Why do Atheist celebrate Christmas?

Question

(This one is for the person who was wondering about the Christmas question...)

I thought I would officially start the question.... one day before Thanksgiving.

i am not atheist but i think that if i were I still would celebrate Christmas becasue you get to decorate your house with beautiful lights, have hot chocolate, have a reason to SHOP all the time and especially because everyone gets you gifts!!!!!!

Answer 1

*Cheers*

I celebrate Christmas with my husband, family and friends who are Christian and celebrate Hanukkah with my friends who are Jewish.

I think it is a good time of the year to reflect on those who are not as fortunate as you and to practice good will towards men by doing something the alleviate the suffering of others.

Answer 2

Atheists celebrate Christmas for the same reason that everyone who has ever celebrated Christmas does: because it's tradition. When the Romans created Christmas, it was made to coincide with the Winter Solstice festivals that were already tradition. The fact that it now represented another god was mostly lost on most of the population, just like it is today.

In fact, if the tradition was really to celebrate the birth of Jesus, what's with the tree and lights and snow and red and green? None of the traditional traditions make sense as a birthday tradition, but they do as an incorporation of various Winter Solstice beliefs, and general merry-making.

Answer 3

I will answer this question. Some people, from Atheists to Religious Zealots, celebrate Christmas for what it symbolized to them rather than as a celebration of the birth of Christ.

If you take the story of Christ's birth, regardless of whether you believe or not, and examine it, you will see so many wonderful things that are exemplified.

Joseph and Mary did whatever was necessary to protect their child. What a beautiful sentiment. That says something about family.

People brought gifts to show their appreciation. What a wonderul show of charity, kindness, and selflessness.

The little drummer boy gave something of himself. What a beautiful thing for someone to understand that gestures mean so much. They can be the greatest gifts at all.

And all though it wasn't necessarily easy for any of the characters to do what they did, they did it anyway.

There are wonderful things in that story worthy of celebrating.

Answer 4

It ain't about religion. What does a fat man in a red suit have to do with religion? It doesn't. Christ wasn't even born in the winter. From Biblical reference, Christ was most likely born in the Spring or Summer. I don't believe in God, but if a time of year can make people treat each other, I'm all for it.

I don't even like the gift thing. If I want something, I'll buy it for myself. Next year (my daughters are just too young now) we are going to volunteer at a soup kitchen, or something like that instead of gifts. Christmas is a time of year in America when people treat each other like family. If this is the only time of year I can get it, This is the time I will take it. And I will celebrate it.

Merry Christmas!

Answer 5

Maybe they celebrate Yule. The festival christmas hijacked.

Yes thats right - In the past The Church put christian festivals on or near festivals relating to older religions - Including Easter.

But this has been mentioned by many others here, over other questions

Answer 6

i grew to become into raised Christian. My mum and dad (now a million former-xtian and a million Lutheran) have a pair days of the twelve months set aside to relish eachother's company (regularly), have a severe high quality meal, and in specific circumstances substitute presents or merely sit down around the fire sipping whiskey for some hours. what style of an fool does not connect in the festivities? i'm no longer likely to church, hell we not often went on holidays besides- we merely celebrated at the instant while you evaluate that grew to become into custom and it grew to become into relaxing. i don't have a faith telling me i'm no longer allowed to the two :) so i will occasion it up any way i choose to. On Christmas or Easter, i might desire to have fun ANY form of holidays, because of the fact the dates and a number of the traditions from those holidays have been form of borrowed from countless different cultures. Wanna understand the humorous subject approximately this question? the human beings who heavily ask it, in no way take think of roughly Christmas bushes, colored eggs, Easter bunnies, Santa or the different holiday mascots and traditions you will possibly desire to think of of that originated from in the previous cultures and by years of custom have been branded new meanings and given new names and practices. i think of in case you're gonna ask something, you will locate greater suggestion there. Asking it is especially pointless, heresy does not stick to and atheists do no longer extremely have all people to offend via having relaxing on "somebody else's" holiday. How dare we.

Answer 7

Because religion was impose upon our society for many hundreds of words, it is therefore become part of oiur culture wether we like it or not (I don't like it!). However, you need to remember that the catholic Church decided that Xmas would happen on the 24 th of december because (as often) they wanted to replace and eliminate a pagan celebration of the winter solstice which was very widespread at the time in the old world. In the same way many pagan gods got turned into saints.

Answer 8

I am atheist, and I celebrate Christmas because that's the way I was raised. My parents are Methodist. I'll continue that tradition with my children because some of my best memories are of Christmas mornings.

Answer 9

Christmas was originally a Pagan holiday hence bringing mother Earth into the house (a tree) and dressing her up (ornaments) so I dont have a nativity set in my house but do you have a tree?

Answer 10

i think christmas should be a national holiday because most people don't even celebrate the religious aspect of it at all, so it has just turned into a thanksgiving with presents and a tree. its mostly about family and love