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 wouldn't say "farce" was the right term.

Consumerist, plastic fantastic tat-fest is a better description.

To people that are not religious then it is about food, drink, presents, parties and families coming together. I'm not religious and do not see it as a religious holiday and if I had kids I wouldn't teach them that it was a religious holiday, they would only know that if taught at school or if they specifically asked me.

I understand what you’re saying OP but I do think that Christmas should predominantly be about happiness and enjoyment. If it’s a time when people get together and have fun and share kindness then even if they don’t know their true meaning behind that does it matter? they are essentially practicing what they’d be told to if they were religious.

We're a house of atheists but all thoroughly enjoy Christmas.
Love all the food, drink, presents, time of work and spending lots of time with friends and family.

We're not a Christian family. DS' partner is pagan. For us it's a point of light in the darkest season of the year, a time for us to come together and share food, gifts and most importantly each other's company. Faith doesn't come into it at all, nor does it need to.

If you don't want to celebrate, fine. If you do, but you don't want nice food and drink, or any gifts even for the kids, any decorations, indeed anything "extra" that marks it out as a celebration, well, you don't have to...but your party does sound shit.

Bah humbug. I'm having an operation and I cant wait to not have to travel to relatives or host. It's expensive and the pressure is immense for one day.

I just asked my 8 year old and she said 'it's about spending time with your family and celebrating the birth of Jesus'.

We are not remotely religious and love an alcohol and food fest!

I think schools do a pretty good job of teaching children the ‘true meaning’ of Christmas. Nativities, visits to the local church, RE lessons etc. It is a Christian festival whether people like it or not as our country, constitution, customs, laws and holidays are largely set up around Christian cultural norms. That isn’t to say other religions’ festivals shouldn’t be celebrated and taught in schools, it’s just that Christmas belongs to the Christians and all are welcome.

I think this country needs more festivals and celebrations - the more the merrier!

Christmas has become as much a cultural celebration as it has religious.

I think people need a reason to celebrate and come together, and that’s why so many religious and cultural celebrations exist around the world.

I’m bringing my children up to celebrate the religious understanding of Christmas, as well as the more secular elements, because that’s what works for my family. I can’t see any issue with people just celebrating the secular elements though.

Once something has become entrenched in mainstream tradition (which Christmas has through Christianity being the most common religion in the UK for hundreds of years), it belongs to us all.

Well I've certainly learned a lot today especially the pagan bit . I 'm going to leave the thread now but just to be clear I would wish a merry Christmas to anyone who celebrates Christmas because of their religion because I respect anybodys right to be of a religion if they choose. Any way happy holidays or merry Christmas to you all have a wonderful celebration 🎉

@UWhatNow

How can a festival that Christians stole and has largely become cultural with little to do with the religion, belong to Christians?

In our house there is no such thing as god. Christmas for us is about having time as family. We eat loads, enjoy some good wines and have a tree and gifts. Nothing to do with religion.

@portocristo

You're definitely being unreasonable in starting a thread about Christmas in October

And then bogging off cause you don't like the replies

It isn't a religious festival in any way for my family. It is a wonderful time to spend together with food and games and no work and perks a miserable winter up no end.

I'm not religious and I celebrate Christmas so I kind of understand what you mean, but I just think Christmas means different things to different people. Just like church does as well. I have known people who said they weren't religious but loved being part of their Church community because of all that they got out of it,

Christmas is what you make it, for me it's about family and warmth and acceptance, and I buy into all that wholeheartedly. I don't think about the religious aspect of it most years, even when I see clear religious depictions, I relate them to Christmas and not the church. Maybe I am hypocritical, but I just see it as taking what is worthwhile from the religious festival (community, family, generosity of spirit) and leaving the side that I don't want. I think that is sensible and I don't think I am alone in that thinking!

Couldn't resist answering the last I accept all of the replies .

YANBU, but people say this every single year!

Not sure why people celebrate Christmas if they aren't Christian! Baffles me.

Your OP, and follow up replies don’t make any sense. At all.

They celebrated the day long before Christianity arrived on the scene.

‘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 agree it can be a lovely celebration time and I love it as much as anyone’

🥴

Like other people say, it always has been a festival of excess. I hate it, because that goes against my personality - I suppose I'm quite a serious-minded person. Not to say I have no sense of humour, but I like discipline and order and routine an dislike excess in all things - food, drink, spending, consumerism. I think about the impact on the environment. It makes me anxious and uncomfortable. But other people like it so I suck it up and keep my mouth shut. I just try to keep busy and do a lot of the routine work like chopping the vegetables.

‘Happy holidays’ isn’t really a less religious greeting than ‘Merry Christmas’. ‘Holiday’ comes from the old English for ‘holy day’.

Obviously we use the term ‘holiday’ in a different way now… much like how many none Christians say ‘Merry Christmas’ 🤷‍♀️.

YABU and YANBU
We have a faith and go to church on Christmas morning. I loved Christmas and always hosted.

For us it does feel a bit of a farce now. We put up just one tree, we travel 250 miles to a rented cottage for MIL with a predecorated tree. It's hard work and required significant planning. We can't go to our own church. DD and BF won't come this year because they are heavily involved with our church at home and it's a 4.5 hour drive at noon, after the family service. We have to be away from the cottage at 10am on 27th so it isn't practicable.

We can't have close friends on Boxing Day.

Nothing will change until MIL dies and where will be the joy in that?

Sorry for the grouchy post.