Christmas - or 'holiday season'!!!

[Tw1nkle]

I know I might be being unreasonable......but the whole 'religious element' of christmas is starting to grate!

I believe that Christmas is the celebration of Jesus, and that is what we celebrate, but with todays' news that 25% of the UK are athiests - and they all have their own reason for celebrating christmas - which is fair enough.......I'm now of the opinion that it should be 'holiday season', not 'christmas'..........something that I would never have dreamt of saying in the past.

But the world is moving on, and so are beliefs, so maybe 'christmas' should too - or the 'season of christmas' at least.

Then people can celebrate whatever they want without having to feel like they have to explain themselves, or knock others beliefs.

The number of poeple today who have told me it's a pagan belief.....I'm shocked that a vast majority of the 25% of Atheists, didn't declare themselves to be pagan!

Sorry for the rant!

[autumnmum]

I'm an atheist and I'm quite happy to use the word Christmas .

[bradyismyfavouritewiseman]

The number of poeple today who have told me it's a pagan belief.....I'm shocked that a vast majority of the 25% of Atheists, didn't declare themselves to be pagan!

The church placed all its 'holy days' around pagan festivals when the were converting everyone and trying to abolish paganism.

Its is not known what actual day jesus was born.

Atheists are not pagans.

[OutragedAtThePriceOfFreddos]

Christmas can be custom rather than religious if you want it to be.

It should not be holiday season, we are not American. And we only have this one holiday in the middle of the season, so it couldn't be holiday season. Holiday month possibly. The Americans get away with it because they have Thanksgiving and make a big deal out of Halloween. One event does not make a season.

[OutragedAtThePriceOfFreddos]

And why are you shocked that atheists didn't declare themselves to be Pagan? That just said that they are atheists, not Pagans!

[Bunbaker]

brady is correct. Atheists are not necessarily pagans. I don't want to Americanise Christmas and have to send "Happy Holidays" cards. Muslims celebrate Eid, Jews celebrate Yom Kippur and Hanukkah, Hindus celebrate Diwali etc. Why shouldn't Christians be allowed to celebrate Christmas and Easter? Regardless of whether you believe in God we are still a Christian country. Opt out if you want to but don't spoil it for everyone else.

[NeedlesCuties]

YABU, very much so, in my opinion, but I'm sure there will be plenty who agree with you.

It's called Christmas, as the celebration of the birth of Christ, leave it as it is. You're welcome to call it holiday season if you want, but I think the Gov has tampered with enough and should just leave the name of Christmas alone.

[bradyismyfavouritewiseman]

Atheists are not necessarily pagans.

An Atheist may correct me. But atheists and Pagans are completely different.

[squeakytoy]

so would you send "holiday cards"??

because it is rare I see any xmas cards that have any sort of religious aspect to them..

[Tw1nkle]

I'm a christian, and celebrate christmas as a christain, but it just seems that quite a few people today seem to want to tell me why they celebrate - like they have to justify themselves.....it makes me want to justify myself - which I shouldn't have to, as I'm christain!

If it was a broader celebration, everyone could just get on with it!

[MissCellania]

It doesn't really matter what we call it, its primarily a secular festival by now and not a religious one. To most people, Santa, turkey and presents are far more important than jesus, which is wonderful.

Call it what you like, and let the religious minority pretend its still all about their traditions. The majority of us will just get on and celebrate without church or prayers.

[Lonecatwithkitten]

It is the Christ Mass the service Mass service to celebrate the birth of Christ. I celebrate the lead up to it advent and then the day. I only have christmas day off.
What everyone else does and believes is entirely up to them.

[MissCellania]

Oh, and that isn;t justification, its fact. It's a few sneery christians wondering why atheists celebrate that want us to justify it. We don't need to.

[squeakytoy]

and while 25% of the UK may be atheists, the rest of the world isnt, and Christmas is a pretty universal celebration.. not just limited to this country.

[Tw1nkle]

squeakytoy - after today, yes I would send 'happy holiday' cards - if I could find them (admitantly, I haven't looked, as all my cards were written last week!), that way I know I wouldn't be offending anyone by sending them a 'Merry Christmas' card.

[bradyismyfavouritewiseman]

I don't get your point.

You feel you must justify celebrating the birth of christ as a christian?

[Bunbaker]

"It's a few sneery christians wondering why atheists celebrate that want us to justify it."

None of the Christians I know are sneery. I come across far more sneery non believers than believers. Live and let live I say.

[Sirzy]

Christmas means different things to different people. Just because they chose to celebrate it differently doesn't mean they can't call it Christmas still.

Do you want to change Easter to?

I have yet to meet anyone who is offended by being given a christmas card.

[OutragedAtThePriceOfFreddos]

We have the very helpful phrase 'Seasons Greetings' for when you want to send a card to someone who isn't celebrating Christmas. There are plenty of those around.

And Christmas is a broad enough celebration that we can all get on with it IMO. It's a cultural custom as well as being religious. I know Muslims that celebrate Christmas. Just the same as I have celebrated Diwali despite not having a particular faith.

[bradyismyfavouritewiseman]

Twinkle can you answer a couple of questions?

Who has got offended by a 'merry christmas' card?
Why would atheists declare themselves pagan?

[bradyismyfavouritewiseman]

Personally if someone gave me a card for a religious event they were celebrating, but I was not. I would feel quite touched that they had thought of me and included me.

[squeakytoy]

what on earth happened today when you gave christmas cards out then???

[Tw1nkle]

bradyismyfavouritewiseman - Offended by a christmas card - no-one has told me they have been offended, but I feel that a 'season's greeting's' card may be a better option for me to send in the future.

[Tw1nkle]

squeakytoy - An unbelievable debate on facebook!

[Pandemoniaa]

It's always a mistake to confuse atheists with pagans.

[bradyismyfavouritewiseman]

So no one has been offended but you think christmas should be changed to 'holidays' just in case?

And again Why would athesits declare themselves pagans.

OP you do realise its people like you that start the 'muslims want to ban christmas' inaccurate rumours that spread?

Its usually not Muslims, but people, organisations, councils etc that think people will be offended. So they jump in without actually knowing anything.