To wonder why people who appear to dislike religion enjoy Christian celebrations

[Cupcake1985]

I know that most people enjoy Christmas, Easter etc with no regard for the actual Christian basis and meaning of the celebration, but aibu to think that those people should then not get all offended by the religious aspects and sometimes be downright rude about it?? The nativity play, spreading the word of god through carol singing etc..... Dare I mention operation Christmas child?! If you enjoy Christmas then at least try to accept it is actually about the birth of Christ or at least respect that others will celebrate this fact and may try to share that with those around them with the best intentions.

Basically cheer up, be accepting, be kind.

[sashh]

but Pagans celebrate Solstice , Mythras etc etc

Mythras isn't a celebration

Mythras predates Christianity. Mythras was a son of a god whose mother was a virgin, he had 12 followers and died for others.

Some pagans do, indeed, celebrate solstices and yo are welcome to join in with the festivities if you want.

[MadAsFish]

Good points beastofburden!

[HettiePetal]

Oh, I know, Lunatic. I meant the images on them might be Christian. Although not many of them are these days.

[friday16]

I love Christians banging on about late-December solstice celebrations being about "the birth of baby Jesus".

I mean, the bit about shepherds being out tending flocks in the fields, with new lambs and stuff, in late December is just so plausible.

[MadAsFish]

And the sock washing..you know, while shepherds washed their socks by night, all seated on the ground...

Too cheesy?

[Geckos48]

Because Yule is a cultural tradition. The Christian overtones are really just a plagiarised add-on.

[1919]

Hettiepetal
The first Christmas card (Victorian) had no religious imagery.

[HettiePetal]

And has any Christian ever stopped to wonder how on earth you "follow a star"?

And if such a star hovered over the stable, Jesus would be toast.

[MadAsFish]

w00t, I am not a cunt (I think).

[edam]

There were Christmas celebrations long before the Victorians - Oliver Cromwell banned Christmas (inc. going to church) so there must have been something for him to ban.

I've got vague memories that Queen Elizabeth 1's court used to feast and give presents, and presumably go to church. Don't know what else.

The Christmas tree and Christmas cards are Victorian, but the tree must go back a long way in Germany (or whichever parts of it were represented by Saxe-Coburg-Gotha - Saxony, obv, but don't know what or where Coburg/Gotha are).

[HettiePetal]

Ah. Interesting. Thanks 1919.

So, as Lunatic says, there's really precious little about Christmas that didn't originate with either pre-Christianity pagan festivals or the Victorians.

Makes the OP's objection even more pointless.

[HettiePetal]

The point is not that the Victorian's invented Christmas, Edam, but that most of the trappings & trimmings originated with them. And others from pagan festivals.

The Elizabethan's certainly celebrated Christmas. Was all about the food, for them. Unsurprisingly.

[WallyBantersJunkBox]

Why not do what we do and follow the Church of Noddy Holder at Christmas?

It just wouldn't be a special time without his "War Cry"....

[fatlazymummy]

hermoine definitely agree on your 2nd point (though probably wouldn't use the c-word).

[ninah]

I don't enjoy Christian celebrations
I mildly enjoy putting a bit of greenery round the house, eating and drinking too much and having some time off with the dc

[MrsBucketxx]

Hettie you have said everything I wanted too snd more.

Funny how op has buggered off isnt it.

[ubik]

this is why I love christmas

[hermioneweasley]

Fatlazymummy, I apologise if my use of the C word offended you. For me, sometimes it's the only expression that sums up my level of contempt.

[Beastofburden]

Plus, if we are playing rain on the parade here..

The nativity is not undisputedly Christian either, if you mean the stable, shepherds, angels etc. There are two accounts- Matthew and Luke- and they are differ in timing, location and setting. Only Matthew has all the traditional stuff. Luke has the baby being laid in a manger. No stable, no shepherds, no angels, star or magi. No census either, which is not surprising given that Herod died in 4BC. And neither of them has any donkeys and that.

Pope benedict wrote a book about the nativity and infancy narratives of Christ last year, and he said quite a few things that fans of traditional Christmases would find uncomfortable. And many other scholars go further than he did.

Which is just to point out that Christmas as we celebrate it is definitely not a festival for the purist, or someone who is sincere about having to mean everything they sing at Christmas.

[edam]

YYY Hettie, I know about the pagan roots, just people seemed to be implying it was pagan + Victorian and nothing else in between.

Personally I veer between paganism, agnosticism (CofE agnosticism) and atheism. But I do love Christmas carols - 13 years of CofE education left its mark on me.

In the bleak midwinter...

[AllBoxedUp]

My very strict Christian parents don't like Christmas as they view it as a Pagan festival with no basis in the Bible. We still had turkey and presents but no way was it anything to do with celebrating the birth of Jesus. They believe you are only instructed to mark his death and resurrection (but definitely not at that other Pagan festival Easter.....). YABU.