Why I Celebrate "Christmas"

[Der Blaue Engel]

I am an atheist who practices pagan ritual as a way to connect to my own inner "divinity." I was raised as a fundie, evangelical christer, and have a great hatred for the (indeed, just about any) religion in general as a result.

But I LOVE Christmas.

Christmas for me is so clearly a celebration of the soltice (whether from a pagan perspective or simply as a marking of the change of seasons) that I barely even see the absurd co-opting by xianity. As a sufferer of Seasonal Affective Disorder, it's very important to me to symbolically recognize that the light will return. Seeing the bright lights and sparkling baubles in the midst of the darkest nights has always made me feel inexplicably happy and hopeful.

Right now I think I need that hope more than ever. This has been one hell of a dark night, and I see no end of it in sight.

(Plus, I'm a big sucker for Dickens and Capra.) :)

Just thought I'd share, for those who might wonder how a reasonable, (somewhat) sane person could possibly participate in this "orgy of commercialism."

[cruadin]

1. I agree with most of what you said.

I wasn't raised in strictly religious home but we always made a big deal out of Christmas, and I liked it.
I mean, yeah-- the consumerism can get me down, but so does the endless condemnation of the consumerism.
As far as the religious/spiritual significance of the holiday, I'd rather we all just give it our own interpretation, and stop trying to correct those who don't "get" it the right way.
What is there to "get"?
It's a holiday in the depths of winter darkness that celebrates light and hope.
Isn't that enough?

It is for me.

[yellowdogintexas]

2. You sound like my husband,

raised Southern Baptist..poor guy.. now confirmed atheist..or so he says.

But boy does he love Christmas. One of the reasons I plan to decorate and do the tree etc despite my glum mood is because he will be home for the first time since June and I want him to enjoy the holiday.

For me growing up Christmas was the big family time, out of town relatives (especially my mom's brother and stepbrothers who were so much fun) big dinners at the grandparents, 2 weeks with no school, etc.

Now it is charity shopping, candlelight communion on Christmas Eve, big charity auction party, dinner for the residents at the YWCA, chili lunches at church for the homeless etc.

I love driving around at night to check out the decorations on all the houses..from the supremely tacky to the sublime..

It won't be especially cold here but that's OK I am about to get used to that.

[lizerdbits]

3. I too enjoy atheists-get-and-give-presents-day

My parents were both sent to Catholic school which they said is why they never took my sister and I to any churches, except a couple summertime vacation bible schools so she could have some peace and quiet. (Note: that was THEIR opinion of the schools which was the 1950's, I never attended Catholic school and therefore can't have a negative opinion of them.) Those were more myth-learning/Jesus-loves-me and not fear inducing tales of hell.
I also have SAD and also like the lights, decorations, excessive baking, and most importantly- Reeces snowman in my stocking! It's also a good reason to get the family together (and eat too much). And I love those old clay-mation christmas specials, my favorite is the Heat Miser/Snow Miser one which I think is 'The year without a santa claus.'

[Susang]

4. I just love sparkly shit

That's why I love Xmas Eve. I used to sit in the dark and stare at our Xmas tree for hours. And the whole giving gifts thing gives me a major thrill. I could care less what people get me, as a matter of fact, it would be easier if they just wouldn't bother.

Oh, and I'm pretty much an atheist myself, but I love great theatre. Pageants, ritual, anticipation, sacrifice, reward, what more could you ask for? ;-)

[Der Blaue Engel]

7. I still do that. :)

When I was a kid, I used to take off my glasses (have been extremely myopic and astigmatic since I was six) and stare at the brilliant snowflake shapes that my natural vision makes of light. :) Pure magic, created by me.

I also really love giving gifts. I do like to get them, too, but something my partner will never understand is that I just like opening presents...I don't care what's in them. Every one of them could be a sock, for all I care, as long as there's lots of 'em! :D (He believes in one big present, not wrapped, and given before xmas. Makes me crazy, although the gifts are wonderful.) But most of all, I love to find the perfect things for people I care about, and wrap them in shiny paper and piles of curled ribbon and bows and look at them piling up under the tree.

[Politicub]

5. The part I like about Christmas is

I get to see my family. Even though they are soutern conservative baptists to the bone, it's nice to get to see them. They are respectful to me regarding my same sex partner. My parents have become much more liberal because of their gay son.

My profile is very similar to your own. I consider myself athiest, too, but xmas was such a big deal as I was growing up that its hard to shake that ritual aspects. Now I try to incorporate different ways of celebration, and I don't call it christmas anymore. Plus, it gives me the opportunity to send all of my friends and relatives cards with a message of peace.

[Carson]

6. I, too, love Christmas. I celebrate it as a secular holiday.

I've posted a similiar response but I'll repeat myself for this thread.

I'm a Christian and I attend church weekly, however Christmas has never been celebrated by my family as anything connected to Jesus or Christianity in general.

We give get together as a family, eat too much food, and give gifts. We always have a wonderful time.

I send non-religious cards and decorate my house, not with nativity scenes and angels, but with good ol' standbys like Rudolph, Santa and Frosty.

My reasoning has always been that if God had wanted people to commemorate Jesus' day of birth, He would have commanded it in the Bible. We are told how to celebrate Jesus' death (by Communion) but the Bible is mum on celebrating His birth.

Christmas is about family and good will. Things that should be celebrated every day, but we have one special day to make sure we all remember.