Christmas is the celebration of Christ's birth, but if you do not believe in Christ, do you celebrate? if you do, what exactly do you celebrate?
2007-02-12 06:10:50 · 23 answers · asked by BigDaddyRayinLA 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Of course they do, just not in the same spirit as Christians. This is part of the reason Christmas has become so diluted and materialistic.
2007-02-13 09:41:50 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Nope, get together with friends and family for a nice couple of dinners over the holidays, but as for celebrating Christmas no. I would sooner celebrate the birth of Genghis Khan, because at least he lived, but for Christ's birthday no. Did you realize that the Christian holy day of Christmas was actually taken from the pagan celebration of the winter solstice? You probably did not. Just like the pagan celebration of the re-birth (or resurrection) of the planet Spring Equinox was taken by the Christians and made into Easter and the resurrection of their "god". Amazing how that happened, don't you think? So congratulations, you are celebrating pagan ritual days.
2007-02-12 06:19:59 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Actually Christmas was a Roman Celebration (Pagan) it has been adopted by a number of people to become "Christmas". This was done probably by the Catholics in early Rome. Some Atheists do and some don't, some Agnostics do and some don't, some Christians do and some don't. This is NOT the Birth of Christ and it is not celebrated in the BIBLE. The only thing that is celebrated in the BIBLE is the LORD's SUPPER by the breaking of Bread and the sharing of the Fruit of the Vine to commemorate HIS broken Body and HIS Blood that was sacrificed on the Cross. Have a great week.
Eds
2007-02-12 06:17:50 · answer #3 · answered by Eds 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I even know Jews who celebrate Christmas. Their kids see Santa, they have a tree and hang stockings, put up lights, etc. There are A LOT of people who celebrate Christmas without including Christ. And, there's lots of fun holiday activities that have nothing to do with celebrating Christ's birth.
Heck, we do most of that stuff too! But we do try to keep Christ in focus as the reason for Christmas. If atheists wish to celebrate Christmas for its commercial, good will, holiday cheer, or any other aspect, they're free to do so!
2007-02-12 06:16:41 · answer #4 · answered by Char 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I celebrate Christmas for the secular holiday that it has truly become. Just as I celebrate Halloween even though I'm not a Druid, Valentine's Day even though I'm not a Roman pagan, and refer to my Achilles tendon even though I'm not a Greek pagan
The only reason why people celebrate Jesus's birthday as December 25th is because some pope declared it so, and mainly to compete with some of the other local religions and their holidays. There is absolutely no other evidence that Jesus (assuming he even existed) was born in December.
2007-02-12 06:19:58 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
We celebrate a pagan Celtic festival and/or Saturnalia dedicated to Saturn ruler of the astrological sign of Capricorn, our rites performed on the occasion of the winter solstice when the sun is at its weakest in the northern hemisphere. We are honoring the promise of the return of spring, and we do so by feasting on game-birds, puddings and sweets, burning logs and candles, decorating our homes with ornamented evergreen trees, boughs and wreaths, holly and mistletoe, and offering gifts to our friends and families. Our ancestors have been celebrating in this fashion since ancient times preceding the birth of Christ...
2007-02-12 08:01:12 · answer #6 · answered by Lynci 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Everyone is aware of what Christmas is supposed to represent, even if it is based on a lovely pagan practice. I do not celebrate Christmas, but my family does, and so do the majority of my friends. I tell them Merry Christmas and give them gifts. This shows that I care for them and I like to make their lives a little brighter. Its the same with Buddhists-its ok to give and get gifts at Christmas. Its all about the cheer. You don't have to share someone's belief system to share love and joy.
2007-02-12 06:26:22 · answer #7 · answered by tombollocks 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
christmas is derived from a pagan holliday, the date, the traditions are all pagan. the only thing "christian" about it, is the name and the symbollic reference. any biblical scholar will tell you christ was not born anytime in december or even january.
the "christmas" tree, is actually a pagan symbol for renewed life
the giving of gifts, the eating of ham, the hanging of mistle toe and holly are derived from the pagan traditions.
furthermore, the date was based on the date for the winter solstice, and this was a celebration to the sun god whos name meant "unconquered sun" and celebrated because this was the shortest day of the year and the day the sun proved itself unconquered.
please read up about constantine for further information regarding the change
2007-02-12 06:14:46 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 6⤊ 0⤋
Christmas was built upon and draws traditions from various Winter Solstice holidays that predated Christianity. Many atheists and other non-Christians celebrate the secular aspects of Christmas--good will toward humankind, the spirit of giving, showing appreciation for others through present-giving, etc.
2007-02-12 06:14:20 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 6⤊ 0⤋
Since christmas is a pagan holiday that the christians usurped the question should be do christians celebrate christmas.
2007-02-12 06:19:01 · answer #10 · answered by bocasbeachbum 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋