I was just wondering because I was explaining the reason we celebrate Christmas to my son.
2007-11-30 09:53:28 · 14 answers · asked by wildeyes_heart_of_stone 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I was trying to explain to him the meaning of Christmas and looking at the answers so far it looks like everyone observes it as a holiday to appreciate and celebrate time with their families. Which is probably the best answer I can give him.
Thanks Guys.
2007-11-30 10:08:12 · update #1
In modern society, Christmas is an established secular holiday -- a time to get together with family and friends, feast, and exchange gifts, with no religious content. In that sense, yes, atheists and agnostics celebrate Christmas.
However, only Christians celebrate this time of year as the birth of Jesus (which is inaccurate, but that's a whole different story). To Wiccans, it is the time of Yule. To Jews, it is the time of Hannukah. And so on.
2007-11-30 09:57:39 · answer #1 · answered by prairiecrow 7 · 5⤊ 1⤋
We use the Christmas holidays for visiting friends and family. Where children are around, we have a christmas tree and gifts and maybe we even sing. On the whole, Christmas is a nice excuse to eat sweet stuff and lots of other unhealthy food ...
2007-11-30 17:59:22 · answer #2 · answered by NaturalBornKieler 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Personally, my family still has a celebration on Christmas but we do not celebrate it for Jesus or anything. It's just a time of year were we can enjoy the peaceful winter and get together with relatives.
2007-11-30 17:58:27 · answer #3 · answered by dl9115 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
As a person stuck somewhere between agnostic and atheist, I celebrate Christmas. But not for the religious reasons, I look at it as time to be with family and trade gift cards.
Ha, ha, ha, ha.
2007-11-30 18:04:39 · answer #4 · answered by Ace Aerosmith 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well, personally I do celebrate christmas, but not remotely in the same way as christians or for the same reasons.
For me it is merely a family tradition that involves getting together with loved ones, exchanging gifts, and helping children keep a sense of wonder as long as possible. Plus eating and drinking way too much.
2007-11-30 17:59:27 · answer #5 · answered by Danzarth 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Christmas has become more than a celebration of Jesus' Birth.
As a Christian living in the States you should've known this by now.
It's practically a national holiday.
Ex-Christians still celebrate it by the dozens.
2007-11-30 18:14:32 · answer #6 · answered by Andre 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I celebrate Yuletide every year.
I call it 'Christmas' and 'Yuletide' interchangeably as 'Christmas' has become so ingrained since the Roman/Christian invaders usurped Yuletide and appropriated most of the customs/celebrations.
Nonetheless, as an atheist with 'pagan' (natural) sensibilities, I tend to carouse and feast with family and friends, decorate with evergreens and give small gifts, quaff ale, keep warm and look forward to longer days...
(no yule log on the gas fire unfortunately!)
2007-11-30 18:02:19 · answer #7 · answered by Bajingo 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
*drinks*
Awsome! So, you told him it's because the Roman Catholic Church wanted to convert all the Pagans. So, they took over the Pagan Holidays that were already being practiced at the time. I mean, that IS the reason Christians celebrate Jesus's Birth on Dec. 25th, right?
2007-11-30 17:58:20 · answer #8 · answered by mental1018 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Yeah, I do. Mostly because I was raised to... but I thought about it the other day, and personally I celebrate it because its the one time of year my WHOLE family gets together under the same roof, at the same time.
And I think Santa is the ****. Cooler than the toothfairy.
2007-11-30 17:58:20 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Im religiously uninvolved and I celibrate christmas for the the spirit of the times, its a way to get close to family
2007-11-30 18:02:54 · answer #10 · answered by midnitepoets 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋