Non-Christians celebrating Christmas

~♥Little Miss - posted on 11/29/2012

****MoD Alert****



Old thread. Locking it. Feel free to start another debate!



Happy debating

~DM MoD Little Miss~

America3437 - posted on 11/28/2012

That is the beauty of living in America! You can choose to celebrate however you choose. Jesus was born in the early spring anyways not on Christmas. I don't really understand why you might put a statue of Buddah in your home when you claim to believe in God but hey to each their own. I say celebrate how you want. I think Christmas is just anither way to get us to spend money that we don't have. Merry Christmas all!!!!

Lady Heather - posted on 11/28/2012

I'm celebrating Christmas and you can't stop me! LOL. My husband likes to say that he is putting the X back in Xmas (x being a variable of course). But in fairness I will steal some other religious holidays too.



I don't really get this. If you have a friend and you take them out to dinner on their birthday and the waiter says "Happy Birthday" and brings them a free piece of cake, do you get mad that the waiter who doesn't know this friend wanted to wish him/her a happy birthday? Is that really so awful? Happy Birthday Jesus. I don't know you in that way, but whatever. And since you can't actually eat the cookies I made, I'll take care of that for you. Plus some egg nog. And some pudding. And maybe some tarts.

Tracey - posted on 11/28/2012

Please lets not get into Christmas vs Yule vs who celebrated / borrowed whatever and however hundreds of years ago.

I celebrate family, love & friendship around the last two weeks of December through sharing gifts, hospitality and a fair amount of partying regardless of religion because that is when most people have time off work and it cheers up what would otherwise be a dark, cold time of year.

Nicole - posted on 11/27/2012

To make a celebration about the birth of Christ anything else is ridiculous to me. Why celebrate Jesus if you do not have or desire a relationship with him? I say this to the non-believer and the the church attender who is also missing the gift of salvation found in CHRIST ALONE. Make up your own holiday if you like but know that CHRISTmas is based on CHRIST. This goes for Easter as well :o)

Jennifer - posted on 11/17/2010

Thanks for the info on thanksgiving everyone! We're putting our Christmas decorations up on the 28th November, the day after our son's 1st birthday =]

Bonnie - posted on 11/17/2010

@Jennifer, Thanksgiving in Canada is around October 10th. Christmas items are not in stock here at a majority of the shops until the beginning of November. I know of some who have their tree up before Halloween though and have most of their Christmas shopping done by then as well.

Julie - posted on 11/17/2010

@Carol "Perhaps you're not being clear enough that you mean American Thanksgiving?"

Oh, yes, sorry for not clarifying. But, after US Thanksgiving would be well after Canadian Thanksgiving, so I guess I really mean both;)

To quote a friend "There's no love for the turkey!"

Jodi - posted on 11/17/2010

Julie, around here, the people that only go to church for Christmas or Easter are called Chreasters! (Now don't go jumping down MY throat, THEY call themselves that!) It always makes me giggle though when my in-laws call themselves that around this time of year!

Toni - posted on 11/17/2010

Yep Christmas begins in retail at the beginning of October, but companies begin planning for Christmas in January, for many it is their biggest time of year revenue wise.



Jennifer according to Wiki Thanksgiving is the 4th Thursday of November in the States and the 2nd Monday of October in Canada.

Jennifer - posted on 11/17/2010

We don't have thanksgiving in the UK...when is it? And Christmas stuff gets sold here before Halloween here in most shops!

Johnny - posted on 11/16/2010

Perhaps you're not being clear enough that you mean American Thanksgiving?

Julie - posted on 11/16/2010

I think people can and should celebrate whatever holidays they want to in whichever way they wish to. Why is it any of my business? I DO think it is hypocritical for "Christmas and Easter Christians" to claim their religions when they only go to church 2 days a year. But, I really don't care.

The only think I am adamant about is that the celebration of Christmas should ABSOLUTELY NOT begin before Thanksgiving!
That's a giant pet peeve of mine:/.

They do it anyway ...

Jennifer - posted on 11/16/2010

Christmas means different things to different people and they should be able to celebrate it if they want to in a way they seem fit =] I was raised Catholic, my husband had no religion growing up. We have decided not to have Logan Christened so that if he so wishes he can choose his own religion if he wants to. Regardless of this we still plan to teach him the true meanings of Christmas and the basic Christian morals =]

Toni - posted on 11/16/2010

To me Christmas is about Jesus but it is also about family, friends, love, happiness, and togetherness. Christians don't have a monopoly on any of those things and none Christians should be free to celebrate Christmas for any reason they like be it getting merry by the fire or spending time with family. It is no-ones place to say that they cannot.

I have and do celebrate other holidays that are for other religions because when the religious aspects are removed ALL holidays are about togetherness of friends, families and communities.

Ooo - posted on 11/16/2010

I don't think it's disrespectful at all. I'm a Christian and I don't claim any kind of ownership over a particular day or season. I celebrate my faith in my own way, but I repect others who choose to celebrate something else.

Isobel - posted on 11/16/2010

I celebrate Christkwanramakkah ♥

Chatty - posted on 11/16/2010

Just for the record, Chrystal -- NO ONE should judge, regardless or their religion or lack of religion. A religion doesn't dictate that for me. My morals do!!

Bonnie - posted on 11/16/2010

I see nothing wrong with celebrating any holiday that you would like to. You should be free to celebrate as you would like to. I also think it is great that you appreciate and respect other people's religions and holidays. My husband is Catholic. I am not. I still celebrate Christmas, just as you do, without the focus of religion and church. Speaking of church, my husband and his family are catholic and rarely go to church. I don't see anything wrong with it. To me, Christmas means togetherness with friends and family and lots of food anyway.

Chrystal - posted on 11/16/2010

I'm a christian and I have my own beliefs on what christmas is all about. But with that being said, I am a Christian. Christians are not supposed to judge others. So if this is what you believe than that is what you believe. I can only tell you what I believe and that's about all I can do . Whether or not you choose to believe how I believe or not gives me no right to sit there and judge the way you believe. It's simply wrong to judge others. So the christians that are judging you are not being very christian like.

Rachel - posted on 11/16/2010

I do not follow any religion. I am unsure as to what i believe. My children don't know much about religion, have never gone to churh, And if you said god around my son he would wait for you to finish that sentence. I have not a clue about any religious back ground surronding Chritsmas. All i know is I looked forward to it all year round and always loved it when i was a child. Even nowadays i look forward to the family gathering. Decorating the tree and spending time with family; Regardless if its a religious holiday i want my children to experience the same thing. Unity, family and love. If they are to ever to ask me how chirstmas started i will gladly tell them, and it is up to them what they do with that knowledge.

Cathy - posted on 11/16/2010

Celebrate what you like when you like. It's called freedom!

Petra - posted on 11/16/2010

I support religious consumerism far more than I do those who blindly follow one faith, regardless of the meaning behind it. Christmas doesn't have to be about Jesus, and for me, it isn't. Its about being with family, having good food and giving eachother gifts. Since winter here is harsh, its a great way to pass the indoor time together. Religion doesn't even enter into it. If you can find something beautiful and meaningful in a religion, go ahead and incorporate it into your life.

LaCi - posted on 11/16/2010

"Some people just bitch and moan about everyone. "You're celebrating OUR holiday! Wah, wah, waaaaaah". Man, get a life."



And yet they throw a tantrum if anyone says happy holidays ;x ITS MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!! rawr !!

Anika - posted on 11/16/2010

I'm with Krista and Emma (though the Kiwi version).

Christmas to me is annoying xmas songs, too much ham (yes, there is such a thing), celebrating family and having time off work. The fact that I'm an uber atheist isn't even a factor.

Some people just bitch and moan about everyone. "You're celebrating OUR holiday! Wah, wah, waaaaaah". Man, get a life.

~Jennifer - posted on 11/15/2010

I have a sign hanging in my house that was given to me by my Christian mom.

"Until further notice, celebrate everything"
I'm Pagan.
She loved me anyway.
=)
She passed in May, and CHRISTMAS will never be the same without her.
Will I celebrate as she would have?
Yes.

Jocelyn - posted on 11/15/2010

I say celebrate whatever holiday you want regardless of your religion (or lack there of).

Johnny - posted on 11/15/2010

Every single person, regardless of whether or not they follow a faith, holds slightly different beliefs from the next person. No one idea owns any holiday or celebration. Many people in my area, of all faiths, celebrate Diwali and the Lunar New Year, and they are not Hindu or Chinese. Honestly and truly, the only people I've ever heard complain about those who are not "believers" celebrating holidays are a very very small number of Christians who were clearly dropped on their heads as children. An acquaintance of mine who was not a Muslim actually participated in the Hajj several years ago and wrote about it. He was welcomed with open arms (although I think they though it would convert him).

Chatty - posted on 11/15/2010

Tis the season to be....

Charlie - posted on 11/15/2010

What Emma said haha .

Stifler's - posted on 11/15/2010

I celebrate because everyone else does, and we get days off or time and a half pay. IMO that's reason enough to celebrate. I'm Australia... here any holiday is a good excuse to drink and get together and party. Australia day... Easter... Good Friday... New years.. Christmas... valentines day... Halloween even thought Australians wouldn't know the first thing about Halloween people have decided to celebrate it and you know why... so they have an excuse to celebrate.

Good Day! - posted on 11/15/2010

Celebrate however you want.

Personally, I celebrate both the religious and non-religious aspects of Christmas. It's important to me to celebrate the birth of Christ (doesn't matter when it happened, it should be celebrated). But I also participate in the pagan aspects like putting up a tree, etc. It's just too much fun not to! If you don't believe in the miracle in the birth of Christ then why would you include that in your celebration? And why should you and your children miss a fun holiday because of your personal beliefs? Some people are just silly.

JuLeah - posted on 11/15/2010

Jesus is said to have been born in the spring, so no one actually celerbrates his birthday in Dec. The tree, gifts, lights on the house .... none of that has anything to do with the 'real meaning' of Christmas.

I am Jewish, and we celerbrate Christmas. How do you tell a 3 year old that Stanta is biggot and doesn't visit Jewish kids :) Nah, it is magical, fun, and made for kids. I would not deny my child this holiday. There are many great lessons to be leaned and talked about, even if you view it from the Christian perspective - take in the homeless, care for all children (you never know what God's plan for that child might be) be kind to animals (you don't know what they will say about you behind your back) and give to the poor.

Joy - posted on 11/15/2010

I guess I celebrate the spirit of the season. I'm like you in that I can see bits and pieces of several religions that make sense to me. I'm not sure anymore if I believe in God and lately I'm leaning more towards no. But that's not gonna stop me from putting up a tree and lights and making it a fun season for my son. I want him to learn about giving and sharing and appreciating what's important and to me, that's what just about every holiday is about.

Rosie - posted on 11/15/2010

yes i feel you can celebrate whatever, whenever. if christians are so worried about people taking their holiday and making it their own, i wonder why they did it to the pagans then? bunch of hypocritical arseholes is right!!

Jodi - posted on 11/15/2010

LMAO Krista, in my town, they aren't just "aresholes" behind closed doors...they're pretty public about it! ;)

Krista - posted on 11/15/2010

Feh -- Christmas is a mish-mash of Christianity, paganism, the Food Network and commercialism anyway. You probably live a more "Christian" life than some of the Sunday-morning Christians who like to put on a big show of being devout, but are complete arseholes behind closed doors.

I say, if it brings you together with your family and inspires you to be kind to one another, then celebrate whatever darned holiday you please.