To think Christians are silly to celebrate mid-winter

[MrsTerryPratcett]

Totally a TAAT and goady and not really AIBU

But the annual Why do Non-Christians celebrate Christmas threads have started early this year. Possibly due to global warming or Brexit.

Mid-winter celebrations predate Christianity. Bringing light and green in, feasting, presents, family gatherings, mythical gift-givers and so on all exist outwith Christianity.

Going to church, the nativity and a star on stuff are Christian so fill your boots with those. In April though, not December, because that's not Christian either. If we are just using our own traditions.

But I like celebrating stuff. I get fed at Eid, Hanukkah, Christmas and anywhere else anyone wants to feed me. So can't we all celebrate whatever we like without calling each other hypocrites?

What about easter?

I agree with you. As a long standing Pagan it really annoys me every year.

Its celebrating.. enjoy it how you like and leave everyone alone.

YANBU. I'm an atheist, but I have been brought up celebrating Christmas, as it's part of the culture of the country I grew up in. I expect if I'd been born in a country with a different religious culture, I'd happily celebrate those festivals too as an atheist. Surely it is historically totally normal for some traditions and celebrations to outlast widespread belief in the religions to which they belonged.

Easter... we keep the chocolate, eggs and bunnies (feasting and fertility). They get the palm fronds and ummm OK I don't know a lot about Easter. Simnel cake (?)

YANBU!

If christians didn't want non-christians celebrating at the same time, they shouldn't have shoved their holiday on top of longstanding traditional celebrations.

Not a popular explaination of the 'reason for the season', but the true one!

(Disclaimer: lots of Christians, of course, do not act faux confused about why people celebrate Christmas or attempt to shove their reasons on other people, and to them I wish a very happy Christmas!)

Absolutely agree! I’m a not practicing Catholic (even if you don’t believe you’re still a Catholic unless you have been excommunicated or something :) ) catholic guilt, likes lighting candles, sparkles and lights at Christmas, etc. Just no belief in the big man in the sky. Still get dragged to mass if my old aunt has anything to do with it.

Mid winter festivals are important from an emotional and social perspective. In the cold, wet, darkest part of the year we get together with family and eat and drink. It would be bloody miserable without it.

Anyone can celebrate anything if they want to. I'm a Humanist and I fucking love Christmas. Even the Jesus fairy story is sweet to tell children about - the baby being born in a stable bit. Most Christmas traditions are stolen from other places, so I don't see it as a Christian celebration at all.

I absolutely love Easter too, maybe a bit more than Christmas. We celebrate Spring and the beauty nature brings as well as food and time with family.

I'm a vicar and I have no problem with other people celebrating 'Christmas' or 'midwinter festival'.
Times change.

Who gives a shit how other people choose to celebrate whatever though?

Cheers Tiggles

I'll raise a glass of Baileys to you. Also a pagan tradition in this house.

But I like celebrating stuff. I get fed at Eid, Hanukkah, Christmas and anywhere else anyone wants to feed me. So can't we all celebrate whatever we like without calling each other hypocrites

Agree, and I'm one of those annoying Christians.

Have to say I never understand the whole 'why celebrate Christmas if you don't believe' thing. The more celebration in this world, the better. I love to celebrate Christ's birth at Christmas, because its nice to have a day to do so, but would be just as happy doing that in April or whatever. I think it's wonderful that it's often a family time and there's a lot of joy in it. And of course, you're right that it was tacked on to Yule, and so all the traditions have got mixed up somewhat.

It's great to have something midwinter to light up the place and spread some joy