Why do you celebrate Christmas if you don't beleive in Christ? Is it for your children? Are you all caught up on materialism and gift giving? I don't understand....
2006-12-11 06:42:03 · 19 answers · asked by Mom of One in Wisconsin 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
There is a strong secular tradition attached to Christmas, a tradition of good feeling and the spirit of giving. Santa, Frosty, Rudolph, and the Grinch are Christmas figures that have nothing to do with Jesus.
Let each celebrate as he will. It isn't necessary for everyone to think, believe, and worship in exactly the same way. The world is far greater and more interesting for its diversity.
2006-12-11 06:47:57 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 0⤋
We don't celebrate "Christmas" though I do usually tell people to "Have a Merry Christmas" (because, well, most people in this area are Christians).
We celebrate the end of the year, beginning of new year. We celebrate a week long vacation that all of us get to take at the same time. We celebrate each other, our friends, our lives.
We celebrate the achievements of the past and the potential for the future.
We have a tree (not pagans, either but, oh well!), we have candles, we make cookies, string lights and we play all those traditional carols and movies.
And we do have our "invisible friend" Santa pay a visit. Unless we tell you we're atheists, you probably wouldn't know. Wish the same were true of most Christians.
Merry Christmas
2006-12-11 14:55:07 · answer #2 · answered by Wonderland 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Why do you put up mistletoe - don't you know that's a Germanic pagan tradition? Why have a Yule log? That's part of the celebration for the Norse god, Odin, and his night riders. Do you have a Christmas tree? Many Pagan cultures used to cut boughs of evergreen trees in December, move them into the home or temple, and decorate them.
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I just try to go out and see friends and family. I give them presents to show how much I love them and am glad to have them love me. I celebrate with friends and family the end of another successful year. I don't see what's so wrong about that.
2006-12-11 14:51:35 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
The early church superimposed Christmas on the existing pagan traditions to facilitate conversion of pagans. Those pagan celebrations were based on the celebration of the winter solstice and seasonal cycles. I and my family choose to make a celebration around this time that is based on these natural phenomenon. We enjoy the celebration of winter, the solstice and returning of longer days, bringing greens inside to decorate (a pagan based tradition), and exchanging gifts which was traditionally done this time of year even before Christianity. It is a time to feast and spend time with family.
2006-12-11 14:48:27 · answer #4 · answered by Zen Pirate 6 · 4⤊ 0⤋
For the same reasons you celebrate it - only Im actually concious of the fact that Im actually celebrating a pagan feast, while you are so ignorant you actually think Christmas is about Jesus....
Like Im certain youre so pious that Christmas is ONLY about Jesus and you dont give or receive gifts or anything, right? You hypocritical fraud, you.
2006-12-11 14:48:28 · answer #5 · answered by YDoncha_Blowme 6 · 4⤊ 0⤋
This holiday was celebrated far before christianity. To give to others, to gather and celebrate during the solstice are very ancient. Alot of us enjoy the cultural and humanistic aspect of the season, not the trademark christianity tries to put on these things. Next I suppose the Easter bunny will only be about christ!
2006-12-11 14:46:37 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 8⤊ 0⤋
we celebrate because christmas IS NOT originally a christian holiday. It was used to cover up a pagan holiday so that maybe, just maybe, the pagans would convert. Plus I don't remember ever being asked to celebrate Jesus' birthday, and I've read the bible quite a few times.. and just as an added point.. do you celebrate your birthday late/early by a matter of months? cuz that's what you're doing for Jesus...
2006-12-11 14:45:00 · answer #7 · answered by bensbabe 4 · 8⤊ 0⤋
Christmas is not only for the Christians but for everybody that wants to celebrate it. Happy holidays to you!
2006-12-11 14:57:55 · answer #8 · answered by lanisoderberg69 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I'm an Atheist, christmas is not a part of my life in any way as it would be highly hypocritical to celebrate a holiday that I believe to be complete garbage.
2006-12-11 14:54:48 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Yes, I am caught up in the materialism, actually it's not. I never get what I really want. Honestly, for Christmas, everyone should go out and buy themself a gift, tis way everyone gets exactly what they want.
It's also a social conditioning thing. We do it to sort of fit in w/ the rest of the population.
2006-12-11 14:48:12 · answer #10 · answered by mxbrown 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋