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Christmas

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Out of interest if you are secular, do you celebrate Xmas rather than Christmas?

347 replies

Marmiteandjamislush · 03/10/2014 09:37

Just for background, our family is modern traditional Christian, that is to say we observe all of the rules as they relate to the individual, so food, dress, personal actions, hygiene etc. but we do not impose our views on others or encourage others to join the faith. God gave people choice and we cannot influence that, we can only show our best selves. We do not believe in creationism, we believe God gave us the capacity to understand and practice science so science and God cannot be mutually exclusive, though we do believe that the process began with God. We are most definitely Not homophobic (really annoys me that a lot of Christians are automatically tarred with this brush) God made all people in his image and that includes people of all orientations. We accept that the Bible was of it's time and the language used expresses views that do not always hold true in our time, because God has revealed information to us that changes our understanding. We use it as a guiding hand rather than a rigid stick.

Anyway, to my point. I've seen quite a few threads on the site generally where people will say they celebrate Christmas, but then follow it up with something along the lines of 'but we don't do any religious nonsense.' I have no problem with people wanting to do the commercial/family aspects, but I do have an issue with people talking about Christmas, but having nothing to do with or even basic respect for Christ or Christians. Especially when a secular term exists. So as I said, out of interest do any of you do Xmas rather than Christmas?

OP posts:
firesidechat · 04/10/2014 08:17

Ineed Grin, what did you think it meant?

Beastofburden · 04/10/2014 09:19

I know ppl at a Russian Orthodox Church and they spend their whole time eating out of the home, I have never seen so many parties Grin. The Greek Orthodox share it and they party too.

sashh · 04/10/2014 10:34

JeanneDeMontbaston that has been my experience, as I've said countless times, I will read up and God will reveal. I'm not going to shake my whole foundation as KatieKaye implies based on a parenting forum though.

Good grief. This is not about divine revelation, this is about the English language and the origin of certain words.

Historically Christians have identified themselves to others using X, a fish symbol or wearing a cross. You don't have to be a Christian to know that, you might be a Christian who doesn't use those symbols but they are still symbols used by some Christians.

As for your original post, well you make a massive assumption. I don't celebrate Xmas or Christmas, I try to ignore the madness that surrounds the 25th of December in this country.

Here is something for you to study - why do you celebrate on the 25th December? Not all Christians have that as Christmas, some celebrate on the 6th or 7th of January.

BuilderMammy · 04/10/2014 12:59

DH and I are atheists. We were both brought up as Catholics so celebrated Christmas as children and loved it.

We continue to celebrate it now because peace, love and goodwill are pretty universal concepts and we enjoy the light, joy and togetherness in the darkness of winter.

We won't be avoiding mention of Christ; to us, it's another Christmas myth, like Santa. Our kids will be taking part in the creche nativity play like all the others, just like they'll get presents from Santa. We sing carols too, because we enjoy them. If anyone is offended by our traditions mirroring theirs despite our lack of religious belief, then maybe they need to think hard about tolerance.

We call it Christmas because that's what it's called these days. Our society is predominantly Catholic and to call it something else would mean that people would see us as even more different than they already do, which is not something we want for our kids. Division and exclusion seem contrary to the spirit of Christmas as we see it.

TheOnlyOliviaMumsnet · 04/10/2014 19:31

Goodness me, if ever there were time to call for Peace and Love, tis now.
Peace and love and indeed joy to all.

MultipleMama · 04/10/2014 19:41

My DH's family is religious and some of my dad's side of the family are. However we are not.

For me (and my dad) it's cultural and more about tradition than religion.

However this year it's a mix as we're spending it with DH's family and my family are flying in. We'll also be attending midnight mass for the first time.

MultipleMama · 04/10/2014 19:55

My extended family are Russian celebrate Christmas on 7th January. This year some will be spending it with us on 25th and then go home to celebrate it on 7th. Some even celebrate Russian advent!

DH's family celebrate Dec 6th and exchange gifts on Xmas eve. So we'll be involved in those celebrations too.

Xmas to me is just an abbreviation (wow I can't spell today!!).

ClashCityRocker · 04/10/2014 20:06

Surely christmas is named after Father Christmas? 'Tis his birthday, after all Confused

IneedAwittierNickname · 04/10/2014 20:35

fireside why the Grin? It never occurred to me that Xmeant anything. I just thought Xmas was a short way of writing Christmas. Confused

firesidechat · 04/10/2014 21:59

I'm confused now. Xmas is short for Christmas as in X/Christ mas.

firesidechat · 04/10/2014 22:01

The X stands for Christ. X instead of Christ.

IneedAwittierNickname · 04/10/2014 22:08

Whay I meant was I didn't know the the thing about the Greek alphabet. So I didn't know that X meant Christ as anything other than as modern shortening.

Lots of people I know in real life read Xmas as ex mass

Theboulderhascaughtupwithme · 04/10/2014 22:24

OP I mum more interested in the type of Christianity you practice now than your OP!! Smile

I was raised and educated a catholic, and have friends who are ( their terms) Born again Christian! I also have an aunt who is a seventh day Adventist! but it have never ever heard of Christians not sleeping with their husbands when menstruating!! This seems really odd and oppressive, designating all me treating women as dirty.

kittyvet · 05/10/2014 07:05

Just worked it out. OP a Mormon?? Fairly sure this not touching during menstruation was mentioned in a documentary a while back. Seems like we won't find out as the OP has gone to ground though :(

PetulaGordino · 05/10/2014 07:10

I didn't know that some people pronounce Xmas as "ex-mass"

IsItMeOr · 05/10/2014 12:35

I pronounce it ex-mass, but then I didn't know the Greek thing either (ex CofE).

Hakluyt · 05/10/2014 12:42

I didn't realise that anyone actually says Xmas- I thought it was an entirely written abbreviation, and if you were reading it out you would say Christmas. Just as if you were reading "yrs" you would say yours. I don't think I have ever heard anyone say Xmas.

PetulaGordino · 05/10/2014 12:46

It does explain the "crossing Christ out of christmas" complaint - I've heard someone say that before and was confused because I understood the X to stand for Christ (also CofE). But if that's not widely understood and some people pronounce it "ex-mass" then I understand (not the complaint so much, but why people might interpret it that way)

Hakluyt · 05/10/2014 12:50

I've never heard the "crossing Christ out of Christmas" complaint either- I must lewd a very sheltered life!

MumsyFoxy · 05/10/2014 13:05

Christmas or Xmas is the same to me.
I'm an atheist and celebrate Christmas; after all it has pagan roots so Christians don't hold the copyright.
We just don't do anything religious. Basically we just do the fun parts (family, decorations, food, presents, missing loved ones no longer around) without the boring nonsense.

PetulaGordino · 05/10/2014 13:10

I do the religious parts that are meaningful to me (and pagan too actually, because they are an intrinsic part of our modern traditions)

But we also have Jewish family so we also enjoy the food and traditions that go with Jewish celebrations!

combust22 · 06/10/2014 17:47

I am an atheist and happy to celebrate a secular/pagan christmas.

We are a jesus free zone.

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