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Christmas

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Does religion feature in your christmas?

224 replies

Mindtrope · 27/11/2016 08:25

I have some very religious members of my family.
I always think it odd that she sends me cards with pictures of camels and sand dunes at christmas time.The only thing we do is listen to Carols at Kings, sweet in a traditional way, but not for the religious aspect.
Is your house a jesus free zone?

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slenderisthenight · 27/11/2016 08:34

No, in our house Jesus is, as Ds told me solemnly yesterday, The Reason For The Season.

Deserts are a bit surprising on Christmas cards but I like to be reminded of the cultural context which is so much broader and more diverse than just the north pole.

slenderisthenight · 27/11/2016 08:36

I feel you might not be getting the pick of your aunt's Christmas card selection box though Grin

ElizaDontlittle · 27/11/2016 08:36

Completely central here - can't imagine I would celebrate it otherwise. Always trying to look for ways to keep the story really fresh, and wonder at a God who took such an impossible sounding route to save us.

PinkiePiesCupcakes · 27/11/2016 08:37

It's not a complete JC Free zone over Christmas, but DD is only 3 so ant grasp who he was and why he's important to some people.
She does know that Christmas is to celebrate the birth of Jesus though, even though we're not religious.

nancy75 · 27/11/2016 08:38

No Jesus doesn't get a look in here, we prefer slade to xmas choirs!

bluelilies · 27/11/2016 08:39

It's not a part of our lives in any way. (And the midwinter celebrations of course predate Christianity)

I usually buy cards that reflect that view - snowmen, robins, etc. But sometimes I pick up whatever is cheap or pretty so might send a card with camels on.

Pluto30 · 27/11/2016 08:40

No religion here.

Bunch of atheists.

My grandmother calls us "heathens" and has her obnoxiously large nativity scene on display year round.

Mol1628 · 27/11/2016 08:40

No religion at all here. Our son knows the story but that's all it is to us. A story like all his other story books.

FantasticBeasts · 27/11/2016 08:40

Not especially, I do go to a Christmas service at an amazing big church sometime in December but I don't really believe in anything in particular.

Looks odd written down but I appreciate the music, building, traditions and there are some really lovely people involved who I work with throughout the year.

misstweedyweedy · 27/11/2016 08:43

No, although I do love a few churchy carols. I think that's mainly due to nostalgia for childhood though we were never religious.

whattheseithakasmean · 27/11/2016 08:43

We are a geebus free zone as well, just loving a jolly winter solstice & a cool yule Grin

ShatnersBassoon · 27/11/2016 08:43

I suppose it does. I sing carols, listen to other people sing and play them, and watch the nativity play at school. The religious elements don't happen in our home, but they definitely do in the community celebrations we take part in.

Mumofazoo · 27/11/2016 08:47

We are a Catholic household and have the advent wreath and a nativity scene. We are not overly strict on it though but we like to remember that Christmas is about Jesus.

SparkyBlue · 27/11/2016 08:48

Catholic household here so it does feature. I always send out religious themed Christmas cards and I add some nativity story books into dds bedtime reading rotation around now as well.

Paulat2112 · 27/11/2016 08:48

I'm with slender's DS. Jesus IS the reason for the season. God is a huge part of our lives now, not a fan of choir music though, we like our modern worship music.

BreatheDeep · 27/11/2016 08:49

There might be the odd carol listened to (normally while shopping etc rather than at home) but other than that we are a religion free zone.

GreenGinger2 · 27/11/2016 08:49

Pretty much Jesus free and same as your's op. My dh is atheist I veer towards agnostic. Ponder the story to myself briefly each year.Kids went to a CofE school which went overboard re the real reason. Curriculum went into shut down not long into Dec so kids haven't missed out. Plenty of reasons to celebrate as a family though- time and appreciation for family/others, celebrate winter/ feasting,a time to be together,connect,get cosy,think of others and well just celebrate. Christians don't have the monopoly on any of that and thankfully we don't need permission to celebrate. Don't think the big one if he exists would mind if we do. If I was in a street that celebrated Diwali I'd join in with that too.

SharkBastard · 27/11/2016 08:49

No religion here, heathens busting at the seams.

I love Christmas

Moondance87 · 27/11/2016 08:49

Yes religion does feature in our Christmas but not in a down your throat way...In don't send religious cards or force my family to read/watch particular religious things etc but we are Catholic in my family and I practice and take dd to mass every sunday. I will be going to midnight mass Christmas eve etc but wont take dd and dh wont go. We dont have a full nativity BUT I have a baby jesus statue ha I include religion but in a subtle way so im satisfied and my family are not bored.
dd also has a religious advent calendar alongside a chocolate one

Jabuticaba · 27/11/2016 08:50

Not 100%, we have a nativity scene and go to church. We teach both the religious and the pagan angles. Otherwise how do you explain the tree and gifts? Confused

Christmas is a great teaching platform for how cultures and traditions can get morphed into each other. Although I suspect Christmas was tagged onto the pagan holiday, as the church failed to stop the traditional celebrations from taking place.

As southern hemisphere dwellers our Christmas is outside eating, sunshine and messing about in the swimming pool. Robins and snow seem very removed. Camels and deserts are more realistic. Aren't the camels usually shown carrying the wise men though? I would think that would be more of a Christian theme and more likely to be sent by a religious person than the more traditional Christmas cards with robins and snow.

bloodymaria · 27/11/2016 08:52

This house keeps the old gods, none of yer newfangled jesus

Mindtrope · 27/11/2016 08:52

Not really the reason for the season though is it.

The jesus thing is a nice add on for those that like it, but christmas is a pretty pagan knees up.

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allthatnonsense · 27/11/2016 08:52

I would like JC to feature more in our family Christmas, but is tricky as my husband dos not believe.

I'll go to church two or three times for carols and services.

OldRosesDoomed · 27/11/2016 08:54

Christmas relates to the birth of Jesus. Of course religion features. Start of Advent today. Christmas cards very much feature a religious theme. We also have a nativity scene.

Mindtrope · 27/11/2016 08:56

roses- religion doesn't feature in our home.

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