Why do Atheists celebrate Christmas?

[Bobbtjoe]

Why do Atheists celebrate Christmas? There's not too much to add in the OP, so I'll post a smile.

 

[emzie]

Like Jews who don't believe in God, I'm culturally a Christian.

 

[Puck Nutty]

We like presents as much as anyone else.

 

[dirtyparrot]

Celebrate some time off like everyone else. Look forward to some gifts as well. You don't need a religion to enjoy seeing family and friends.

 

[Miles Teg]

I'm unsure. Why do we celebrate a holiday filled with Christian traditions like exchanging gifts, putting up trees decorated with festive ornaments, bedecking our houses with tiny light bulbs filtered through colored lenses, swapping stories of a man in a red-suit with a magic sled, and quietly disposing of fruitcake?

 

[Defiant47]

Why not?

 

[Lillefix]

In Norway we call it jul, so if there's anyone who needs to explain something, it's the christians that have to explain why they celebrate a pagan festival.

edit: And Bob. that's not a smile...

 

[Ajidica]

People like free stuff? IDK. The actual holiday has moved so far away from its original intent, that my church had a huge 'Put Christ back in Christmas' movement last year sort of funny when they had a movie with kindergardeners talking about how they integrate christ with christmas. You could so tell that they were reciting lines a being prompted.

 

[JollyRoger]

Why do non-atheists commercialize it?

 

[Kennigit]

A better question is why do the Easter/Christmas Christians bother going to service at all and just commit to not going?

Atheists may not believe in an omnipotent God, but we DO believe in awesome reindeer. And fat jolly men.

 

[spryllino]

Christmas is good fun. It would be a pity to waste the opportunity that tradition grants us to enjoy it.

 

[Behind The Mask]

Whats so christian about Christmas?

Unless your savior is fat and joyous, wears a red suit and puff ball hat, laughs in a series of 'ho's' and hails from the north pole where he collaborates in the mass construction of items of mass enjoyment with elves...

I'm a bleedin atheist, I shouldn't have to explain why I celebrate anything... I dont go up to you in you leizure time and ask you "hey Christian-guy, how come some of your mates celebrate halloween? I know the goblins are nice but come on, doesn't it all seem a bit pagan-licious."

No.

 

[Lillefix]

People like free stuff? IDK. The actual holiday has moved so far away from its original intent, that my church had a huge 'Put Christ back in Christmas' movement last year sort of funny when they had a movie with kindergardeners talking about how they integrate christ with christmas. You could so tell that they were reciting lines a being prompted.

Next year you should encourage them to put Ēostre back in Easter(Ēostre is btw a germanic godess who was celebrated at that time of year).

 

[Formaldehyde]

Why do non-atheists commercialize it?

This.

The way Christians now celebrate it seems a lot stranger to me than some atheists exchanging gifts and getting together with friends.

 

[Kozmos]

We like presents.

 

[W|M]

Free stuff is awesome. And it was a pagan festival, although I'd rather the pagan orgies.

 

[History_Buff]

Because I like my family and presents?

Why do Christians celebrate Saturnalia?

 

[ColdClimate]

I'm unsure. Why do we celebrate a holiday filled with Christian traditions like exchanging gifts, putting up trees decorated with festive ornaments, bedecking our houses with tiny light bulbs filtered through colored lenses, swapping stories of a man in a red-suit with a magic sled, and quietly disposing of fruitcake?

I defy you to actually show the 'christian' origin of any of those items listed...

 

[Lillefix]

I defy you to actually show the 'christian' origin of any of those items listed...

I'm pretty sure he was ironic.

 

[dirtyparrot]

I don't know about that one

You might want to clarify that one. It could be taken in so many different ways.