Why do Christmas if you don't believe?

[Mrspotter12]

Really not wanting to start a bun fight, but it you aren't religious and don't believe in Father Christmas - to the point of not wanting to "lie" to your DC and so asking what to tell them, then why do it? Why have Christmas at all?

I love Christmas, but not at all religious, my ds was when he was very young, but he still loves it now. It feels more like the end of year rest/party to me than the actual new year does

We keep Christmas low key, but it's nice to have a day of treats since everywhere is packed for the preceding 2 months and then closed for the day, anyhow.

I find this question quite baffling every time it's asked.

People celebrate Christmas because it's a fun and enjoyable part of their culture and upbringing. Surely there is nothing even a teensy bit surprising about that?

I'm willing to bet that pretty much every religion that ever existed had a few cultural traditions that went on happening long after most people stopped really believing in the religion they came from.

I am a total atheist. I love Christmas, including things like Christmas carols, which may even actually mention Jesus and God!

but it you aren't religious and don't believe

I would turn the question around. If you are religious why do you do the whole Christmas celebrations? Why aren't you in church praying as opposed to at home stuffing turkey? Christmas celebrations are pretty consumerist/secular/made up, what has any of that got to do with Jesus?

At least Easter I can understand but never understood what has god had to do with Rudolph the red nosed reindeer!

I love Christmas - it’s party time, presents, good food and drinks. Religion doesn’t come into it for us.

Because winter is miserable enough as it is without taking away one of the things that bring people joy.

Because people don't spend enough time together so a few days where a lot of people are off work at the same time, where most of the shops are closed and where they're actively encouraged to visit each other and show each other they care can only really be a good thing if you scale back some of the consumerism.

Because it's nice to have a party.

Because it's traditional and a lot of those who do celebrate it are broadly Christian even if they don't actively believe in God or the birth of Christ.

Because we would never get away with it. I considered not celebrating Christmas because both sides of our families were giving us such a hard time about who we spent they day with, and me realising Christmas is not so much fun when you are a mum. It would be too difficult to not celebrate it.

I do believe in Father Christmas

What do you think Father Christmas is?

It's fun, brings people together, there's great food and music etc...

Seasons greetings and all that.

Any excuse to eat and spend money i dont have .. fall.out with in laws etc

I think a more pertinent question would be: why would those who ARE religious celebrate it? Any Christian with an ounce of education knows that the date is bollocks, the story itself is largely fiction and at best unverifiable, virtually every element of the traditional celebrations is c-opted from older religions - surely if your focus is faith in Jesus, you'd avoid Christmas like the plague

You believe in FC.... Wait... You believe in WHAT??? Seriously?