Philosophy of Xmas

[jasonfish11]

Does anyone else get pissed off that Christmas is such a big holiday? Im not religious and neither is anyone in my family, so why do we celebrate it every freakin year. Like I asked my dad about 3 years ago...

Me "Dad why not celebrate Chaunaka this year?"
Dad "We arent Jewish."
Me "So then why do we celebrate Christmas?"
Dad "Good point lets ask your mom."

Neither of us like this holiday and think it is completely fake. Seeing how it is supposed to be a religious holy day but is more about a fat man in a red suit. If you are religious I understand the gift giving concept; but why give some many why not just give your children 3 gifts each? One from each of the wisemen, this will turn it into more of a religious holiday like it should be for you.

Sorry for the rant but I have already had it up to my neck with christmas songs.

[kurto]

Christmas songs are the best part of christmas.

[tame_deuces]

I like Christmas.

When I was young part of my family were Christians so they never held Christmas to be a spiritual season - so they figured nobody really knew when baby jesus was born, and its a bit weird to mix yule with Christianity. so they just went for the pop version instead, and it rumbles.

Around Christmas isn't even a word, it is still jul - or 'yule', go pagans!

(clicky for those that wonders what I'm talking about) (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yule)

[jasonfish11]

touche I forgot that christmas derived from a pagan holiday. (Just like easter and most other seasonal holidays). So now not only do I get to tell people for a month that this is the most bent out of shape holiday I get to tell people that they are celebrating a pagan holiday.

I bet people really love me this time of year.

Bah Humbug

[madnak]

It's a social event. It always has been. Most early cultures lived by the seasons - so many of them rejoiced when the days started to get longer. It has never been religious in the common sense - early religion
was closely tied to daily life and the events that impacted it.

[Splendour]

When you labored as hard as they did 2,000 years ago I guess you'd be relieved that in addition to a holy day you also got a day of rest, fun and social activities. I'm sure with the problems they had traveling distances it was also quite a source of community for earlier peoples.

The gift giving really didn't get into the full materialistic swing until the 20th Century.

Holiday from Holy Day.

[Assani Fisher]

[ QUOTE ]
Does anyone else get pissed off that Christmas is such a big holiday? Im not religious and neither is anyone in my family, so why do we celebrate it every freakin year. Like I asked my dad about 3 years ago...

Me "Dad why not celebrate Chaunaka this year?"
Dad "We arent Jewish."
Me "So then why do we celebrate Christmas?"
Dad "Good point lets ask your mom."

Neither of us like this holiday and think it is completely fake. Seeing how it is supposed to be a religious holy day but is more about a fat man in a red suit. If you are religious I understand the gift giving concept; but why give some many why not just give your children 3 gifts each? One from each of the wisemen, this will turn it into more of a religious holiday like it should be for you.

Sorry for the rant but I have already had it up to my neck with christmas songs.

[/ QUOTE ]

What a Scrooge.

[vhawk01]

[ QUOTE ]
Christmas songs are the best part of christmas.

[/ QUOTE ]

Definitely agree I love Christmas songs.

[Kurn, son of Mogh]

I love Christmas.

The lights, the songs, but most of all, the commerce.

[Lestat]

I see nothing wrong with ceromony and tradition and therefore, have nothing against Christmas. In fact, I rather enjoy it. It's fun and there really is something special in the air right around Christmas time. I like the way people act towards one and other. Too bad we need something like Christmas to make this happen.

[Albert Moulton]

[ QUOTE ]
so why do we celebrate it every freakin year.

[/ QUOTE ]

Because you live in a country that is historically christian, has deep christian traditions embedded in our language and culture, and as a part of that language and culture you would have to go out of your way to avoid the influence. But even the christian traditions aren't entirely christian. Most of the christmas practices are coopted from pagan traditions, like the tree and the time of year near the winter solistice.

One way to avoid it would be to practice a different religion. But even then you end up with "Bless you," when you sneeze. "In God We Trust" on the money. "OMG" in the chat box. The easter bunny. St Valentine's day. "Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth so help me God." "One nation under God..." A cross on Mount Soledad in San Diego (although an aetheist has been trying to get it down for decades in the courts). The Charlie Brown Christmas special. Halloween (another pagan tradition blended into "all hallows eave" prior to All Saints Day). A sea of white crosses (and a few other symbols) at Arlington National Cemetery. Etc...

And Christmas.

So, Merry Christmas. Just enjoy it.

[bunny]

I'm not sure how widespread your views are within your family. If they are prevalent you could suggest following the route my family took a few years ago (all of whom are devout atheist except me).

We initially didnt give any presents and resolved that christmas would just be a day to celebrate our family. Lots of big meals, reminiscing about long running family jokes, etcetera etcetera. We've relaxed the no presents rule slightly in later years, but the break has meant present-giving no longer has the feel of being "the point" of christmas. There's no obligation to give everyone a gift - merely if you see something someone else will like.

The day has become a great celebration of our family - if the US is like Australia there's not much else to do on christmas day, so you may as well use the excuse to get together. Although another tack my dad took for many years was to offer to work christmas eve, day and boxing day (he's a doctor) every year. He then built up enough gratitude he could pretty much get cover any day he chose through the rest of the year.