Not everyone celebrates Christmas

[FourChimneys]

Semi lighthearted but is anyone else exasperated and irritated by the assumption that you celebrate Christmas? If you were obviously from another culture it might be easier but otherwise the default is Christmas.

Nothing I do or say suggests this is the case but people persist. Eg in the supermarket today, getting some basics "Oh, hello Chimneys, doing your Christmas shopping?" Or "What are doing for Christmas?" Or "Finished your Christmas shopping yet?".

I know people are making conversation and I usually just smile and move on but it's as though an alternative viewpoint doesn't exist.

@Weepachu Xmas is from the Greek letter chi, which is the first letter in Christos, which became Christ in English. It's a very old abbreviation.

As in Christmas tree, stockings etc?

I don't know how to quote but yes to Christmas trees for both, decorations, cards, celebratory food and presents. Also carol concerts.

Wow! They must love celebrating!

I know the X is from the Greek - I’m not an idiot! 😊
It’s the context in which it is used, repeatedly, to avoid at all costs saying Christ’s name, that is the problem. And sadly, not surprising.

I do say christ- but only as an expletive.

Well said.😇

As an atheist I’ve no feelings whatsoever about Jesus or Allah or Zeus or any other deity/god-linked individual. I abhor what has been done by humans in the name of religion over millenia and will never partake in any part of it. (I attended a church school for 7 years and didn’t participate there either.)

There is a collision here of your religious desires and that of the secular winter festivals that predated it, all of which were commandeered under early Christians into one festival. Maybe “Xmas” is okay as shorthand for those celebrating the season without religion. Apparently those of us referring to Yule or Saturanalia are weird and worthy of bullying by others, so I can’t see a campaign to reinstate them going down well, somehow if this thread is anything to go by…

I’ve actually been arguing for those who celebrate Yuletide/winter solstice/saturnalia to please start calling whatever it is you do by the appropriate name.

You’re obviously not celebrating the Mass of Christ - Christmas.

Choose one of the above names and leave off with the xmas/xtians nomenclature since “Christ” is so hated.

Yeah, you rather like telling others what they can and can't do.

WTF how is it hate speech to ask people not to expect Jews to celebrate Christmas?

Christians celebrate Easter don't they- that name comes from the word Oestre- an old pagan fesival- why don't christians find a new name for that?
Maybe jesus zombie day or whatever.

Christmas isn't only a christian festival.
It is there for anyone to celebrate as they wish.
For some that may mean many church visits, praying worship.
For others it's secular and about sata claus and chocolate.

hristians celebrate Easter don't they- celebrating

Here we go.

The report was for the obvious vitriol towards “Xmas” and “xtians” and continued enforcement of the X rather than bringing themselves to say “Christ”.

Very transparent. But of course, make it about you!

Yes of course, there’s Ostara, the pagan business and then there’s Easter, the Christian Jesus zombie day, as you so respectfully put it.

Do you want to read my posts again? Not me saying I do Xmas……

To quote..
There are three little dots at the bottom right of the post. Click on them and then click on quote.
Merry Christmas. 🥳

AFAIK there is nothing in the mumsnet rules that prevent using those very common abbreviations and I see nothing in the post to suggest it was in any way hateful.

How am I making anything about me?

I am not sure why you think I dislike Christians? Apologies for using a shortened form which I see used very often. I don't think that is hate speech.

Yes, I am uncomfortable typing out the word, this is partly for religious reasons, partly just a general sense of discomfort with a religion that has not been all that nice to mine. No quibble with modern day Christians, I often participate in interfaith events and most are lovely. (or the ones that come to interfaith events are anyway!)

Just explaining why more knowledgable Jews might find certain aspects of this holiday less than warm and cuddly.

There is nothing in the mumsnet rules about criticisting religion.

Personal attacks are not allowed.

I respect the rights of people to choose what they believe- but I have no respect for the christian faith.

If I said merry Christmas to someone and they said I don't celebrate Christmas then I'd probably ask what do they celebrate and hopefully learn something about something I know very little about. Then I'd prob diary action in my calendar to wish them well on their celebrated traditions.

Your just passing well wishes on to someone surely. I couldn't get offended or bothered about someone wishing me well about something I may or not celebrate. It's just someone being kind surely.

All I have to say is “Good Friday”.

But naturally, you’re the victim.

Also as a Brit in the US, the whole "oh it's so terrible you can't say Christmas" is rubbish. It's about respecting everyone in a pluralist society

This is rather close to the "pregnant people" apologists' argument

It's a holiday in Uk, so surely mostly people make use of it? I work with predominantly Muslim families, most won't celebrate Christmas as such (some do though, just not the religious bits) but they'll still be doing something for/at Christmas, making the most of the time off and meeting up with family or going away.

They're really not offended at being wished a Happy Christmas and many send in Christmas gifts, often alcohol.

Sorry, are you now peddling the old anti-semetic "Jewish deicide" trope as a justification for the persecution of Jewish people?

What are you insinuating? That Jews deserve persecution because of the events on Good Friday?

You are aware that no Jew is 2000 years old so none of us can be personally responsible!

This is really surreal. And you are accusing me of hate speech.