If you aren't a Christian, why do you celebrate the holiday of the birth of Christ?

Question

Whao! Did I open up a flood gate. Just for reference, I am talking about December 25th. This is the day Christians decided to celebrate the birth of Christ. Yule and the solstice seasons are generally from around December through January. Great answers though.

Answer 1

i have wondered the same thing for awhile now, they always say it's really a pagan holiday and not really christ's birthday, but everyone knows that it is the day that christians observe jesus' birth. hence the name christmas, but they want to celebrate it for all the wrong reasons, for the gifts and tradition, but not to focus on the real reason we true christians celebrate, i mean to me, if people were observing satan's birthday on a certain day and had a bunch of festivities, there is no way i would participate, even if it wasn't really his birthday, and it was just an observance. or i wouldn't partake in festivities to muhammad's birthday, or any other religious leader, so i don't understand why so many non-christians celebrate christmas, is it just the commercialism, and selfish need for material gifts? if so that sounds a little superficial and childish to me, don't spit on his name then use his day for your own pleasure.

Answer 2

My ancestry is Northern European. We have always celebrated the Winter Solstice. It's a wonderful time of year. The days get shorter and shorter, and finally the solstice comes -- the end of the old year and the beginning of the new. The days start to get longer and longer now; it's a time of new hope. Christmas and New Year's have become the way we celebrate this tradition. We like it. The lights, the gift-giving, people being nice to each other. I think the religious theme gives it a nice touch.

Answer 3

If you are a Christian, you do realize that Christmas was formerly known as Winter Solstice, symbolized by a tree (without lights) and celebrating the return of the Sun God (Son of God) in the coming spring.

Christianity is NOT the oldest belief system on the planet, just so you know.

Besides, if you can tell me what horrible parking, increased gas prices, crowded malls, fighting over the latest Elmo doll, big red bows on Lexuses, and going into debt for that special diamond necklace have to do with Jesus I'd like to hear it.

Christmas isn't about Christianity anymore anyway; it's about greed, envy, gluttony and capitalism.

Answer 4

I do not celebrate Christmas though I do wish a happy one to my Christian friends and family. I celebrate Yule which is where your Christmas originally came from. Do a quick search on evergreen, ham and mistletoe, and you will find out things that are not taught in your Sunday school. It might be a good thing or a bad thing but such is the gift of knowledge :) Have a Merry Christmas and a Blessed Yule.

Answer 5

1) Because it's a commercialized holiday in which virtually no one really honors the birth of Jesus, but rather the coming of Santa.

2) I like to shop

3) It's based on pagan beliefs and if you are a Christian, why are YOU celebrating it.

4) I get those days off from work regardless of my faith, or lack of. Might as well do something with it.

5) It's a general time of good will in which people give freely of their time to help the needy- and I enjoy volunteering at the soup kitchen, donating toys and coats to needy children, and giving time to the retirement home nearby. It's a good way to teach my kids to be good people. I can do all this without being a Christian.

6) Actually, December 25th is not actually known to be this fictional Jesus's birthday. It's more of a "best guess."

Answer 6

I celebrate the Yule, or Solstice Night. We also celebrate Christmas night with many of the same traditions my parents taught me, though tweaked a bit for our Pagan needs. We have both Santa and Befana traditions at my house. They are both Pagan figures who have been Christianized. The colors are Pagan leftovers, as are the trees, the lights, the hanging of the greens, and pretty much the rest of it. I also feel that as a part of my daughter's family history, she deserves to have this as a part of her life.

Answer 7

I live in America and in America you celebrate Christmas. It's an old holiday that predates Christ. Why do you celebrate? Don't you like being with your family and friends? Why would care if people celebrated Christmas who weren't Christian any way? You should be full of love and happy that people want to celebrate your holy holiday.

Answer 8

I celebrate the Winter Solstice.

I go to the Unitarian Universalist Congregation solstice celebration and dance the spiral dance. It is awesome.

We also do the Pagan thing with the tree and the lights and the presents.

Answer 9

Rocky,
Christmas was a pagan holiday. It is NOT a celebration of the birth of Christ. Nowhere in the BIBLE does it speak of celebrating the HIS or any other births. Christmas was taken in by Catholics from the pagan traditions as are a number of other so-called Christian Holidays. Have a great week.
Thanks,
Eds


.

Answer 10

I don't - I celebrate the "rebirth of the Sun" and the days getting longer as the Wheel turns towards Spring.

It's called "Yule", you may have heard of it. It includes things like decorating an evergreen tree, exchanging gifts, lighting candles, decorating the house with holly and mistletoe and stags/reindeer...