True meaning of Christmas

[dolallymum]

Curious....
Do your kids know the true reason for Christmas, and do they do anything to acknowledge it?

Yes, and it's acknowledged in the activities they do at school.

Yes they know it's because of the shortest day of the year and how for thousands of years people get together and have a feast. They also know what's from Germany and why we do certain things.

Yes, they know how important this time of year is to the retail industry.

They spend their pocket money with gay abandon every December.

they also know about Chinese New Year, Diwali etc and do activities in nursery and school to acknowledge these festivals.

If you're asking if I worship and encourage them to worship, then no (I'm atheist). I'm all for them learning about all cultures and traditions though and to be involved in the festivities along with all their peers.

at other responses

No. I think they're a bit young to learn about rebranding as a method for conversion. The whole religion for population control is quite unnerving and a conversation to wait until they're older.

Yes. All have had a Catholic education have grown up with Christian values. We used to go to church regular and always went to church Christmas morning. Now they are teenagers, dd(17) is an atheist ds's(14 and 11) still have some belief but are now at the church is boring stage so I don't make them attend church.

Oh and we do have a nativity set but jesus keeps getting abducted

Applauding these responses. Putting me in the christmas mood for the first time. Wish I knew how to do a santa smilie.

Just to add to my last post though, I do believe the true meaning of Christmas is much bigger than a religious story.

Yes, they know the Christian meaning - and yes, we will be celebrating in church because that is part of our family life. They also know it's a midwinter festival ... a family gathering ... a school holiday (much needed) ... and that giving is just as important as receiving.

I reckon all of the above is part of the "real" meaning of Christmas. But we do try and avoid it all being about Santa and Bing Crosby.

My DD is only 2 and this is the first year she has been fascinated with Christmas. As a result I have realised just how commercialised and far away from the original celebration. Don't get me wrong I knew it was pretty commercialised already, just not to the extent it is.
I am not a religious person, but as soon as I know that DD will understand I will be teaching her the true meaning, and that it's not just an excuse to ask Santa for tons of presents.

babanouche to get a smiley santa face type fsmile with [ ] either side.

I like MincedMuffPies' description. I shall be telling DS that when he's old enough to understand it.

Absolutely, we are not religious but I think the story of the nativity is beautiful, and so humble, a king born in a Rowley stable

I think it has a wonderful message and its at the heart of our Christmas. I also love the lighting up of the dark months and everything, but without the nativity, I think its commercial crap.

Rowley stable

dolallymum Thank you!

I think we focus our celebrations on the St Nick theme (i.e. patron Saint of Children amongst others) and the good he did. I'm careful to align St Nicklaus with the Santa Clause that we recognise today, and that Santa comes regardless of children being 'good' or 'bad' because really there are no 'bad' children, every child does something naughty occasionally.

My take to DD: "Santa comes because Mummy and Daddy have sent him pennies, and there are some very good children who will not get presents from Santa this year because their parents don't have the pennies. Nothing to do with 'good' and 'bad'. We are very lucky. "

DD is now 5 and has understood this from about 3.

But she knows all about the Nativity and tells me the story is a true story. I don't press my views on her, she can believe what she feels is right.

DD is 2 and is obsessed with birthdays. She knows that Christmas is Baby Jesus' birthday and that he lived a long time ago. We have read a storybook of the Nativity story together.

I like that RRudolphR. Unfortunately we work over the Christmas period, but I like your thinking.

As a muslim I believe in Jesus as a prophet but not as the son of God and Islam accepts the second coming of Christ. The Islamic version of the nativity story is different as it doesnt involve a little donkey & Bethleham!

However, I use the winter holiday as a time to recharge and catch up with friends, family, food and telly. I agree that the Christmas celebration is very commercialised with the focus on amassing piles of presents. I buy my dc gifts for Eid, 1 toy, 1 book & a set of clothes, but it's nothing like what I have read on here which scares me. I am glad that I dont celebrate it because the pressure to buy & compare gifts seem to be a lot more intense than when I was a kid.

We are CofE and will attend church on Christmas Day. Partly because of the religious aspect, partly because it's now a tradition that swings the focus away from presents, presents, presents. We live in a small village and the church is a focal point.
It's also the only time we get a real break together. We indulge ourselves as we are quite frugal the rest of the year so it feels a real treat

DD only learnt 'yellow' today; syncretism is a bit beyond her.

I make mine watch every version of Christmas Carol going.

I think it encapsulates every bit of my Christmas perfectly...looking after each other and being kinder than normal, enjoying the festivities because you can and knowing what's important (family and friends). That's what I have always enjoyed most about Christmas.
We also have to pre sunrise dog walks so my DS knows first hand how important the sun coming back is.
We also have a very cute nativity set that comes out every year so he knows that Christians have a different reason for Christmas.