in God I would still celebrate Christmas and I would put up a Christmas tree, which doesn't have anything to do with Jesus, I would want to be with family members and I wouldn't want to deny my family of celebrating Christmas, if I were a non-believer.

Answer 6

I practise Theravada Buddhism I am an Australian fellow married to a Thai. My family in Thailand are naturally Buddhists and we have always celebrated on Christmas Day. Our tradition comes firstly because of my Western background and secondly because Thais love a good celebration and of course the kids love the presents. I am living and working in Saudi Arabia whose laws prohibit anything Christian...I am slated to work Christmas Day for example...so I celebrate when I return home to Thailand in mid January by being with my family. For us it is a celebration of togetherness and a really good Thai feast.

Answer 7

Of course, Xmas tree does not celebrate the birth of Christ but the delivery of presents to the family by a pagan creature called Santa Klaus.

Answer 8

Lots of religion rituals have started to become a cultural thing. It has become celebrations that people enjoy. I give gifts and participate in such things, even though I am not Christian. I'll do the hiding easter eggs and all too.

Answer 9

I don't put up a christmas tree, i put up a Yule tree. Guess what, this celebration predates jesus and christianity for thousands of years.

Answer 10

I have friends that are atheists and other religions that do it. Its more of an american holiday now then any thing else. My orthodox jew and muslim friends dont put up a Christmas tree though.