I have just spent the week having holiday celebrations at work. All week non christian co-workers have felt the need to tell Christians everything they know about the origins of the American Christmas celebration.How it is commercial and how Christians have forgotten the real meaning. There is one man who I love and respect because he really put his heart into resolving a really big issue for my team because he knew we were struggling with it. He said that Santa Claus was originally an advertising campaign begun in the 1940s. I was always told that the legend of Santa Claus is the American version of several european traditions. I am particularly stung by finding out that I have apparenly forgotten the true meaning of Christmas. To me Christmas is about Jesus, Family,friends and neighbors and Santa Claus. I like all the goofy movies, peppermint mochas and hoping for a White Christmas.I mean this sincerely why can't non Christians just go with the flow. Why the analysis?
2006-12-22 10:51:47 · 15 answers · asked by CAE 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Holidays ➔ Christmas
mel, new makes and rob since you are all not crazy please tell me why people had to openly insult our culture and religion. I had to work late on Yom Kippur? please add comments.
2006-12-22 11:01:12 · update #1
Billie,(I had an Aunt Billie)LFGuy,Alessa,Lady and Katie. Your answers were both comforting and showed me another way of looking at things. Thank you and Merry Christmas no matter how you choose to celebrate it.
2006-12-22 15:00:06 · update #2
Regretfully it isnt just the non-christians knocking it. I am agnostic and come from a family of christians. I shut my mouth when im around them and let them celebrate it however they want. Its actually some of my christian family who has become judgemental of the Christmas season. They are always complaining about how early chrissy is advertised here in Australia.
With all the commercialism, usually some type of Christmas decoration or bauble shows up in stores here roughly about August. And my family absolutely hate it. I do agree with them to some extent but i let them have their own opinion. My partner is also a christian and he is always knocking these commercial things himself.
He loves the Christmas festivity and he does put up a tree in the loungeroom. It was the first time this year actually he did so - and i had never seen him so excited. (he is such a big kid hehe).
I would never take that away from anyone. For some people the joy of Christmas never disappears and i respect that. For me its been gone for ages and he respects that too.
I now look on Christmas for other reasons. I dont celebrate christmas as a traditional religious holiday - but as a time i get to spend with my family and friends. I dont exchange presents, but yet again i dont feel the need to. All i need for the holiday season is to be close to my family and the ones i love the most. That is the true spirit of the holiday season. Dont let anyone take that away from you.
2006-12-22 11:01:54 · answer #1 · answered by gr33n_3y3d_grrl 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Santa IS fake. Well, Santa Claus as he is currently envisioned is completely fake. Yes, there was a real St. Nicholas, and his role has been changing for hundreds of years, not just since 1940s. However, Christmas and Santa Claus have been heavily commercialized and used in advertising campaigns since the 30s and 40s, so in that respect your friend is correct.
Somehow he is now the non-religious cartoonish figure that flies around the world, in a sleigh pulled by flying reindeer no less, while delivering presents to all the good boys and girls. Doesn't sound very Christian does it?
But I too enjoy a lot of the goofy Christmas traditions, and although I'm not a religious person, I do remember that Christmas is not really about Santa, but the story of the birth of Jesus. Being non-religious, I just don't participate in any of those aspects like midnight mass, etc.
My favorite piece of Santa lore is that in Germany back in the 1800's, Santa Claus was not the jolly old elf we know today. He had a darker side. Yes, the good little kids would get presents, but at that time, Santa would allegedly give a whipping to bad little kids, instead of a lump of coal. I kind of like that!
Usually this time of year, either the History Channel or Discovery Channel air the history of Santa Claus. It's a good program!
2006-12-22 10:58:26 · answer #2 · answered by Uncle Pennybags 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I'm really sorry that you have this experience. That's really sad and really insensitive of those people. Christmas has both commercial and religious aspects of it so that Christians can enjoy it becuase of Christ, but non-Chrisitans can also enjoy it by celebrating giving in general.
Some atheists try to complain that anyone who is not a Christian does not like Christmas being shoved in their face, but the truth is that they are just running from God because a lot of Jews are not offended by Christmas even though they are not Christians and do not believe in it. Personally, I don't see why people should be offended when you say "Merry Christmas" because that does not really enforce any religious convictions, it just is telling people to have a happy day on December 25th. Keep the Christmas spirit and don't let anyone take that away from you. We celebrate Christmas to commemorate Christ's birth and that's all that matters.
P.S. Pray for those people who hate Christmas and treat them with love and kindness anyway. Maybe they'll be nicer to you when they see the good in your heart.
2006-12-22 11:06:48 · answer #3 · answered by Lady of the Garden 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I dont know why non-christians have to be so judge mental and they put people down like that. Its because they dont understand. Remember Jesus got ridculed (cast-down) as well. So, dont feel bad. As long as you know the real reason for Christmas it's ok. Santa Claus is someone you can believe in and someone does good. Course that's not the only reason for christmas. With Christ in Christmas it would be a mess. So, dont take Christ out of christmas, and dont let other discourage you. Merry Christmas and God Bless!
2006-12-22 11:44:40 · answer #4 · answered by katie p 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am not a Christian, but I can say that what matters most is what YOU believe. Although I realize that it bothers you, it just isn't fair to expect people to believe what you do and vice versa. However your version of Santa is correct, it did begin in Europe. Be thankful to these people for reminding you that you had forgotten the true meaning of Christmas, just because they don't feel the same way you do, doesn't mean you can't find the joy of your faith in the holiday season.
2006-12-22 11:05:40 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I like Christmas overall, but it can be stressful.
For me, I celebrate the traditions started by the ancient peoples, Saturnalia - the Roman festival of gift giving, the traditions of Yule and evergreens from my Germanic ancestors. And the fun confusion of little Christian kids trying to equate baby Jesus with Santa Claus. Either celebrate Christ, whose teachings condemn such a commercial holiday, or celebrate with us 'pagans'. Please pass the wine and condom's...
2006-12-22 11:54:09 · answer #6 · answered by brisduv 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
How would you feel if you were forced into a Kwanzaa party at work? Would you want to just go with the flow? As a non-Christian, it annoys the crap out of me that Christmas is overcommercialized to the point that it affects almost all aspects of my life, including where I work. I don't celebrate Christmas, and it's not fun to have it forced on me. People should keep their beliefs behind closed doors.
2006-12-22 10:55:29 · answer #7 · answered by robtheman 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋
sounds to me this guy is bitter. maybe he doesn't have anyone to spend the holidays with.
give him a 'just because' card, to show you care about him. its obvious that he is a very nice person to you, just not at this particular time of the year.
people have thier own opinions, we cant change the way someone things, we can only change ourselves and our reactions.
i would think that a non-christian would love christmas, just because its a time of candy , good food, and fun!
2006-12-22 10:57:23 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Well... let me correct you first... not all non-cristians do that, only the haters and the reason they do so is because that's their job, not as non-crisitans but as HATERS, they hate and because they see the big fuss we Cristians make about it, they want to bring us down... and guess what we're going to do? Have warm eggnog and celebrate as we usually do... Don't let it bother you. Have yourself a Merry BIG Christmas.
2006-12-22 11:01:51 · answer #9 · answered by gita76 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
i think unhappy for that individual. basically thinking approximately what God has performed for each individual, that's disappointing that some people nonetheless have not got faith. I additionally sense indifferent because of the fact i comprehend God is authentic and no you are able to truly exchange my suggestions approximately that.
2016-10-05 22:14:19 · answer #10 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋