to wonder why non-Christians celebrate Christmas

[MissMashMissMash]

Am not trying to offend anyone here but am interested to know what others think.

I often think that if I wasn't a Christian I wouldn't celebrate Christmas as it wouldn't mean anything to me. I just don't really why people spend so much time, money and stress on something which is meaningless to them.

As it is I don't actually spend much money at Christmas as it isn't about that for me. If it was completely meaningless for me I would just treat it as any other day I think, not sure though what do others think?

[notquitenormal]

I celebrate a secular festival which I call Christmas because everyone else does. And it is largly informed by the culture and traditions that my familytwo generations of self-identified athiestskept.

Thinking about how we, as a family, celebrate and can't think of a single thing that has a religious slant or origin (though I could be wrong I don't know the history of them all.)

DP's parents are deeply religous. They spend the morning at church and then a slightly more expensive bit of beef for dinner than usual. That's it

I know plenty of Hindus and Sikhs who celebrate it too...go to temple and everything. Apparently, they take any opportunity for a party

[littleducks]

We are Muslim and don't celebrate.....i posted about this last year and had got told i was 'robbing' my children of an enjoyable experience

So it is controversial

[pozzled]

littleducks That must mean that I'm 'robbing' my child of the experience of celebrating Eid, since I don't celebrate that.

[Oldjolyon]

I'm atheist and happy to celebrate Christmas. but I do not celebrate anything that is exclusively Christian. If it is also Pagan, or linked to other secular / religious ideas then I'm happy to celebrate it. If it is exclusively Christian then I do not.

This means I do not fast at Christmastime.

The rest I enjoy

[hmc]

It wouldn't go down very well with my dcs if, as agnostics, we cancelled Chrismas!

[Ormirian]

Because it's fun.

And the roots of christmas are far earlier than Christianity. All faiths and societies have winter festivals to brighten the darkness and express their hope that the spring will come.

I'd be less likely to celebrate it if I lived somewhere where it was hot at christmas time

[mollymawk]

I celebrate Christmas for all the same reasons as everyone else.

My favourite Christmas tradition, though, is the traditional Mumsnet Christmas thread where someone asks "Why bother with Christmas if you're not Christian?" and everyone else explains that Christmas is not really an exclusively Christian festival at all

[dizietsma]

LOL @ molly

[maktaitai]

I celebrate it because despite being an atheist at the moment, I really enjoy singing completely Christian songs, such as:

The holly and the ivy
When they are both full grown
Of all the trees that are in the wood
The holly bears the crown.

[MumNWLondon]

I agree, OP, we are not christian so we do not celebrate christmas at all.

However we do have days off work and there is good programmes on TV, and everything (shops/museums/etc) are closed.

Hence we have a quiet day at home (or park if weather is good enough) and enjoy the good TV.

No tree, no festive meals, no presents. DC know we don't celebrate christmas as we are not Christians.

[mixedraceparents]

Christmas is originally a pagan festival which was hijacked by christianity.

Pagans all over the world celebrate it.

[NormalityBites]

I'm not religious. I include no reference to Christ in my celebrations apart from using the word Christmas. No church, no mangers, angels, stars in the decor, paper, etc - we sing Christmas songs but not carols, and send season's greetings cards.

I celebrate it as a midwinter festival of togetherness, fun, and family. I think that if there was a Christ that's what he would have wanted

[thecatatemygymsuit]

Because it's fabulous, and fun, and all those other reasons everyone had mentioned. Plus I love the story of the nativity, and (kind of) believe in Father Christmas - well, for dd's sake I do at any rate.
As an atheist, I'm not picky - happy to celebrate the Easter festival of chocolate and bunnies, Halloween, Diwali, you name it really. We need more festivals and more holidays!

[Itsonme]

Cause Santa brings us presents innit!

[MrsNonSmoker]

I'll celebrate anything - I'm with Itsonme here - however one thing I always do, regardless of what I believe, is sit down and think every Christmas day when we have our dinner, how many people in the world would give their right arm etc to have a good meal with their family, think myself bloody lucky and get pissed. Its the least you can do.

[MrsNonSmoker]

BTW, thinking yourself lucky at that time of year, with or without the getting pissed bit, is available to those of all faith and none.

[ChippingIn]

It was a Pagan Festival first before being hijacked by the Christians. The Christians latched onto it to increase their following.

[ratspeaker]

There are some Christian sects who don't celebrate Christmas, Jehovahs Witnesses being one.
Personally I always wish everyone a Happy Solstice then celebrate it a few days later when we all, well mostly all, have the day off.

Then there's Hogmanay

Actually I'm not sure how I'll feel this Xmas Day, last year it was the day I realised my dad was dying

[MissMashMissMash]

Reading everyones thoughts has been really interesting. I'm quite new to MN so didn't realise this thread was done every year, oops.

I think like someone said perhaps two celebrations are actually going on at Christmas time. A pagan celebration of Mid-winter and the Christian celebration of the birth of Jesus. They just look quite similar on the surface, food, gifts etc.

I suspose I think that I would become quite disillusioned at Christmas if I wasn't celebrating something major like the birth of Jesus. But it seems that most people are able to step away from the commercialism of it all and celebrate family and being thankful for what they have. Which is a good thing.

[TorcherQueenie]

I'm Pagan and so we will be celebrating Yule all be it a few days for the family and feasting part as my DD only leaves school on the 21st.

[2rebecca]

Christmas was timed to fit in with the winter equinox festival that was around 21 Dec just as midsummer is around 21 June. The Christians nicked a pagan festival, or tagged onto it.
With all the Santa/ Father Christmas mythology as well it's a bit of a mismash of a festival.
I'm celebrating being with my family and being cozy and warm in the winter and having good food and wine and the fact that the nights will now be getting shorter.

[Timeforanap]

I smiled at "Christ nailed it" too!

He did, tho'!

[GothAnneGeddes]

We don't celebrate it as such (we're Muslim)and I make sure I work on the day, so someone who wants it off doesn't have to.

However, we do visit my parents the weekend before/after and give gifts. My Mum was a bit gutted I wasn't going to tell dd about Father Christmas, but was pacified when I said she could read Harry Potter books when she's older.

[DuelingFanio]

"why people spend so much time, money and stress"

I don't spend time money or stress on christmas.