What Is Christmas?

[Coldicote]

Whatever one’s religious belief, most will know the symbolism of Christmas -the birth of Jesus Christ. It seems to me a travesty having religion mixed up with Santa Claus, reindeer and all the rest of the material jollifications. I would like to see the two separated, one being a religious occasion and the other a winter festivity at a different time. Am I alone with these thoughts?

[TWR]

Christmas now, Prices go up, Pressies goes up, cost of drinks go up, Taxi fairs go up, people get Izzed, families fall out, debts increase, Oh, what is Christmas? I've forgotten, what's it all about?

[Goonermatt]

“Aren’t we forgetting the true meaning of Christmas? You know, the birth of Santa.” — Bart Simpson

[VHG]

Christmas is only at this time of the year because there was already an end-of-year pagan festival at the end of December.

When Chrisitianity was spreading the religious leaders wanted a celebrate Jesus's birth, so rather than creating a new festival they piggy-backed on the back of the already existing pagan festival and took it over.

So there was already celebration at this time of the year, before Jesus came along.

It is a load of tosh to say Jesus was born on 25th December (or any date near it).

But unfortunately Christmas (as well as every other "festival" like Easter, Halloween, Bonfire Night, Divali etc etc) has been taken over by the retail trade and they now make us all feel guilty if we are not rushing out buying presents for people, buying food and drink and so on.

In America Thanksgiving has been taken over by big business and they now have their huge "black friday" sales on the Friday which is now their biggest shopping day of the year.

Also of course, as we found out in the census last week, most people in the UK are either not religious or not Christian, so it could be argued for most people (like me) Christmas has very little to do with Jesus as I dont see he is any more important than any other person from 2,000 years ago.

I am afraid Christmas / New Year is now an excuse to spend money, eat and drink too much, and spend time with your family.

Although if you look how busy the shops are on Boxing Day, showing that many people would rather spend in the shops than stay at home with the family.

[ummmm]

I don't feel guilty for not buying presents :-)

[Baldric]

Nope, nor me!

[jake-the-peg]

Oh no I think that's brilliant!

It makes Christmas a festival everybody can enjoy whether they are religious or not.

If Christians want to use the Yule festival to celebrate all their rather questionable myths that's fine

But Jesus wasn't born in the snow in December, so they don't have dibs on the festival


it's good to share

[woofgang]

But Christmas and it's predecessors have always been associated with religion.

[ummmm]

I only get for my kids now, and if I couldn't afford that they'd be warned in advance.

I think it's nice to give presents throughout the year. Getting a present for absolutely no reason is a better feeling, no matter how small.

[ludwig]

// It makes Christmas a festival everybody can enjoy whether they are religious or not. //

They already can. I'm not religious and I enjoy it.

[China Doll]

I agree with JTP, the mix seems quite nice.

[Coldicote]

A lot of good answers here, but little doubt that Christ made a deep and lasting impression on many people. It wouldn’t have been known what kind of person he was going to be until he grew up and I therefore regard the story of the Nativity as a beautiful work of art, created probably long after his birth.

[Old_Geezer]

The thing is that everyone wants a celebration mid winter, and Christianity opted to use the existing one as the date to celebrate the birth of their saviour. Well it's never going to be generally popular to then remove the fun & games part in favour of serious Christian spiritual goings on. So complaining that Christmas is devalued is a bit rich.

Sure, split up the religious part from the general merry making and nonsense by all means, but don't expect the general populous to want to move the bit they enjoy for the benefit of those who want just the contemplation & praising part. If a split is required, move the latter.

[LazyGun]

The notion of a knees up in deep midwinter - one that celebrates family, and giving, and general all round jollity - is a great one.

Those who wish to focus on the religious meaning attributed to christmas may find all the secular revelry distracting - in much the same way that i find all the religious overtones distracting too :)

[beso]

Coldicote // I would like to see the two separated//

Great idea. The mid winter festival long predates the Christian symbolism so priority should be wit the older festival. To what date would you suggest the Christians move Christmas?

They didn't even change the name of the ancient Spring festival of Easter. What new name would you suggest they use and what would be the new date?

Wonder how they would go getting the holidays gazetted?

[beso]

Coldicote //Christ made a deep and lasting impression on many people. It wouldn’t have been known what kind of person he was going to be until he grew up and I therefore regard the story of the Nativity as a beautiful work of art, created probably long after his birth.//

The whole story of Jesus was made up for political purposes. There are no contemporary accounts of his existence whatsoever.

[Coldicote]

The word CHRISTMAS in itself indicates a celebration of Christ. By all means let's continue to enjoy the existing holiday time with all its fun, but re-name it the Winter Solstice Holiday. I would see nothing wrong in having a Christmas Sunday at some other time in the year for those who may wish for a religious occasion.

[naomi24]

Coldicote, I don't understand your problem. You are free to make your Christmas as religious as you want it to be. The shops are shut, there are plenty of church services available all over the Christmas period, and you can extend your prayers etc to your own home if that's what you want to do, so why are you so concerned about how others spend the time? If people want Santa Claus and reindeer, I can't see why you think it's your business. They're not interfering with you - they're simply having the Christmas they want to have.

[ludwig]

^ or similarly, make it as unreligious as you like, as most of us already do.

[Coldicote]

I don't have a problem and am just making a point about the religious meaning of the word for those who view it in that way. Why do you call it Christmas?

[naomi24]

Coldicote, //Why do you call it Christmas?//

Because within our society that's what it's called - just as Easter is called Easter. Would you prefer non-Christians to disregard Christmas and carry on with their everyday lives during that time? That would mean, of course, that it would become a day like any other with offices, factories, banks, and shops remaining open, and public transport continuing normal services – not to mention the absence of all the brightly lit high streets and homes at this time of year which I think is lovely – but then I like to see a bit of happiness and good cheer around. Currently practically the whole country comes to a standstill in recognition of Christmas, so would not such a move serve only to exacerbate the rapid demise of religion that Christians bemoan so much? Would it really be a good thing for the non-religious to ignore it?