To celebrate Winter Solstice instead of Christmas?

[Parsley65]

No-one in our family is religious, the kids are in late teens and I don't see the point of celebrating something that means nothing to me or anyone else in the family.
However, I would like to celebrate something.
In the past I have thrown my efforts into making Christmas a special occasion, so this year think I'd like to do something similar, but with a non religious twist and not on the 25th.
I haven't mentioned it yet. What do you think?

I live in Brighton, and every year on 21st there is a celebration "Burning The Clocks" There is a parade along the seafront with lit paper lanterns; which are burned in a huge pile on the beach. It's lovely, and really sets the feeling for the season.www.everfest.com/e/burning-the-clocks-brighton-es

Like changing the Yule log tradition to a cake!

I have both😂 Carefully selected tree from B&Q AND chocolate roulade cake thing.
I just go steal and mix any traditions which look tasty and pretty

Come to think of it. Isn't celebrating religious Christmas like celebrating a Christian "colonialism" ifswim.
They came, forced people to convert took over the most popular holidays (let's not forget claiming a whole December as an advent period) and thus forced people to celebrate christian thing rather than the original.🤔😮

I am not drunk btw😂

Isn't there also a problem with consent around the poor young Mary being impregnated by the all-powerful creator of universes, especially given how vengeful and violent he'd already shown himself to be.

"Surely all pagans would celebrate Christmas."

Surely not. It would be the older Yule , wouldn't it?

Do what you want.

I feel a bit sad for you though

@Babdoc I feel more than a bit sad for anyone who thinks that their relationship with deity is the only way, and for anyone who thinks they can push that viewpoint on others as a way of insisting that their way is the ‘right’ one.

Go for it... do your own thing. We are atheist and really only celebrate on 25th Dec as it fitted in with time off work. Do whatever makes you and your family happy!

We celebrate Yule with a Scandinavian non-Christmas theme, with Santa’s, Trolls and Elf’s. The kids love it. Nothing religious at all!

No need to pity atheists.

For me the world and universe is far more awe inspiring, majestic and wonderous knowing that there is no one behind the curtain pulling the strings.

And I may be narrow minded but human sacrifice doesn't float my boat.

To misquote, I think, Douglas Adams, “the garden is wonderful enough without having to pretend there are fairies at the bottom of it”

Love that quote Bertrand. I'm stealing it.

@Parsley65

Knock yourself out!

Celebrate it however you want to. As long as everyone is on board with it.

I know/have known six or seven women (ALL women) who have/had men who wouldn't have Christmas in the house, not a tree, or a chocolate log or a scrap of tinsel; shag all! He didn't buy gifts and didn't want any back. I never understood why HIS wishes always trumped hers, and I have to say, it would be a deal breaker for me.

If I met a man who hated Christmas, and refused to have it in the house, I wouldn't go any further into the relationship. Coz you can bet he hates anything fun or enjoyable ... babies, puppies, parties, comedy films, picnics, children, dancing, TV (just anything fun really!)

I don't mean people who aren't fussed about it, I mean people who actively HATE it and refuse to have it in the house. I couldn't be with a man like that. No.

You could celebrate Hogswatch! I think the mythology Terry Pratchett created around it is, in some ways, just as deep and meaningful. The bit at the end of the Hogfather about how gods evolve over time is so apt. And I think that a large roast gammon studded with cloves feels more festive than a bird.

@Babdoc

Jesus, rather like the Queen, has two birthdays. His real one, which nobody knows, and his official one.

We celebrate the official one at midwinter, because Christ is regarded as “the light of the world”, and it seemed appropriate to celebrate as the light begins to return and the days to lengthen again. OP, if you’re not a Christian, then of course you have no reason or wish to celebrate Christmas. By all means go ahead and have a pagan or solstice celebration - it’s up to you what you want to do.

I feel a bit sad for you though - that you’re missing out on the joy of community worship at midnight in the Watchnight service, when the whole village,( including the drunks from the pub!) all hug each other and exchange Christmas wishes, or the sheer magic of going carol singing together, with Silent Night floating out on a frosty village street. For me, the celebration of God’s loving gift of Himself in sacrifice for the world is the whole point of the festive season.

Love this post.

None of my friends of family are religious and I'm completely atheist - however I love Christmas. Instead of celebrating the birth of a fictional story, I celebrate a few weeks off work, being around family and friends. I go to pubs, get merry with my mum, go to big family parties, do christmassy things with my daughter, etc (not all at the same time!). It can be whatever you want it to be, don't cause yourself stress for the sake of it or because you feel it has to be some huge fanfare. Relax and enjoy

I am not an atheist, but don't have any issue with those who are. And my comments weren't aimed at atheists (in case people thought they were.) I mean people who flat out, 100% REFUSE to have anything 'Christmassy' in the house. Not the sort of person I would want to know to be honest, let alone date/live with/marry.

I am not an atheist, but don't have any issue with those who are

But you agree with a patronising post about anyone who doesn't celebrate Christmas.

Growing up we always celebrated both and we have continued doing so with the next generation. Christmas is a co-opted pagan event anyway.

rainingallday I have an ex like that, ex definitely.

Christmas wasn't the only thing he hated, he hated anything that didn't fit how he wanted to do stuff.

I have younger children. My husband always works at Christmas because of his line of work. We have a family meal on the 20th or 21st. Whilst I don't tolerate much Christmas stuff as we are not religious we do exchange a gift each on that day too and I used to do stocking's but they're all over 10 now, so that has stopped too. It's nice, but you can only order some of the nice preprepared Christmas stuff for after 22nd.

A solstice is an actual astronomical event marking the changing of the seasons doesn't require some religious window dressing?

Huge christmas here- non religious.

Everyone gets a stocking, even my elderly mother.
Massive real tree.

Can;'t remember anything in the bible about stockings or father christmas- I must have missed that bit.

There is a bit in Deuteronomy about christmas trees though, advising against decorating evergreen trees brought into the home- and not following "the way of the heathen"- that must be me then!

@speakout I think the Santa/Christmas tree/fairy lights etc, came from people wanting to brighten up a very dark season, and make it more cheerful. I could be making that up though.

@MulticolourMophead

I have an ex like that, ex definitely.

Christmas wasn't the only thing he hated, he hated anything that didn't fit how he wanted to do stuff.

Yep, I hear ya. As I said, I know/have known around half a dozen women who have exes like this (and a couple who are still with a man like this!) I couldn't be with someone like this myself.

As you said, people like this (and it's usually men,) are almost always reluctant to participate in ANYthing that's fun or enjoyable. Imagine spending your life with someone like this?

You'd only be able to do it if you were a grumpy fecker yourself!