2007-01-07 10:50:47 · 21 answers · asked by BabyFace99 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Most of the Christmas traditions are actually rooted in Yule, the pagan holiday. That's why I do some Christmas things.
2007-01-07 10:52:59 · answer #1 · answered by M L 4 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Since the beginning of agriculture (10,000 years ago) people have been holding this time of year sacred. The 21st of December is winter solstice; the longest night of the year. Pagans and other early agricultural spiritual beliefs have been marking "Christmas" week on there calender for thousands of years before Jesus was born.
In fact Christmas celebrations began not as a Christmas holiday, but as a Pagan celebration. The tradition of celebration included decorating with a pine tree, etc.
When Christianity first entered my European heritage, it came forcefully and many family traditions had to be hidden in to a Christian context. Solstice = Christmas (pine tree), Spring fertility celebration = Easter (rabbit and eggs).
Well today I am not Christian, and I am definitely not Pagan, but I do like any reason to have family and friends over, cook a nice meal, and exchange presents. I don't care what you want to call it: Christmas, Kwanzaa, Hanuka, Solstice. I happen to call it Christmas because my family has been calling it that for 1300 years. Old habits die hard.
2007-01-07 11:10:40 · answer #2 · answered by stupidity_of_pride 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
For the same reasons many Christians celebrate Halloween. You don't have to be a Pagan to go trick-or-treating.
Many people confuse celebrating Christmas with celebrating ON Christmas. I don't celebrate the birth of Christ, but that doesn't mean I can't enjoy a holiday.
2007-01-07 11:01:03 · answer #3 · answered by Huddy 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
because it's actually pagan in origin
because it's family tradition
because I love the smell of pine and the sight of xmas lights
because I enjoy a midwinter holiday that celebrates the pleasures of hearth, home, and family
because it's nice to have a holiday where gifts are exchanged, all the other gift-giving occasions are one-sided
because I love christmas carols, even the religious ones
for the nog
pissing off the religious reich by being an atheist celebrating christmas? PRICELESS.
2007-01-07 11:06:27 · answer #4 · answered by answer faerie, V.T., A. M. 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
More than Christians celebrate a holiday in December, for starters. Some of the other celebrations predate Christmas significantly.
2007-01-07 10:53:49 · answer #5 · answered by Lunarsight 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
First off it is not Christian but pagan. Christ wants nothing to do with it because it reduces him to the same level of the pagan sun gods it was meant for. Look December 25 up in the Encyclepedia Brittanica and you will find some very interesting facts.December 25 is the birthday of many pagan sun gods. the bible says to learn not the way of the pagan or take them as your own.
Christians do this all the time. The New testement says to observe the death, burial and ressurection and this is done every first day of the week in bible beleiving churches.
The links below have the truth about Christmas, but their doctrine in other areas is far off.
2007-01-07 11:02:33 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Because it's not Christian....at least not all the good things people associate with the holiday like trees, holly, mistletoe, giving giving, being happy and having parties, etc.. It's all Pagan. The holiday was originally called Yule.
I'm an Atheist and I don't have any problem with celebrating Pagan holidays, because well, they are fun. I don't have to believe in and worship any god to celebrate it and you look over the fact its an American tradition.
2007-01-07 10:56:42 · answer #7 · answered by OneBadAsp 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I'm a Muslim and i don't because it's not really a true birth of Prophet Jesus (peace be upon him). Christmas is not even mentioned in the bible, instead there's a verse which calls the cutting of the tree foolish. I would encourage christians to look up in their bible. It's been proved that Prophet Jesus pbuh was not born in winter and that christmas is a pagan holiday because it comes from pagan traditions.
Forgive me if i have offended anyone by saying this but i truly encourage you to look in the bible!
2007-01-07 10:57:28 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
my family & I celebrate Christmas.. and I have many atheist friends who also celebrate Christmas, but not as the birth of Jesus Christ. Instead, we celebrate it simply as a time for families to get together, giving, being happy, eating, decorating!
2007-01-07 10:53:54 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Jesus sucks yet Xmas still rules. It's a good question. For me it is a time for giving, spending time with family, people being nicer than they are the rest of the year.....
Christmas is about sooo much more than a 2000 year old story about some beardy weirdy from the Middle East.
2007-01-07 11:29:06 · answer #10 · answered by ewganhoff 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋