Do you wish people a Merry Christmas, and accept it when people wish you a Merry Christmas? Do you watch It's A Wonderful Life, or Santa on 34th street. I guess I'm asking what are the Christmas traditions that some of you keep, if any?
2007-03-04 16:50:45 · 13 answers · asked by ignoramus_the_great 7 in Society & Culture ➔ Holidays ➔ Other - Holidays
I celebrate most Christmas traditions, such as a Xmas tree, giving gifts, and wishing people a merry Xmas back if the wish it to me etc.
The meaning of Christmas has been distorted so much over the years (from Pagan, to Christian, to commercialised etc!), to me, it's more about what it means to the idivdual. To me, Christmas is about spending time with your family, giving gifts, goodwill, and holiday cheer. It's a time to take a break from the stress of life and just enjoy being with others, having some time off and doing things you enjoy. It's the time when my family will put aside differences and actually get along.
Whatever the religion, I think most people don't know the real reasons for Christmas, and I don't think many people are really thinking about it in a religious way.
Everyone has their own reason for why they celebrate Christmas, and, for me personally, my religious beliefs don't affect that.
2007-03-05 05:19:37 · answer #1 · answered by Shanti76 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
First off, Christmas trees were originally a pagan tradition, along with many other Christmas traditions. http://de.essortment.com/christmaspagan_rece.htm
And, no, I don't have a Christmas tree in my house. I have cats :)
Of course, I accept it when people wish me a Merry Christmas. I'm an atheist, not an ***. That would be just rude. No, I don't wish a Merry Christmas, usually I'll reply "Happy Holidays" or something to that effect.
I do watch "A Christmas Story", because it's the funnies darn Christmas comedy there is. And I do buy Christmas presents, and accept them, because it's what's done in my family. Christmas has become so commercialized that it's nearly lost all it's "Christian" meaning, anyways. I do usually try to set aside some time to celebrate Winter Solistice, a pagan holiday that has been around for ages. I'm not pagan, but I do respect nature, and I like the holiday!
Christmas is as much a cultural holiday, as a religious one, some might say it's more of a cultural holiday these days.
2007-03-04 16:57:55 · answer #2 · answered by rita_alabama 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Actually the Christmas tree is not a Christian tradition. And Christmas started as a pagan holiday that Christians accepted so they could convert more pagans to there religion. There is a pagan holiday about the sun dying and then being born on December 25th. It actually has nothing to do with the birth of Christ but is a pagan holiday accepted by the Catholic Church.
But anyways haha to attend to your question... I am 17 so I tend to do what my family does. As I was born into a Christian family and once a Christian myself I embrace the pagan holiday because it is fun. And I watch it's a wonderful life every Christmas because I love the movie. Believe it or not alot of atheist's were born into religious families. And it is hard to shake tradition you remember to give you such happiness. I get depressed around Christmas though I wish Jesus was really god. I love Jesus he was a great man but there is no evidence for him being god. And I know that if he really is god he will except that I tried my best to find the truth. Sorry for saying so much on the question I'm a passionate person and must tell you how I feel.
I am not sure about Santa Clause though. I do not want to teach my children believie in a magical man they cant see. But I do want to give them the joy I had as a kid.
2007-03-04 17:05:54 · answer #3 · answered by Beaverscanttalk 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I desire human beings satisfied holiday journeys and have for somewhat a while. It incorporates actual everyone. i do no longer fairly strategies getting some presents as long because it would not bypass overboard. i do no longer look after an yuletide tree. i'm neither pagan nor xtian. I consistently cook dinner immediately and have relatives over as a results of fact actual everyone seems to be off of paintings. i ought to stay without the full subject yet my hubby (agnostic) enjoys it and he has teenagers that have been used to it while turning out to be up. until now i replaced into an Atheist i replaced right into a style of Sabbath keepers that don't notice classic xtian holiday journeys so I have been given far off from it earlier My hubby loves a dazzling existence and we consistently watch A Christmas tale . poor little Ralphy
2016-10-02 09:55:21 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't wish people a 'Merry Christmas'. If I say anything, it's just 'Happy Holidays', in regards to whatever holiday they may celebrate.
I do not put up a Christmas tree, though sometimes I will set up my little train on the table.
I usually get stuck watching some Christmas movies when I visit others, but mostly I do something else at the same time, be it talk to people, nap or whatever.
I do exchange gifts, but that's mostly because I feel silly when people give me things if I have nothing to give in return. (Rest assured, people do give you gifts even when you ask them not to.)
I'm sure everyone has their differences.. I have a friend who sets up a tree every year just because it's comforting to her, as she grew up with that, even if she doesn't believe in the holiday itself.
2007-03-04 16:58:20 · answer #5 · answered by Gin 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Christmas has been a secular holiday for a long time. And more importantly, it's an American holiday. We do it all. Except go to church on Christmas Eve to pray to the tender baby Jesus.
2007-03-04 16:55:50 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes. Just because Christmas is religious doesn't mean I don't celebrate it. For me it is more of a time to get together with my family, give gifts, recieve gifts, and just enjoy the christmas spirit.
2007-03-04 17:06:55 · answer #7 · answered by runner08 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We exchange presents and have a good meal. I was raised as a white bread Christian (mid-western Methodist). Fun to do presents and such, but religious parts are crap. Christ was most likely born in spring. The December 25th date was chosen to coincide (and hopefully neutralize) the Roman Saturnalia.
2007-03-04 17:15:37 · answer #8 · answered by smartprimate 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
What do Santa & Christmas trees have to do with being a Christian?
A Christian asking...
2007-03-04 16:56:05 · answer #9 · answered by V 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
X-mas is a pagan holiday. Why shouldn't athiests celebrate it?
I think the Jehovah's Witnesses are right: Christians shouldn't celebrate it. It is not Christian, it is pagan.
2007-03-04 16:59:54 · answer #10 · answered by Auntie DeLuvienne 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋