Christmas as an athiest

[Bleakmidwinter1977]

Those of you who are celebrating Christmas, but don't consider yourself to be Christian...just wondering why you do, and what parts you opt out of/in to?

Asking as I'm interested, not because I have an opinion either way.

I think other cultures are much better at separating culture from religion.
Eg People talk about being ethnically or culturally Jewish and still hold on to those traditions but don't believe in the religious part

I am culturally Christian. I was christened, my parents were married in a church. But I "choose" to be atheist if choois the right word and have been since before I stopped believing in santa tbh.

The Christian festivals and traditions are important to me because its what I grew up with, they are focal points in my life, the times spent with family and friends and inherently happy.

In the UK they are major parts of our calendar. All school holidays and bank Holidays arranged around them. If I didn't celebrate at all it would be a bit strange. I am not American but if I moved to America I am sure I would do something on 4th July and thanks giving?

And rightly or wrongly christmas is now an almost global phenomenon. The influence Western society has had over books, film, TV, music and news for last 150 years means I suspect most people in the world have seen a xmas film or heard a xmas song.....and I think they should ve welcome to join in if they want

So we do everything except go to church tbh....although I have been to church at xmas (and other times) and I respect it, and enjoy it. But it's not a priority when we are busy and I don't believe.

To me it's a time for family to get together and spend time together. I'm aware some people have to work on Christmas but the majority of my family don't and my DH gets a few days off so it's just family time when the world has (sort of) shut down. And having a very excited 7 year old is fun as well.

Plus I bloody love a cheeseboard.

I don't know how it's viewed in religious households, but my in-laws always watch king's/Queen's speech and they are committed atheists.

It's a cultural holiday, not a religious one. We call it 'Christmas' but what most people celebrate is actually Yule.

My Dad does this and I always used to argue about it when we were part of the same household. He said that C of E is the just part of being white British - as if It was an accident of birth which you couldn't possibly opt out of it (which perhaps you can't entirely, as there's no way to un-baptise yourself AFAIK).

I suppose Richard Dawkins watches it too (or at least approves of people who do) because he's right wing? I always conflated religious/right wing/ monarchist because nearly everyone I grew up disliking or at least disagreeing with profoundly, was all of those things put together. Then again, church and King's speech could all be put in the uncontroversial and morally neutral category of "boring stuff" and avoided by all those who just want Christmas to be fun. ;)

I've never watched the Queen's or King's speech and I don't intend to start now.

I despise Christmas given it's now 'consumemass' and starts in fucking October

We don't do presents or trees or decorations or cards because they are wasteful and pointless and I can't be arsed anyway.

On Xmas day we have a big BBQ with friends in the sunshine and drink a lot. Much like any other bank holiday.

Me neither. Why would I ruin my Christmas with such boredom!?

Imagine a British winter without Christmas. I love the warmth of the atmosphere created by the anticipation of a lovely holiday

Tim Minchin sums it up for me as well. White Wine in the Sun is sublime and my heart also aches for him losing his Mum this year. It's about having a place and a time to mark all the things I hold dear, and at the coldest of times. It's about my family and our traditions stretching back into the mists of time and weaving forwards into the lives of my children and the families they will build. It's a fabulous cultural moment, a pause, a shared celebration, light in the dark. I may be an atheist, but I have faith in Christmas.

Like a lot of others, it's cultural for us. Celebration, family, good food, gifts, stockings, tree that pretty much come from Yule. We also have a lot of family birthdays around Christmas, so there's quite a bit of celebrating 😁.

I do like Christmas Carols, but I'm sure that's nostalgia and culture. They just remind me of childhood Christmases. I can enjoy the music without needing to believe.

That roast goose and bao buns sounds amazing, though!

@Brexile Dawkins is left leaning, has supported labour and Lib Dem in the past. He is anti monarchy. I doubt he watches the King's/Queen's speech as a fan, perhaps he might in order to criticise what is said.

I'm an atheist and a huge hypocrite. I love Christmas. I even love going to mass with my partner and son on Christmas Eve - they are catholic. It's a magical family time.

It's a Yule celebration here for us.

We exchange gifts on the 25th to keep the actual Solstice uncommercialised and it was just easier when the children were small.

When my parents go it will be just another day here and DP and I will hopefully jet off somewhere where Christmas is a non event or at least restricted to one day, not the tedious weeks it drags on for here.

This. We don't do church, although I do like a Christmas Eve Carol service as like carols and singing but rarely find the time. Other than that we do all things Christmas. A lot of Christmas traditions (eg a tree) are actually pagan traditions anyway. The Christians just nicked them to get promote Christianity.

I celebrate the Winter Solstice, knowing the deepest darkest part of the year is approaching, life has laid down and is awaiting the sun to come back and to wake the land again, so the cycle begins again. We mark this part of the year by our festivities of feast, happiness, relaxation, love.

Having popped in again to see the majority of mumsnet posters on this thread are atheists it makes me wonder how they feel to be part of such a tiny global minority of 7%
I was surprised to read this. I was expecting it to be far higher 🤔

OP asked how atheists celebrate Christmas and you are surprised that she got responses from atheists?

ok then.

7% of us are "out" atheists and 90-odd % of us are closeted. 😀

I don't get time off at Christmas unless it's allocated (so a week every five years) and I am a hardline atheist. Therefore I don't find anything about Christmas beneficial. I prefer Bonfire Night.

But I go along with it for my DD's sake. I buy gifts and decorate our home. I don't send Christmas cards anymore. My ex cooks dinner but this is our first one as a separated couple.

Next year I plan to bugger off on holiday. It's my year for the week off.

@Butterflywings18 I don't think I'd put too much stake in those global statistics. For a start, in quite a few Islamic countries it isn't safe to admit you are an atheist. In the US, it still carries a massive stigma. I also wouldn't assume that the people who marked themselves as 'no faith' in the last census are all closet theists of some kind - I imagine the % of atheists in the UK is considerably higher than 7%. I reckon there are more of us than people think.

We no everything except go to church

Why? Being an atheist is nothing to be ashamed about. All the atheists I know have no issue with telling others when discussing the subject. People are entitled to believe or not. Its a personal choice. I'm genuinely surprised to read latest studies show globally its 7% of people who profess to be atheist. Personally I'm not judgemental in any respect. I'm a lapsed church member but my faith remains strong. I intend to go back to church when the time is right. A Christmas church service is usually beautiful. I Think I'll persuade DH to go this year. He's a believer but doesn't like church.
We'll see 🤣

I think I love you 😂