Anything that gives me a chance to celebrate, eat good food, give and receive gifts, and take time off from work is fine by me. I celebrate Xmas, Solstice, Ginkgo Day, Tet, Kwanzaa, Chanuka, Fechner Day, Girl6's birthday, and a host of others (I don't have my official calendar here). Of course, some are difficult to secularize, so I ignore them--if they are brought to my attention, I'll use them as an excuse to eat & drink (all the more fun for fasting holidays). I do not celebrate any of them in the spirit they are intended.
As Krusty says, "Have a merry christmas, a happy hannuka, a kwaazy kwanzaa, a tip-top tet, and a solemn and dignified ramadan."
As Krusty says, "Have a merry christmas, a happy hannuka, a kwaazy kwanzaa, a tip-top tet, and a solemn and dignified ramadan."
I celebrate Christmas, and have no trouble even with including as an element the myth of Christ's birth. Because I see it as a myth, a powerful statement that speaks to a universal experience. Like all great myths, it operates on multiple levels. The fact that a lot of people claim this is historical truth and not mythic imagery doesn't distract from its beauty.
Skeptical Greg
Agave Wine Connoisseur
Mercutio said:
You left out " Cinco de Mayo ".. A time to enjoy tacos...
We celebrate in our house (small children) and because Grandparents expect it when they come to visit. Personally, if I'm not working I will go to midnight mass. The beauty, pagentry and music are enthralling and I find it oddly peaceful. There is no religious connection for me, I simply enjoy the show.
Boo
Boo
UnrepentantSinner
A post by Alan Smithee
Hell yeah I celebrate Christmas, though celebrate would be a bit strong for how I observe the holiday. There are 5 holidays I would observe regardless. Memorial Day, Independance Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas. The first three are because I'm an American that appreciates what that means. The latter two are because they are the perfect "pick-me-ups" for the Winter Blues.
Conversely I would never celebrate Winter Solstice, first because ressurected "true" pagan holidays are stupid for an atheist to celebrate, and second because the longest, darkest day of the year doesn't deserve celebration as I see it. If there were two holidays commemorating the midpoints between Fall Equinox, Winter Solstice and Sping Equinox... I might acknowledge them because that's the perfect time of Winter.
Conversely I would never celebrate Winter Solstice, first because ressurected "true" pagan holidays are stupid for an atheist to celebrate, and second because the longest, darkest day of the year doesn't deserve celebration as I see it. If there were two holidays commemorating the midpoints between Fall Equinox, Winter Solstice and Sping Equinox... I might acknowledge them because that's the perfect time of Winter.
Dancing David
Penultimate Amazing
It is a great secular holiday, the solstice is agreat time to go out in the cold quiet and have a camp fire.
halloween falls roughly between the equinox and the solstice, it is also the celtic new year and day od the dead.
Candle mass/Ladies day also fall close to the point between the solstice and the spring equinox.
halloween falls roughly between the equinox and the solstice, it is also the celtic new year and day od the dead.
Candle mass/Ladies day also fall close to the point between the solstice and the spring equinox.
Starrman
Graduate Poster
- Joined
- May 23, 2003
- Messages
- 1,171
I am an Atheist, and I love Christmas.
I even like Christmas Eve mass (the only time I go to church now). The Church I go to is always gorgeous for the holidays and I love seeing how excited all of the kids are.
For me it is about tradition and family, not religion.
I even like Christmas Eve mass (the only time I go to church now). The Church I go to is always gorgeous for the holidays and I love seeing how excited all of the kids are.
For me it is about tradition and family, not religion.
Nyarlathotep
Philosopher
- Joined
- Mar 26, 2003
- Messages
- 7,503
I have no problem with celebrating Christmas. The holiday is religious in origin to be sure, but over the centuries it has become something more of an excuse to be with family and to have fun. I see value in that even if the holiday began as a religious celebration. You probably wouldn't find me going to Church on Christmas morning or partaking of any other overtly religious aspect of the holiday, but having a good meal, exchanging gifts and having fun is something I will accept any excuse for. Christmas is the day that my friends, my family, and society at large have chosen for those activities and that's fine with me.
Besides, avoiding Christmas, or anything else I might enjoy on the excuse, "I can't do that because I am an atheist" strikes me as trying to make a religion out of atheism, which is about the silliest endeavour I can think of.
Besides, avoiding Christmas, or anything else I might enjoy on the excuse, "I can't do that because I am an atheist" strikes me as trying to make a religion out of atheism, which is about the silliest endeavour I can think of.
jimlintott
Master Poster
- Joined
- Jun 9, 2002
- Messages
- 2,893
I do not celebrate christmas. I grudgingly tolerate it. I'm not religous so the religous aspect holds nothing for me. I find the crass commercialism and overconsumption to be disgusting if not borderline offensive. I do take the oppourtunity to gather with family and friends who materialise around that holiday. I would gladly meet these people at any time however.
My children and I have started our own tradition of exchanging small modest gifts and having a small modest celebration on the eve of the solstice.
We then reset our calendar and sacrifice a small mammal.
My children and I have started our own tradition of exchanging small modest gifts and having a small modest celebration on the eve of the solstice.
We then reset our calendar and sacrifice a small mammal.
I celebrate MWF
MWF = Merchant's Winter Festival
I celebrate like most Christians do. I buy gifts and party and do not in the least acknowledge the mythical aspect of it. All my Christian friends are the same.
It is all about the fun of getting and getting gifts from thoughtful friends. It is all about partying and food and a great time. It is all about watching your kid's eyes light up at the new computer. The lights, the tree, the snowmen in the front yard.
I love it when I hit the mark - that is get a gift that the other person really appreciates. When you hear them say, "How could you have known?" then I know I hit the mark!! That is what MWF is all about to me and it is a good thing.
I balk at the people who knock the crash commercialism for that is at the heart of it all. It is what makes it fun. Imagine MWF without it - ho hum just another service - more homage to the myth.
Jesus you say? what's he got to do with it?
Bentspoon
MWF = Merchant's Winter Festival
I celebrate like most Christians do. I buy gifts and party and do not in the least acknowledge the mythical aspect of it. All my Christian friends are the same.
It is all about the fun of getting and getting gifts from thoughtful friends. It is all about partying and food and a great time. It is all about watching your kid's eyes light up at the new computer. The lights, the tree, the snowmen in the front yard.
I love it when I hit the mark - that is get a gift that the other person really appreciates. When you hear them say, "How could you have known?" then I know I hit the mark!! That is what MWF is all about to me and it is a good thing.
I balk at the people who knock the crash commercialism for that is at the heart of it all. It is what makes it fun. Imagine MWF without it - ho hum just another service - more homage to the myth.
Jesus you say? what's he got to do with it?
Bentspoon
You mean the holiday where we praise the Fat guy in the red suit who comes down our chimney and gives us toys under a tree?
Yeah, we celebrate that!
I hear some religious folks have a holiday on that same date. Mere coincidence, sez I!
Yeah, we celebrate that!
I hear some religious folks have a holiday on that same date. Mere coincidence, sez I!
Bullwinkle
New Blood
- Joined
- Aug 26, 2003
- Messages
- 7
I have a feeling this is going to make me as popular as walking into a blood bank...
...and announcing that I have active hepatitis!
I celebrate Christmas as a religious holiday. I'm a Lutheran. A liberal Lutheran, and an active member of several progressive causes -- but an active, practicing Lutheran, nonetheless.
In lieu of buying presents and making barely-educated guesses about what people might want, several years ago we started making charitable contributions in the receiver's name. There are several organizations that I support strongly: Planned Parenthood, OutYouth (an organization which supports gay and lesbian teenagers), the area food bank -- and we support these organizations by giving in the name of the person who would be receiving presents. (Our extended families are all supportive of this, and in fact started making charitable contributions themselves.)
I use Advent as a time of introspection, and as a time where I can actively help others. If there is any gift-buying which needs to be done, I try to have it done by Thanksgiving so as not to ruin the tone of the season.
Christmas Eve, for me, is the busiest day of the year. I'm music director of an ELCA church, which means additional Advent services and two Christmas Eve services. Even with that, I go to a Midnight Mass at the Episcopal church downtown: church music directors also get to enjoy the pagentry!
Christmas morning, we light a big, white candle firs thing, followed by a breakfast of blintzes, and then prepare the Christmas meal. After dinner, we open half the presents (the other half are saved for New Year's Day -- it's just a tradition in our family, nothing more).
Actually, New Year's Day is the holiday with the big, blow-out dinner: we celebrate the New Year with a 12-course dinner, champagne, wine -- and the other half of the presents!
...and announcing that I have active hepatitis!
I celebrate Christmas as a religious holiday. I'm a Lutheran. A liberal Lutheran, and an active member of several progressive causes -- but an active, practicing Lutheran, nonetheless.
In lieu of buying presents and making barely-educated guesses about what people might want, several years ago we started making charitable contributions in the receiver's name. There are several organizations that I support strongly: Planned Parenthood, OutYouth (an organization which supports gay and lesbian teenagers), the area food bank -- and we support these organizations by giving in the name of the person who would be receiving presents. (Our extended families are all supportive of this, and in fact started making charitable contributions themselves.)
I use Advent as a time of introspection, and as a time where I can actively help others. If there is any gift-buying which needs to be done, I try to have it done by Thanksgiving so as not to ruin the tone of the season.
Christmas Eve, for me, is the busiest day of the year. I'm music director of an ELCA church, which means additional Advent services and two Christmas Eve services. Even with that, I go to a Midnight Mass at the Episcopal church downtown: church music directors also get to enjoy the pagentry!
Christmas morning, we light a big, white candle firs thing, followed by a breakfast of blintzes, and then prepare the Christmas meal. After dinner, we open half the presents (the other half are saved for New Year's Day -- it's just a tradition in our family, nothing more).
Actually, New Year's Day is the holiday with the big, blow-out dinner: we celebrate the New Year with a 12-course dinner, champagne, wine -- and the other half of the presents!
Oh, come on! In my garden I have six types of peppers, 7 varieties of garlic, I have onions, tomatos, tomatillos...cilantro, oregano...I own a tortilla press, for ed's sake! Cinco de Mayo? Primero de Mayo, Dia de los Muertos, Carnaval... (I know what is for supper tonight now--thanks, Diogenes!)Diogenes said:
You left out " Cinco de Mayo ".. A time to enjoy tacos...
and USA..
All good points, but they don't make the food and drink any less wonderful--and so I celebrate them...in my way...
Teh Wiccan
Student
- Joined
- Aug 19, 2003
- Messages
- 48
I celebrate it, as I believe it has Pagan roots.
Bullwinkle
New Blood
- Joined
- Aug 26, 2003
- Messages
- 7
Teeny-tiny addendum
My family does a gift exchange amongst ourselves and our closest friends, so it's not like we're doing a Christmas celebration sans presents!
On the other hand, one member of my extended family is a practicing Calvinist, and they actually DO Christmas celebrations -- sans presents! I guess they were predestined to do that...
We've found it's really neat to get presents on New Year's Day! And I really think the New Year ought to be celebrated with presents!
My family does a gift exchange amongst ourselves and our closest friends, so it's not like we're doing a Christmas celebration sans presents!
On the other hand, one member of my extended family is a practicing Calvinist, and they actually DO Christmas celebrations -- sans presents! I guess they were predestined to do that...
We've found it's really neat to get presents on New Year's Day! And I really think the New Year ought to be celebrated with presents!
Bullwinkle
New Blood
- Joined
- Aug 26, 2003
- Messages
- 7
I have a feeling this is going to make me as popular as walking into a blood bank...
...and announcing that I have active hepatitis!
I celebrate Christmas as a religious holiday. I'm a Lutheran. A liberal Lutheran, and an active member of several progressive causes -- but an active, practicing Lutheran, nonetheless.
In lieu of buying presents and making barely-educated guesses about what people might want, several years ago we started making charitable contributions in the receiver's name. There are several organizations that I support strongly: Planned Parenthood, OutYouth (an organization which supports gay and lesbian teenagers), the area food bank -- and we support these organizations by giving in the name of the person who would be receiving presents. (Our extended families are all supportive of this, and in fact started making charitable contributions themselves.)
I use Advent as a time of introspection, and as a time where I can actively help others. If there is any gift-buying which needs to be done, I try to have it done by Thanksgiving so as not to ruin the tone of the season.
Christmas Eve, for me, is the busiest day of the year. I'm music director of an ELCA church, which means additional Advent services and two Christmas Eve services. Even with that, I go to a Midnight Mass at the Episcopal church downtown: church music directors also get to enjoy the pagentry!
Christmas morning, we light a big, white candle firs thing, followed by a breakfast of blintzes, and then prepare the Christmas meal. After dinner, we open half the presents (the other half are saved for New Year's Day -- it's just a tradition in our family, nothing more).
Actually, New Year's Day is the holiday with the big, blow-out dinner: we celebrate the New Year with a 12-course dinner, champagne, wine -- and the other half of the presents!
...and announcing that I have active hepatitis!
I celebrate Christmas as a religious holiday. I'm a Lutheran. A liberal Lutheran, and an active member of several progressive causes -- but an active, practicing Lutheran, nonetheless.
In lieu of buying presents and making barely-educated guesses about what people might want, several years ago we started making charitable contributions in the receiver's name. There are several organizations that I support strongly: Planned Parenthood, OutYouth (an organization which supports gay and lesbian teenagers), the area food bank -- and we support these organizations by giving in the name of the person who would be receiving presents. (Our extended families are all supportive of this, and in fact started making charitable contributions themselves.)
I use Advent as a time of introspection, and as a time where I can actively help others. If there is any gift-buying which needs to be done, I try to have it done by Thanksgiving so as not to ruin the tone of the season.
Christmas Eve, for me, is the busiest day of the year. I'm music director of an ELCA church, which means additional Advent services and two Christmas Eve services. Even with that, I go to a Midnight Mass at the Episcopal church downtown: church music directors also get to enjoy the pagentry!
Christmas morning, we light a big, white candle firs thing, followed by a breakfast of blintzes, and then prepare the Christmas meal. After dinner, we open half the presents (the other half are saved for New Year's Day -- it's just a tradition in our family, nothing more).
Actually, New Year's Day is the holiday with the big, blow-out dinner: we celebrate the New Year with a 12-course dinner, champagne, wine -- and the other half of the presents!