2007-12-24 02:31:02 · 45 answers · asked by madderstill 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Holidays ➔ Christmas
Yes definitely. It is supposed to be about celebrating the birth of Jesus, but commercialism has taken over. Everyone gets so stressed about finding the 'right' present for their loved ones, getting the dinner sorted etc etc....Go into the shops today and you will see nothing but crowds of angry, stressed and frustrated shoppers trampling over each other. Not quite the spirit of Christmas Jesus intended huh?
Personally, well I am not religious, so it is more like a winter festival to me. I only celebrate it (sending cards, presents and so on) because all my loved ones do and they wouldn't understand if I didn't.
2007-12-24 02:50:25 · answer #1 · answered by ~ Arwen ~ 3 · 1⤊ 2⤋
It depends.For those with religious convictions then it is the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ and always will be.
For those who do not have a religion or follow any beliefs then the Holiday has no meaning.One thing that seems to hold true with all groups is that Christmas is a time when the family bonds are strengthened and we're just thankful to be with the ones we love.Most people would say that Christmas is about being with friends and loved ones.And no amount of money,store bought items,Xmas cards,or heaps of food is going to change that.
The true meaning of Christmas may have been lost to a few,but there are still many who celebrate the holiday for what it really is.And even those that don't preserve at least a thread of the true Christmas spirit.
So no,I don't generally think that the true meaning has been lost,and I doubt it ever will be.
Of course,all religious implications aside the Christmas celebration is the descendant of the Saturnalia which was a festival of light to brighten the dark winter,this was before the arrival of Jesus Christ,and realistically we still celebrate that,why do we have so many lights at Christmas?
But when Jesus Christ arrived the holiday was moved forward and now we celebrate that time of year as his birth.
And whichever religion you follow they all stick to that same principle,every winter holiday has lights.It a celebration of light to ward off the darkness of winter.
2007-12-24 03:27:19 · answer #2 · answered by Sammy 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Christmas television is usually wonderful to watch as Hollywood, more than anything, has made modern Christmas the magical thing that it is. That includes magical films shown over the Christmas period that do not actually feature Christmas. Aside from The Snowman, we British don't come close- we haven't even tried.
The work of Tim Burton eg The Nightmare before Christmas is as much about Christmas as anything else. Christmas can be magical (depending on company and/or your own imagination) but it is also a herd like festival in which sad faced people trapse around shops convinced that their Christmas is worse than other people's whilst making few attempts to make their Christmas enjoyable.
It is the reminder that most people don't have that 'magic' spark that is the tragedy of Christmas. The supposed origins, the birth of Christ, remain regardless.
2007-12-24 03:37:22 · answer #3 · answered by _Picnic 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Christmas is about Jesus and what he did for us! And all those doofheads that think it about yourself and Santa well, it's not. Most of the confusion about the true meaning of Christmas is caused by stores and the idiotic government. The stores say it's all about you and just say buy more gifts, have sales and distract people with the fake Christmas. The government say, all schools and city businesses and such have to say Happy Holidays or Have a good Winter Break. And for Pete's sake the people that don't believe in Jesus should stop terrorizing our celebration of Jesus's birth and invent their own holiday called Santa Day or something because it's distracting and rude to the people that just want to praise Jesus, spend time with their family and skip all the, "me,me,me" stuff. So yes, I believe that Christmas has lost it's true meaning.
2007-12-24 03:24:01 · answer #4 · answered by bluemoonicecreamlover 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i admit i am bothered by the 10 rows of santa and the one row of nativity you find in the store. although, technically, christ was born in the spring, we do celebrate it like everyone else right now. we only do three gifts to represent the gold, frankensense and myrrh that christ got- although i'm sure he got more. plus that way the kids aren't so overwhelmed with gifts they forget the true meaning. we usually do something special for someone else on christmas eve to keep the true meaning as well. anyway, yes, to almost all, the true meaning is gone- even people who say they still celebrate the true meaning of christmas- ask them if they would feel the slightest disappointment if there were no gifts or tree. if the answer is yes, then it is not all about the birth if jesus as it should be. i understand having kids makes this more difficult- we have 4 and won't do away with the tree or gifts. we just make sure they understand that part of christmas is secondary. as for me, i'd honestly be happy without it. although the lights are beautiful to look at this time of year. ok- i'm rambling now...
2007-12-24 02:53:07 · answer #5 · answered by DotWarner 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Christmas has been eroded a bit due to the dilution of its true meaning and the commercialism. However, I do beleive that Christmas should be a message of not only the birth of Jesus, but a day of peace, love, and giving with loved ones. All loved ones. The meaning of Christmas is found in the heart. Not in a HD tv.
2007-12-24 02:57:06 · answer #6 · answered by Irishjaymass 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Christmas means to me that Jesus was born on this day and everyone is worshiping him. I do think Christmas has lost its meaning to some people, because all they care about is the presents they get. And nobody I'm sure thinks of Jesus while they are opening their presents, sooo.... In my opinion I do think Christmas has lost it true meaning to some people, BUT NOT ALL.
2007-12-24 03:24:33 · answer #7 · answered by Boy Crazyy (: 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It hasn't got a meaning. It is a mix and match of lots of different traditions, symbols and occasions all rolled into one.
Some say Jesus was born later on, around March.
Some say the tree is a pagan symbol, based on the winter solstice of 21st December.
Some say the decorations stem from (the pagans??) when they used to hang the heads of their sacrafices on the trees.
Some say SantaClaus was invented by Coca Cola to try to regain a nice corporate image once cocaine was taken out of their drinks.
Whichever of those are true or not, they have all had to come from somewhere. Each tradition or act has some root. They don't all come from exactly the same.
Christmas has no meaning.
The latest thing to be added to it (after Christs supposed birthday, trees, santa claus, mince pies and turkey) is a celebration of shopping and glutney.
I suppose in centuries to come, our current meaning of christmas will have its mark on the way they celebrate it then.
I highly suspect it will be little ornaments for the palm tree (think global warming) which bear resemblance to carrier bags from Next, Sainsburys and HMV!
Christmas means nothing to me personally, and I refuse to take part based on the non personal, greedy and cynical nature of it. I don't give a **** what people think of me either.
2007-12-24 03:17:45 · answer #8 · answered by ezydriver 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I honestly think that Christmas has lost it's true meaning. Kids are too obsessed about getting presents to realize that Christmas is about spending time with your family and friends and being thankful for what you have not what you want.
Merry Christmas and Best Wishes for the New Year!!:)
2007-12-24 02:44:51 · answer #9 · answered by ♥Mina♥ 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I like the paid days off, and the lack of traffic on Christmas day. Apart from that I don't really like Christmas. I don't like that friends and family think I am sad or lonely...when I'm not.
I just don't like the incredible waste of money and the false bonhomie.
Tomorrow I shall lay in until 12.00, then I'll set up the slow cooker with dinner and go for a drive down to Whitstable and a walk along the cliffs.
I will have dinner with a half bottle of claret, and watch one of several films I have been meaning to watch.
I will enjoy the day, but it will be satisfyingly similar to a lot of my Sundays.
2007-12-24 03:15:12 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
it only loses its meaning in you; it is within you to change that which you don't like; you don't need to change how the world handles it but how you do ; Christmas is such a peaceful loving time; a time to be with family and friends, to be kind to others , to remember those that we use to spend time with and now are no longer with us; to dream of the future, to remember the past and to live in the present; the meaning is within you; if it is lost , go find it, it is within your power and grasp. If you always do what you always did then you always get what you always got.
Keep Christ in Christmas and there isn't any lost meaning.
Merry Christmas.
2007-12-24 03:19:59 · answer #11 · answered by sml 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋