With so many pagans, atheists and muslims in England, is Christmas a bigi holiday there?

Question

In the States, Christmas is like no other holiday. Of cousre, it is Christ's birthday, so we celebrate by getting ourselves millions of dollars in debt. England is not so born again Christian like now-a-day, so what do you all do on December th 25th?

Answer 1

Sorry, can't think why mike sanders was so rude to you! Must be scrooge.
For some strange reason the post office came up with a religious theme this year for the christmas postage stamps and it is nice to think that our government who control the post office have realised that the word christmas actually starts with CHRIST. I,m not overly religious but i do believe in god so we generally go to church (York Minster) on christmas eve, have dinner out afterwards, have a big family lunch on christmas day followed by a big open-house party on boxing day. We really enjoy being with people and christmas is sometimes the only time we can all be together. Have a nice one and ignore the bah! humbug! brigade.

Answer 2

Have you not read your history or bible or done any religious studies????
the old testament and the koran (qur'an) are so intertwined and related that they can be taken as being.
The NEW TESTAMENT is a fabrication of what we are lead to believe is a truth.
When the new testament was compiled and it was agreed what would and wouldn't be used the then current emperor of rome and the appointed pope chose dates that coincided with existing pagan rites and ceremonies and incorporated pagan symbolism to help merge the then "NEW" religion with existing beliefs.
I believe in one god and that they are the true god by what ever name is chosen / given nad I beleive in the prophets and deciples. But when a sign of eternal life ( fir tree & the holly bush with its berries) which was used to indicate the birth of a new year is altered to be second place to the alleged date of birth of a new prophet.
When the burning of a felled log (YULE) signals the return of a new sun, is altered to signify the birth of a son...
Not forgetting the birth of new livestock being confused and attributed to the rebirth of a saviour ( easter egg and the chick )
SORRY we "Engish".. and the pagans and the atheists were celebrating what has been commercialised into christmas long before Christianity. born again or otherwise.
Oh and jesus, like mohamad was a prophet and we should marvel at what they achieved and celebrate that.
So yes I shall be celebrating Yuletide with me log and fir tree and wassailing with me cider and apples and raising the halls and decking them with boughs of holly listening to the MUMMERS play to this new prophet jesus cos it is the season to be jolly for the birth of a new year.

Answer 3

The celebration of Christmas was originally a pagan holiday adopted by the Roman Catholic church. Christmas was called geol, which was the name of the native Germanic pre-Christian solstice festival that fell on that date. From geol, the current English word Yule is derived. Many customs associated with modern Christmas were derived from Germanic paganism.

More interesting reading in the link below.

But despite that x-mas is just as big a holiday, it's just lost its religious overtones. But its still considered a time for goodwill.

Answer 4

Well, Christmas is actually a Pagan holiday adopted by Christians, only we Pagans call it Yule.

I think that all the other religions just enjoy having the day off. It's a good time to have family around too, without it necessarily being a big holiday or whatever.

Answer 5

Mostly sit down to Christmas dinner, Turkey, roast potatoes, veg with all the trimmings, have a few drinks, celebrate the holiday. Many people do go to church beforehand, though probably not as many as used to but, in some ways that is to be expected.

Answer 6

Christmas is a Pagan celebration hijacked by Christians. Christmas for me is about getting together with all my family. In this modern world not everyone lives in the same town, county or even country as their family & we all lead busy lives. Christmas for my family is when we all stop for a few days, get together & celebrate. It's about love not money or presents.

EDIT - I got your email shawnLacey, not very Christian content I must say. You've probably just pushed my opinion of Christians down as low as it can go but Merry Christmas anyway.

Answer 7

Yes it is a big holiday and we probably celebrate in the same way as you without the happy clapping and church bit but with more alcohol and over indulgence. Few people in the UK celebrate Christmas as a religious holiday - its just a high point in winter for most people.

Answer 8

Pagans have always been in England. Pagans were the first people in the UK.
Pagans do not celebrate christmas. Pagans celebrate Yuletide. And that came centuries before christmas. The christians encorporated it into their system when converting the pagan people.
Yule is celebrated December 21st...Its the suns birthday...NOT the sons birthday, can you see?
jesus was not born in December, let alone on the 25th.
And in the UK people are becomeing enlightened to that, perhaps America might like to enlighten themselves in accordance of this.

Answer 9

I think much the same as you... It is a mixture of the religious meanings and the traditional holiday festivities.. Different people and families will celebrate in different manner. Yes it is a really big holiday here... The biggest in the year...Mistletoe, tinsel and turkey...

Answer 10

What you on? Christmas starts earlier & earlier every year here in England, i would say it's our biggest holiday of the year, religious or not, and with new year, it's two weeks of partying & fun, come & join us.