I'm wondering how many of you celebrated Christmas that aren't Christians? And why?? I mean, I would never celebrate another religion's holiday so I wonder why Christmas is so different?? I guess I just don't understand it. I saw something about this on the news the other day & it's a topic I'm curious about.
or how about christmukkah?!! christmas can be fantastic even if you're jewish. i like jesus, he was a cool guy, so i'll celebrate christmas. easter is a bit iffy, but christmas is great. the music, the lights, the pine, the insanely salty ham, everything. it's a great holiday.
i think that if i were really religious i would be less likely to celebrate christmas. i would probably just go to church and maybe do some sort of good deed like feed aids patients or something. most christmas traditions are pretty devoid of religion so i can see why non-christians celebrate it. it's a pretty cool holiday. although it does piss me off that a christian holiday completely saturates the country for 2 months every year, so if i were a non-christian i would probably not celebrate it in a feeble, spiteful attempt to not give into the christian majority.
i actually don't send christmas cards out even though everyone i would send one to is catholic, just because i'm making small attempts to extricate myself from the christmas madness . i send new years cards instead.
I celebrate Christmas, but I wouldn't call myself a Christian, per se. I'm more Christian than anything else, but I don't really believe in it all, or pray, or attend church ever. I celebrate it cause it's fun. Presents, decorations, food, and lots of other good things. It's also a great excuse to get together with family and friends you dont see otherwise, it really brings people together. My Christmas has absolutely nothing to do with Christ, but it's not entirely materialistic either.
I'm not really Christian in any sense of the word, but I've celebrated Christmas for almost every year I can remember. I see it as a holiday where you get together with your friends and it's really more of a get-together thing. Plus I love the decorating and the food and the fun. My Christmas is a lot like Maddie's; there's no Christ, but it's not entirely materialistic.
Although when I was in sixth grade, I cried when I saw that EVERY hand in my class except mine went up when my teacher asked who celebrated Christmas (even the Jewish people in my class celebrated Christmas). I was raised Buddhist by my parents and I was in my ardent-Buddhist religious phase then. I also was the only Asian person in my class and one of three in the whole grade (which also reminds me, when one of our teachers started going on about Moses in middle school, one of my Hindu friends asked who Moses was and the whole class except me just had the most horrified looks on their faces...). I refused to partake in Christmas or Hanukkah activities.
i think christmas has become so devoid of any religious meaning that you don't have to be christian to celebrate it. imo, it's just generally viewed as a time to come together with your family and celebrate each other by giving gifts, in the same way something like mother's day is a day to celebrate mothers.
i'm not christian and i celebrate xmas b/c i have for as long as i remember. my parents thought/think of it as a part of American culture (Santa Claus, rudolph, etc) and wanted us to celebrate it along w/ every other child.
monica- my parents were the same way. they didnt want us to feel as if we were missing out on anything growing up, and i am glad for it, b/c i have friends that did feel deprived. but, it is kinda sad too- we actually celebrate christmas now more so than we do our own (indian) holidays.
quote: Originally posted by: Ritz "monica- my parents were the same way. they didnt want us to feel as if we were missing out on anything growing up, and i am glad for it, b/c i have friends that did feel deprived. but, it is kinda sad too- we actually celebrate christmas now more so than we do our own (indian) holidays. "
i know.. it's a bit crazy.. when i was younger diwali was SUCH a big deal. we don't even really decorate the house for it like we do for xmas.
I am a Christian (religious but not churchgoing), but it doesn't really offend me if others celebrate Christmas. IMHO, it's become more of a secular cultural holiday in this country anyway. Those who are Christian have the additional joy of celebrating the religious aspect, too. It DOES bother me when people who are not religious pretend to be during the holiday season.
Also (correct me if I am wrong) Judaism recognizes Jesus as an important prophet, so there is nothing really wrong with celebrating His birthday.
If you really think about it, the birth of Jesus signifies peace, love and forgiveness for mankind. Even though it is slightly tainted by commercialism, both Christians and non-Christians tend to recognize and celebrate it this time of year.
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"We live in an age where unnecessary things are our only necessities." --Oscar Wilde
I am jewish - do not celebrate christmas and never will. I think it is fair to say that no one that considers themselves Jewish (in the real sense of the word - not a "jew for jesus" or anything like that) would celebrate christmas. We celebrate Hanukkah.
I have nothing against Christmas - but it is a holiday revolving around Jesus - and even though Jesus was jewish at one point - we only believe in one g-d - Jesus is not part of our religious beliefs.
I agree - Christmas is a beautiful holiday - but it's not in line with my beliefs, so I can't imagine celebrating it - I don't celebrate easter, ramadan, or any other holiday other than jewish holidays.
(I know that wasnt the original question - but some people brought up the jewish religion so I thought I would respond).
I am not affiliated with any religion so I don't celebrate Christmas as a Christian holiday. But I do celebrate it as a traditional North American holiday and a time to cherish family and friends. I believe that Santa and Xmas trees and candy canes have nothing to do with the birth of Jesus anyway.