To think that christmas is farce ?

[portocristo]

Christmas seems to be a alcohol and food fest plus lots and lots of gifts and elf on the shelf etc. Just wondering if kids nowadays know or care that it's a religious occasion . I'm pretty sure that if you asked most kids about Christmas they would say its all about presents and chocolate. Am I being unreasonable in thinking this ?

I think kids no generally because they learn about it in school. YANBU in your thinking, but who cares? Let people celebrate how they want.

Considering more of the country aren't Christian vs are, I'm guessing most people just don't care about the religious aspect

Well ours is quite nice, but then I do like an alcohol and food fest , and lots and lots of gifts. And we aren't religious!

Oliver Cromwell banned Christmas 400 years ago because he complained it was too much of a pagan festival. Nothing has changed.

Technically it is a pagan festival that was high jacked by the Romans. But don't let that stand in the way of your argument OP.

Not everyone is religious but everyone loves a celebration.

Adults and children need something to look forward to, to break up the year. People get together, it can be a lovely time for many, no matter how its celebrated.

A December midwinter festival pre-dates Christianity so YABU

Yes I enjoy it too just think its a bit hypocritical.

But if you're not religious, which the majority aren't, it is about food, presents and decorations etc 🤷‍♀️

Christmas is more about tradition in this house because none of us are religious.

I love it, it's my favourite time of year 🌲

It hasn’t been a religious festival for a generation. I went to a semi rural COE primary school in the late 90s. Even then no one went to church over Christmas.

Good riddance, IMO. Let people have fun. Religion is so depressing.

It was always, fundamentally, about celebration, excess, cheer, in the depths of mid winter. It long predates Christianity and has performed this function for thousands of years. YABU.

How is it hypocritical if you're open and honest about not being religious?

When I wish someone a Merry Christmas, I'm not saying "Happy birthday Jesus". I'm literally just wishing them a good holiday.

Christmas, as said was hijacked, it wasn't a Christian festival. Like most festivals the Christian Church couldn't get people to stop feasting etc, so nicked them. I celebrate as a Winter festival and that's how I put it to my children and now GC. A lot is raised for charity during the Christmas season. That's what it should be about, goodwill and celebrations, not the sky pixie and imaginary friends of some.

How is it hypocritical?

Christmas or rather Saturnalia has nothing to do with religion

We aren't religious but to us Christmas is the only time we get to spend 8 days together as a family, enjoying ourselves, no work pressures, having fun.

It's the family bit that matters. The presents are about giving each other pleasure but not that important.

We look at it a bit like "festival of light". Winters long and hard and a big celebration is lovely.

As someone who has taught the nativity story to infant school children for years, IME it’s true that before we start learning about it, children can’t accurately answer the question ‘why do we celebrate Christmas?’ But then they do they learn about it in school, so should know by the time they’ve had a couple of Christmases there.

I was brought up Catholic so was steeped in the religious significance of Christmas. Nowadays though the only 'bit' of it I practice is advent, and even that I do in a slightly different way (by buying a special Christmas candle). I don't think that makes me a hypocrite, I would say I'm a humanist if anything, but I'm not a Christian.

Yes I would rather say happy holidays instead of merry Christmas as I amnot religious. I agree it can be a lovely celebration time and I love it as much as anyone .

Christmas is about family and sharing, giving, receiving, feasting, being together and celebrating whether in a church or not. Which is pretty much following the general ethos of most (not all) religions, so I see no hypocrisy.

I have no faith, but enjoy a get together with a bit of feasting.

Well it wasn't originally a Christian festival so if this is a hijacking, it's not the first.

I don’t understand your point, it’s always been like this for kids other than for very religious Christian families.

Christmas IS all about presents and food in my house. Celebrations evolve over time, and people can keep things from faiths they no longer participate in. That’s what my mother did, and I grew up an atheist celebrating Christmas (though my mum was never a real Christian, but her family were “hatched matched dispatched” church people). My son will grow up in an atheist household celebrating Christmas too.

It’s not hypocritical at all. Besides you guys nicked all the fun stuff from the pagans anyway.