To ask why do you celebrate christmas if you don't belive in god?

[bollywoodfan]

Mostly everyone seems to celebrate chritmas - making the dinner, having people round and giving presents, but there are very few people now who are celebrating it as the 'birth of Jesus'?

A lot of people I know say they are atheist and don't beleive in god at all. So then why all the fuss about one day that doesn't have any 'significance' for you? I am not criticising anyone, just seems that people get stressed about making the perfect dinner & even getting into debt to buy presents etc and then don't even acknowledge the 'real' reason for christmas. We have our festivals e.g diwali where we make special food and have lots of family round for a party, but we always have prayers before the celebrations and it is inconceivable of anyone celebrating diwali without that.

Not meant to be an offensive post at all, just a question which is difficult to ask in real life for fear of upsetting people.

To be honest Christmas day is probally the only time we are in the house together, eldest DS works all hours and rarley has a day off, DD works after college and weekends, youngest DS hectic teenage social life, and I work so don't have time for the big sit down meal, but today a lovely calm relaxed dinner which lasted 1 and half hours, eldest DS said what a lovely day. We all touched base had a laugh and enjoyed each others company. Had to do a mercy dash to pick up eldest DS,s GF, cos her parents had been arguing all day, so she spent it in her room. Without a Christmas day we wouldn't of had the time.

Mother I love, love, love that Tim Minchin song. Gets me misty eyed every time.

Well I enjoyed our Northern midwinter traditional knees up. Doesn't bother me if a few hijackers want to call it Christmas & try to make it about them & their faith. It's a time for sharing after all.

Actually some of us do not celebrate it at all.

My house is not decorated, there is no tree, no presents, not even a mince pie.

I will however be buying some naice food which will be half the price it was last week.

I'm a Christian, and am happy anyone celebrates Christmas!

I know it's not when Jesus was actually born, I think we're celebrating the whole reason behind his birth, and it doesn't really matter when.

Our family celebrations begin with advent, we have an advent wreath, read the stories in the bible, light the 5 candles celebrating hope, peace, faith, joy and love. We sing carols, go to church but also eat plenty, share a lot and give gifts.

The whole celebration means more to me because of my faith, but I certainly don't begrudge anyone a second of their Christmas celebrations, for whatever reason.

Because Christmas, these days, is about two very separate and distinct things.

1. Baby Jesus
2. Santa Claus, presents and over-indulging

It's very easy to do one without the other.

Because we are celebrating the birth of Jesus, who as an adult remindedtaught us to be kind, generous (presents), peaceful etc. Doesn't matter if you believe in God or not but I think this message is important.

The pagan midwinter celebration of being half way through Winter, and the days are now getting longer and warmer.

Our heritage of "this is what we've always done".

It's just an end-of-year celebration for us, and we've only been doing it on Christmas day these past few years because we didn't see the point in not, iyswim. But, next year we're celebrating at New Years.

Everyone else has pointed out what I was going to, that 'Christmas' originated as a celebration of the winter solstice and nothing more. Christians latched onto it. If anything, Christians are the fakers

Because the midwinter celebration was a widespread cultural occasion long before it was appropriated by Christians.

We celebrate the shared holiday time and the joy of giving and sharing, and spending time with family. We respect the religious wishes of others but don't feel the need to incorporate them into our celebration.

It's the mid winter festival that has been celebrated for centuries throughout the world.

Going back further before Jesus commandeered it for himself it was a way of celebrating at a time if year when things were most dark and depressing and looking forward to the lighter/longer days

Except that it's summer in half that world.

why celebrate christmas?

because we'll do what we want and won't even ask your permission? because your looking down your nose makes no difference to us at all?

because our beliefs aren't available for your perusal?

I done believe in god or Jesus. But I was brought up with Christmas. It's everywhere and I love if.

If you don't mention Jesus then it's not about Jesus.

Christmas is about father Christmas, presents, food and being together.

Not some judgemental, mythical magician.

Because Northern Europe has always needed a midwinter festival to get it through the dark cold days. Why should I not celebrate because Christianity has tried to highjack the festival. It's more of a cultural festival than religious.

Ds1 asked this. Great thread.