Why do Atheists celebrate Christmas?

[bathsheba666]

Because it doesn't much resemble its original state either.

In the context of this thread, which is why do non-believers of the god of abraham hang loose at christmas, it pretty much does.

 

[azzaman333]

I like presents.

 

[naterator]

I haven't celebrated xmas in any way for about 15 years now. No parties, no xmas shopping, but i will accept presents coming my way any time of year (i don't get many at xmas simply because everybody who knows me knows better).

 

[Dudemeister]

Why do Christians celebrate Halloween?

 

[tycoonist]

although my family are atheist, they still celebrate christmas... i say "they", but seeing as i live with them, i kinda have to as well. bottom line, its not a christian event, its a capitalist event.

 

[Yoda Power]

although my family are atheist, they still celebrate christmas... i say "they", but seeing as i live with them, i kinda have to as well. bottom line, its not a christian event, its a capitalist event.

It's only a capitalist event if you allow it to be so. Christmas is really whatever you make it.

I don't care for religion or gifts, but I still love christmas.

 

[Traitorfish]

It depends what you mean by "Christmas". Do the non-religious ("atheists" is hardly an appropriate term) celebrate the birth of the religious figure known as Jesus Christ? No, they do not. Do they celebrate a secular mid-winter festival, the name of which happens to be derived from a Christian source? Yes, they do. The two are, I would say, distinct, albeit heavily overlapping.

And a few Christian traditions do track back to the pagans. Other claims of pagan cultural ancestry are as stupid as the Goddes Eostre.

What do you mean by "stupid", exactly? Presumably you're not suggesting that the deity herself was a "stupid" concept, so are we to take it as a disparaging comment on the supposed relationship between her festival and the Christian Easter? Or do you think that the idea that such a deity existed is, in itself, "stupid"?

 

[tycoonist]

It's only a capitalist event if you allow it to be so. Christmas is really whatever you make it.

I don't care for religion or gifts, but I still love christmas.

what is christmas without religion or presents anyway?

it is a capitalist affair... cause guess what, as soon as you have kids, even if you're opposed to the buying of gifts at christmas, you're gonna have to embrace the "joys" of capitalism.

 

[Traitorfish]

Unless you're a Jehovah's Witness, or a Puritan, or Amish, or a Mennonite, or, well, you get the idea.

 

[Miles Teg]

What do you mean by "stupid", exactly? Presumably you're not suggesting that the deity herself was a "stupid" concept, so are we to take it as a disparaging comment on the supposed relationship between her festival and the Christian Easter? Or do you think that the idea that such a deity existed is, in itself, "stupid"?

The only source we have on the Alleged goddess Eostre is the Venerable Bede, who described her as the namesake of the name of a month in spring, with a feast around the time of Paschal (or Easter). He was working from at least second hand sources, and while she may have existed, attempts to tie eggs and hares to her stink of wishful thinking.

 

[Yared]

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.

This. We're people as well, Bobtjoe

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...

Yup, Jul over here as well. In English it's Yule.

Yule or Yule-tide is a winter festival that was initially celebrated by the historical Germanic peoples as a pagan religious festival, though it was later absorbed into, and equated with, the Christian festival of Christmas. The festival was originally celebrated from late December to early January on a date determined by the lunar Germanic calendar. The festival was placed on December 25 when the Christian calendar (Julian calendar) was adopted. Some historians claim that the celebration is connected to the Wild Hunt[1][2] or was influenced by Saturnalia, the Roman winter festival[3].

Terms with an etymological equivalent to "Yule" are still used in the Nordic Countries for the Christian Christmas, but also for other religious holidays of the season. In modern times this has gradually led to a more secular tradition under the same name as Christmas. Yule is also used to a lesser extent in English-speaking countries to refer to Christmas. Customs such as the Yule log, Yule goat, Yule boar, Yule singing, and others stem from Yule. In modern times, Yule is observed as a cultural festival and also with religious rites by some Christians and by some Neopagans.

 

[scherbchen]

Why do Christians celebrate Halloween?

or New Year's Eve? not a christian anything that one. how dare they take the ONE agnostic holiday away from us and pervert it by drinking and kissing and eating grapes (if they are Spanish) and being merry and all? truth be told they should be working all night.

 

[Valka D'Ur]

Let's see...

Without Christmas, I would probably never have met a lot of my mother's family, as we only ever visited them on Christmas Day.

Chocolate.

Decorating the house.

Music. I love Christmas carols in their original form, but I also have fun rewriting them into filk form - ie. Star Trek.

Eggnog.

A Charlie Brown Christmas.

Christmas lights.

A few days out of the year during which it is completely acceptable to be lazy.

 

[Yoda Power]

what is christmas without religion or presents anyway?

it is a capitalist affair... cause guess what, as soon as you have kids, even if you're opposed to the buying of gifts at christmas, you're gonna have to embrace the "joys" of capitalism.

Buying gifts is capitalist now? Well then giving them away is socialism...

I thought you opposed all the tv-commercials, the stupid movies, etc. Not the actual act of giving presents. But if you want to be radical, then it's your own choice ofcause.

 

[Maniacal]

Because "christmas" is more than a mere religious holiday.

 

[Yared]

Another reason:

The CFC Christmas theme is pretty cool

 

[Bill3000]

Buying gifts is capitalist now? Well then giving them away is socialism...

You don't give away presents, you exchange presents of roughly equal value to others.

 

[spryllino]

You don't give away presents, you exchange presents of roughly equal value to others.

Except if the person who you give to is much poorer than yourself, in which case you can't and don't expect a present of equal value.

 

[Yared]

200 USD for an "I love you, mom" card

 

[Yoda Power]

You don't give away presents, you exchange presents of roughly equal value to others.

I can assure there is a lot of redistribution going on in my own family at least.