Why do aetheists celebrate Christian holidays?

[CFC]

Ive never met a self proclaimed aetheist who celebrated Hannukah or observed Ramadam or divali or such like. However aetheists do observe St Patricks day, Easter, Christmas. Why have Christian holidays been secularized by non believers rather than aetheists coming up with their own festivities?

[LancashireHibby]

Because in countries such as ours, Christmas and Easter are as much 'cultural' holidays as they are religious.

[--------]

Ive never met a self proclaimed aetheist who celebrated Hannukah or observed Ramadam or divali or such like. However aetheists do observe St Patricks day, Easter, Christmas. Why have Christian holidays been secularized by non believers rather than aetheists coming up with their own festivities?


I'm not actually aware that atheists (sp) 'celebrate' Easter or Christmas in any meaningful sense of the word.

Boozing oneself silly, stuffing oneself to bursting-point, overspending on presents for people yoy don't really like and going to office parties to do things one would much better leave undone isn't celebrating Christmas. Or Easter.

[CFC]

Either way its nonsensical. I dont use Ramadam as a cue to get drunk and buy my kids presents. Its like why is February 14th the designated day to respect your loved ones? Its the sheep nature of it that concerns me. In other cultures holidays are observed due to their religious significance whereas in the west it seems to be an excuse for gross consumption and materialism.

[Woody1985]

Presumably because it's ingrained in The country. I'm an atheist.

I don't give a crap about when Jesus was born but enjoy the Christmas time and like seeing my girlfriends kid with joy on her face opening presents.

I don't care for any other holidays, Easter is a good example. I've never once done anything over an Easter weekend. People are given public holidays from work at times like that and do use them to take trips etc but I don't as I don't get them.

You've just made a point about consumption and materialism which negates your original question.

[Sumner]

.. gets you a day off, what more reason do you need?

[Twa Cairpets]

Ive never met a self proclaimed aetheist who celebrated Hannukah or observed Ramadam or divali or such like. However aetheists do observe St Patricks day, Easter, Christmas. Why have Christian holidays been secularized by non believers rather than aetheists coming up with their own festivities?

You could equally asked why do people take bank holidays off. Most of the holidays have religious roots, but as society has become more secular there is no need to change them. Ramadan and other non-christian holidays have no foothold outwith small immigrant communities in the UK, the same that you wont find much celebration of Christmas in Pakistan.

Those of relgion celebrate the religious elements, those that are atheist, like me, have a holiday.

[HibsMax]

I partake in the commercial side of these celebrated holidays, not the holidays themselves.

I was brought up as a Christian although not strictly so that's what I do. It's just the way I was brought up. Why do I have ethics / morals even though I don't believe in a higher power? I just do, it was the way I was raised.

[malcolm]

You might actually ask why christians celebrated pagan festivals like spring and mid winter!

Christians appropriated existing celebrations for their own ends and can't complain if non theists appropriate these dates for a bit of cultural fun and celebration of their own after all these are the the obvious dates in a seasonal calendar to find something to celebrate though the date of easter is a bit of a mystery to me. :confused:

I believe it has come kind of relationship to lunar cycles which seems pretty pagan to me but I'm happy to have family gather, munch on a chocolate egg and have tuck into to a nice sunday roast. All to 'celebrate' spring/the end of winter/longer days/the prospect of the blue sky amid the summer rain and the sure and certain fact that Hibs won't lose at the weekend nothing religious about any of that.

[Hibrandenburg]

I celebrate the arrival at my home of a fat bloke sliding down my chimney loaded with presents prepared by his elves. Then after he's disappeared on his sledge pulled by a bunch of reindeer I open my presents with my family under a pinetree in my living room that's covered in fairylights.

This is the christmas that I celebrate because it's more believable than the alternative story of the sky wizards son.

[Darth Hibbie]

I celebrate the arrival at my home of a fat bloke sliding down my chimney loaded with presents prepared by his elves. Then after he's disappeared on his sledge pulled by a bunch of reindeer I open my presents with my family under a pinetree in my living room that's covered in fairylights.

This is the christmas that I celebrate because it's more believable than the alternative story of the sky wizards son.

:agree: That about sums it up!

[lapsedhibee]

I celebrate the arrival at my home of a fat bloke sliding down my chimney loaded with presents prepared by his elves. Then after he's disappeared on his sledge pulled by a bunch of reindeer I open my presents with my family under a pinetree in my living room that's covered in fairylights.

This is the christmas that I celebrate because it's more believable than the alternative story of the sky wizards son.

Not forgetting that in the true version of all this, the fat bloke wears green. :agree:

[Sir David Gray]

You could equally asked why do people take bank holidays off. Most of the holidays have religious roots, but as society has become more secular there is no need to change them. Ramadan and other non-christian holidays have no foothold outwith small immigrant communities in the UK, the same that you wont find much celebration of Christmas in Pakistan.

Those of relgion celebrate the religious elements, those that are atheist, like me, have a holiday.

And if you do then you're not alive for much longer to tell anyone about the fun you've had in celebrating it.

[hibsbollah]

You might actually ask why christians celebrated pagan festivals like spring and mid winter!

Christians appropriated existing celebrations for their own ends and can't complain if non theists appropriate these dates for a bit of cultural fun and celebration of their own after all these are the the obvious dates in a seasonal calendar to find something to celebrate though the date of easter is a bit of a mystery to me. :confused:

I believe it has come kind of relationship to lunar cycles which seems pretty pagan to me but I'm happy to have family gather, munch on a chocolate egg and have tuck into to a nice sunday roast. All to 'celebrate' spring/the end of winter/longer days/the prospect of the blue sky amid the summer rain and the sure and certain fact that Hibs won't lose at the weekend nothing religious about any of that.

Good post. The Christians themselves appropriated the existing pagan festival and added the Jesus bit. Christmas trees, holly and the ivy, yule logs, drinking and eating to excess etc all predate Christianity. Jesus was probably born in September, just like Pat Stanton.

[CFC]

I celebrate the arrival at my home of a fat bloke sliding down my chimney loaded with presents prepared by his elves. Then after he's disappeared on his sledge pulled by a bunch of reindeer I open my presents with my family under a pinetree in my living room that's covered in fairylights. This is the christmas that I celebrate because it's more believable than the alternative story of the sky wizards son. LOL. You have humourously exposed Xmas for what it is in todays society. Consumerism plain and simple. From a social programming point of view it conditions kids into being consumers and to believe things that arent real. For that reason the corporations and govt must love it (half tounge in cheek there). Albert kidds birthday should be a holiday imo who agrees?

[Twa Cairpets]

LOL. You have humourously exposed Xmas for what it is in todays society. Consumerism plain and simple. From a social programming point of view it conditions kids into being consumers and to believe things that arent real. For that reason the corporations and govt must love it (half tounge in cheek there). Albert kidds birthday should be a holiday imo who agrees?

And in a beautiful circularity of the discussion, we see the point coming back to describe religion...

[JennaFletcher]

I agree with the posters noting the cultural aspect of Christmas. I enjoy the day as a family/friends occassion and nothing else. I like decorating a tree because it looks good and other such festivities that brighten up an otherwise wet, dull and cold winter (drinking mulled wine, mulled beer, eating ridiculous amounts of German potatoes at the market...) :tree

[.Sean.]

We don't celebrate them, we take advantage of a night to get pissed without having to work with the hangover the following day.

[Lucius Apuleius]

Which is ok if you don,t actually work at Christmas. Personally I do try not to lose the meaning of the occasion and celebrate the birth of Christ (whenever it was). Try not to be caught up in the consumerism of it all which is usually surprisingly easy to do when you are stuck in a place without so much as a shop within a 15 minute flight away. However, home this year so may be different. :greengrin

[HUTCHYHIBBY]

I partake in the commercial side of these celebrated holidays, not the holidays themselves.I was brought up as a Christian although not strictly so that's what I do. It's just the way I was brought up. Why do I have ethics / morals even though I don't believe in a higher power? I just do, it was the way I was raised. Sums it up perfectly for me.

[Dinkydoo]

I treat Christmas as a time to spend quality time with your family and close friends.

The material aspect of it is actually part of a much bigger issue than that of atheists partaking in a Christian holiday - which as pointed out is probably based on the mid winter pagan festival anyway ( I'm sure i read somewhere that the evergreen tree was used as a centre piece in these celebrations because, as everything else had died due to the cold weather, the evergreen stayed green all year round - or something like that!)

Being kind to one another is a good Christian value and one that anyone should be able to put into practice irrespective of whether they believe in the spiritual side of things IMO.

I am however a bit of a Scrooge when it comes to the annual, office 'secret santa' though. :faf:

[Leicester Fan]

Ironically there are some christian groups who don't celebrate Christmas.

[Phil D. Rolls]

Ive never met a self proclaimed aetheist who celebrated Hannukah or observed Ramadam or divali or such like. However aetheists do observe St Patricks day, Easter, Christmas. Why have Christian holidays been secularized by non believers rather than aetheists coming up with their own festivities?


Either way its nonsensical. I dont use Ramadam as a cue to get drunk and buy my kids presents. Its like why is February 14th the designated day to respect your loved ones? Its the sheep nature of it that concerns me. In other cultures holidays are observed due to their religious significance whereas in the west it seems to be an excuse for gross consumption and materialism.

Is it not the case that the christian festivals actually take place at the times of much older pagan festivals? Every culture seems to have festivals around about the same time of year, probably based on the scarcity of food etc

I think other religions also over indulge (in their own way) at their festival times/

[J-C]

Ive never met a self proclaimed aetheist who celebrated Hannukah or observed Ramadam or divali or such like. However aetheists do observe St Patricks day, Easter, Christmas. Why have Christian holidays been secularized by non believers rather than aetheists coming up with their own festivities?

Do people really celebrate Easter and Christmas in it's true sense as a religious festivals, I think not.

Athiests ( myself included in that bracket ) take these holidays as they are traditional, a welcome break from the rigours of work etc and aspecially at Christmas a time for family and friends to gather. I have spoken many times to my wife about this and still it annoys me we spend so much money an a birthday that to be honest i couldn't care less about, in the earlier days when kids were young, you could not take Christmas away from them, no matter what my views were. Nowadays, I'd much rather spend my money on a nice holiday somewhere during these vacations, my daughter ( now 18 ) is also a non believer and she'd quite happily do the same, infact she stated this past Christmas that she wasn't fussed about presents as it means little to her.

I'd much rather we celebrated the birthdays of those nearest and dearest to us, splash out a bit on them insead.

[JimBHibees]

I'm not actually aware that atheists (sp) 'celebrate' Easter or Christmas in any meaningful sense of the word.

Boozing oneself silly, stuffing oneself to bursting-point, overspending on presents for people yoy don't really like and going to office parties to do things one would much better leave undone isn't celebrating Christmas. Or Easter.

Dont judge everyone by your own standards. :greengrin

[AgentDaleCooper]

And if you do then you're not alive for much longer to tell anyone about the fun you've had in celebrating it.

looks like nothings biting today, unlucky mate :aok:

[Hibee87]

Do people really celebrate Easter and Christmas in it's true sense as a religious festivals, I think not.

Athiests ( myself included in that bracket ) take these holidays as they are traditional, a welcome break from the rigours of work etc and aspecially at Christmas a time for family and friends to gather. I have spoken many times to my wife about this and still it annoys me we spend so much money an a birthday that to be honest i couldn't care less about, in the earlier days when kids were young, you could not take Christmas away from them, no matter what my views were. Nowadays, I'd much rather spend my money on a nice holiday somewhere during these vacations, my daughter ( now 18 ) is also a non believer and she'd quite happily do the same, infact she stated this past Christmas that she wasn't fussed about presents as it means little to her.

I'd much rather we celebrated the birthdays of those nearest and dearest to us, splash out a bit on them insead.

Thats my feeling towards christmas, i couldnt care less about presents and I have said so to my mum and dad when they ask my evey year what i want, all i want/like to do at christmas is eat, drink and spend time with family most of which I hardly see unless its christmas. I also hate the fact i feel obliged to spend a fortune buying presents for people I barely see or speak to now and dont even get me started on christmas cards, what a waste of money and trees those are.

as said above birthdays im more than happy to spend a bit on my family it means more to me (althoguh not now im 24 all i got to look forward to is the next mile stone ....30 :faf: )
**** it lets just all become javhovahs witnesses stop all the problems :faf:

i actually know practising witnesses and what they do is have a day once year called 'family day' in whihc they buy presents for family and we get presents for them (normally mid summer) and the attitude is that its for their kids. I think this is a great idea because it gives the kids something to look forward to and the only alternative would be to buy them what they want when they want (become spolied) or not get them anything (cant really do that now can you?)


p.s for whoever mentioned valentines day, that was inveted by hallmark to make money. I dont do anythign for valentines day and luckily my missus agrees. Why do I need a certain day of the year to tell someone I love them with over priced bit of card or overpriced chocolate?

[Haymaker]

I just like a party, any occasion will do so long as I can have a few beers and dance like a twat I am all for it. Any religion, any reason. It might keep me in with the big guy/s upstairs just incase too. :wink:

[SRHibs]

And in a beautiful circularity of the discussion, we see the point coming back to describe religion...

:tee hee: