Non-Christians Celebrating Christmas

[Ree]

Do you think I just waltzed into this thread and re-defined the word Christmas? It has been evolving for many years without me.

Do you think I just waltzed into this thread and decided you alone had redefined the word "Christmas"?
My issue is with all those who nullified the "Christ" part of Christmas and turned it secular in the first place.

You do admit , however, that you don't participate in "Christ's Mass", so you are, in my opinion, being hypocritical by saying you celebrate "Christmas".

If you want to call my version of Christmas something else, go ahead. Don't, however, tell me what to call it. (Especially when you suggested I call it something that is literally the polar opposite of my Christmas).

"Christmas" was originated by Christians as a celebration of the birth of Christ. They chose to use the time of a pagan festival for the date.
Many of the holiday traditions have their basis in this and other pagan celebrations.
I fail to see, then, how I am suggesting something that is the polar opposite of Christmas by asking people who do not honour or celebrate the birth of Christ as a part of their holiday tradition to stop using a name that evokes the image of "Christ" to define what has become a very secular celebration.

[Rapscallion]

It's important to remember that it began as a religious festival, and it still has significance for truly religious people. It's not really evolution of language, but more that culture has evolved in the majority.

I do find it hypocritical, but not enough to shout about it. I participate to the extent of buying presents for the closest people to me and ignoring it other than that. That's enough to keep me in with my family/friends, and that's about it. I recognise its religious base and am quite happy to keep as far from it as I can. Not easy to do in this day and age, though when I'm independently wealthy I intend to patronise the hotel that offers christmas-free breaks.

Rapscallion

[Kalli]

Oh yeah. I missed that lesson in school when they told us that "Christ's Mass" later shortened to "Christmas" meant a gluttonous orgy of commercialism.

I don't participate in Christ's Mass, nor do I participate in a "gluttonous orgy of commercialism". I still love and celebrate Christmas as I (and millions of others) know it. If you want to call my version of Christmas something else, go ahead. Don't, however, tell me what to call it. (Especially when you suggested I call it something that is literally the polar opposite of my Christmas).

I had forgotten we can substitute whatever words we want to mean something else and twist the language under the guise of claiming that the language is constantly changing and evolving, so words that once meant one thing now mean another.

That's exactly how the evolution of language works. Do you think I just waltzed into this thread and re-defined the word Christmas? It has been evolving for many years without me.

[Ree]

Oh yeah. I missed that lesson in school when they told us that "Christ's Mass" later shortened to "Christmas" meant a gluttonous orgy of commercialism.

Thanks for clearing that up.

I had forgotten we can substitute whatever words we want to mean something else and twist the language under the guise of claiming that the language is constantly changing and evolving, so words that once meant one thing now mean another.

[Kalli]

So, go ahead and celebrate your festival of winter if you want. Just don't call it "CHRISTmas"!

Are you serious?

I'll call it whatever I want, thankyou.

The english language is FULL of words that mean something completely different than what they originated as. Talk about splitting hairs.

[Ree]

I'm sorry, but I do find it hypocritical.

You celebrate CHRISTmas, but you hate CHRISTianity? Please.

Just how thin can people slice hairs?

You aren't celebrating CHRISTmas, people. You are celebrating a seasonal holiday, a winter festival.
You are NOT celebrating CHRISTmas.

Truly celebrating Christmas means that you are actually honouring the birth of Christ, but what was known as "Christmas" has become way too commercial and secular so that it no longer bears any resemblance to the original meaning and reason for the holiday of CHRISTmas.

I always laugh at people of a certain religion who do not celebrate the holidays and condemn Christmas as secular and pagan, but never turn down the Christmas bonuses given to staff in celebration of it.

In my opinion, if they are that disgusted by a pagan holiday, then accepting money and perks in the name of that pagan holiday is hypocritical.

So, go ahead and celebrate your festival of winter if you want. Just don't call it "CHRISTmas"!

[Flyndaran]

"You really hate that my time of giving to loved ones coincides with yours? How ironically un-christmas-like of you."

[Fryk]

Maybe we should bring back Krampus for some of these pathetic people. Let him beat the crap out of the complainers?

[RecoveringKinkoid]

I can't believe anyone would give a damn what other people are doing in their homes. Really, who cares what anyone is celebrating?

Maybe Santa ought to think about bringing them a life for Christmas.

[Kalli]

Caligula-like

Caligula was friggin' metal.

[Nyoibo]

it was the Roman holiday of Saturnalia. A day celebrated by gift-giving, feasting..... Then a gigantic orgy. (Clearly, the current version of Christmas has left out the rather Caligula-like finale.)

More's the pity, anyone fancy a revival?

[Arcade Man D]

Anyone who pulls that shit with me just gets a lecture about how Christmas was a co-opted holiday anyways, and they should shut up before they embarrass themselves.

This.

Not to mention that scripture doesn't point to a December birth day at all. Middle Eastern winter nights, being an arid desert climate, are far to cold for shepherds to be watching their flocks at night outside. Jesus was likely born in October.

The choice of December 25 was to steal adherents from other holidays. On the Julian calendar, 12/25 was the Winter Solstice. In addition, it was the Roman holiday of Saturnalia. A day celebrated by gift-giving, feasting..... Then a gigantic orgy. (Clearly, the current version of Christmas has left out the rather Caligula-like finale.)

[Kimmik]

I wasnt raised beliving in santa, nor beliving that Jesus was born in a field in the middle of winter.

I was raised that Christmas was a time of the year to be thankful for those areound you, that you made it through another year and that everything ends and begins anew. That it wasnt about what you got but what you had. Giving to others, gathering around with family and friends and enjoying that you had each other another year.

I belive that people have the right to celebrate it as secular, religious or in my case a month of pretty lights and avoiding the mall lol.

[Lace Neil Singer]

Lol. I work all day Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day morning I sleep in til 11, then get up and go over to my parents' house. I couldn't go over any earlier, for my mum, who is Christian, does go to church when she can on Christmas Day. She's a district nurse, so sometimes has to be on call Christmas Day.

[HYHYBT]

Christmas is really two (at least) holidays in one. You don't have to be Christian to enjoy brightening up December with decorations, or having a day off for dinner with the extended family, or exchanging gifts. Indeed, some churches don't *allow* you to do those things then, simply because they didn't think of it first.

However, if you're anything other than Christian, it would be pretty weird of you to attend Christmas Eve or Day church services.