You will often hear people say “Christmas is for Children”. Does that mean nobody else can celebrate?
Similarly there are people who think this is strictly a Christian holiday, and should only be celebrated by them. We fully accept the Jewish worship of Hanukkah (Chanukah), but mention Saturnalia and Christians get up in arms.
Saturnalia, for those who are confused, is one of the names used for celebrations held prior to Christ on December 25. In ancient Germany the name for this time of year was Yule. In any case the day was primarily marked to celebrate the longest period of darkness in the northern hemisphere, the winter solstice. Since we changed to the Julian calendar we now have the winter solstice typically on December 21, however Saturnalia/Yule was still observed on December 25.
As such on this date, long before Christ, presents were exchanged by the pagans who celebrated at this time of the year. Christians kept many of the ancient traditions and claimed them as their own.
Today not much is Christian about Christmas. Indeed it has become a holiday more about commercialism than Jesus, even Christians will say the same thing. Although in an ironic sense, when most Christians say “People are forgetting the why we celebrate.”, they are not generally talking about the real ancient reason for celebration, that being to worship the return of longer days and give thanks to the sun God Mithra.
Atheists not only do not believe in Jesus, but equally they do not believe in God. This means they do not believe in ANY God. As such they also do not believe in the Pagan sun God, Mithra (who, incidentally was also born to a virgin and whose birth was attended by shepherds). The one worshiped originally with the trees, stars, and even nativity scenes. Therefor they are not exchanging gifts for the same reason as others, but should that matter?
Christmas is now a cultural holiday, more a festival about celebrating time with family and friends. About getting a day of work (if we are lucky).
I asked the question in a popular forum and one answer I was given was “…And yes, Christians stole the holiday so if they can celebrate it…anyone can.” I liked that guys answer.
screen shot, used with approval from drasago
Indeed anyone can celebrate on December 25, as long as they are in a country that is free to do so. It is a pity that we take fault on each other for having different beliefs. But I bet at least once this December you will hear at least one person get bent out of shape over somebody saying “Happy Holidays!”.
Some religious scholars will argue that the only thing Christian about Christmas, is the name. Many now agree that Christ was not born on December 25. If Christians could take this day and claim it as their own, why can’t atheists do the same?
Further Reading
Origins of Christmas Traditions
Christian Traditions with Pagan Origins
Retailers need atheists, too.
Great thoughts in here. Very well written.
Christmas is a Christian festival and it celebrates the birth of Christ. If you are not Christian you do not celebrate Christmas.
You can have a holiday and call it whatever you want but don’t call it Christmas. I am not a strict churchgoer but I am Christian and I find it offensive that people take my religious festival and try to turn it into some multi religion party session!
No offence to the writer but this makes me annoyed!
To Louie.. and others who think similarly
be reminded that only the NAME Christmas refers to the birth of Christ, even most religious scholars now agree Christ was not born Dec 25
Another good topic for debate. I think we should all celebrate Christmas anyway we want to as we are a ” free race “. If you don’t want Christ in the celebration then that is yours, mine and everyones right. Let Christmas be a time of family.
Christmas has nothing to do with Christ it was taken from paganism from many nations, the Scandinavians the Germans, the Persians. The Catholic Church and Roman Empire made the day December 25th a day to pay homage to the sun god Mithras, Baal, Ra depending on your nationality to give him sacrifices of appeasement from fruits and nuts to animal and even human sacrifice on their bone fires the Yule log. Go to any library and check out the books on Christmas and origions check the internet as well. Get the facts. Be offended if you like. Christ and God are offended at the holiday kept by so called Christians a day that God hates. A day when Christ does come will be abolished and replaced with days God wants his people to keep. That is the truth and anyone who does not like it has their head buried in the sand. go ahead, have fun celebrate, have a party, give gifts but don’t do it in Christ name. Put up a tree but know God’s bible is constant and Christ observed and kept the OLD TESTAMENT LAWS and did not change the 10 commandments including the Sabbath. He is Lord of the Sabbath. he did not have a tree as it was considered paganism Read Jeremiah 10. Your arguements are with God and his world not man. Most people get bent over the facts and truth because they WANT to keep a day God hates it is called rebellion. This is not a judgement it is just simply the truth.
do u believe all that u read in the Bible? Then read these passages and ask yourself if the bible-god, Moses and Joshua were prophets or cold-blooded terrorist!
http://relijournal.com/religion/moses-and-joshua-biblical-prophets-or-terrorists/
We stole the holiday. It is a pagan holiday, there is no such thing as Christmas in the Bible , Easter is another bogus holiday. There is no Easter holiday mentioned in the Bible. People make stuff up as they go alone. These holidays crept into Christianity so they would coincide with pagan Roman holidays .
I do use these holidays to spread my faith and see what other people think .