Should Atheists "celebrate" christmas?

Matt · Post by **Matt** » Fri Mar 09, 2007 1:14 am

I was wondering. I mean this last christmas I joked about boycotting it. But really, how practical would that be and how much of a social tit would I feel like if I turn around and say "oh *snort* I'm so fucking good I don't need to celebrate christmas *chortle snort snort*"

My family would be like I just took a dump under the christmas tree, infront of them, if I had no presants for them.

However, I don't believe in the fundamentals of christmas, should I celebrate it?

kaos · Post by **kaos** » Fri Mar 09, 2007 1:22 am

this whole argument depends on wether or not you veiw christmas as a christian thing or not.

many have argued that its now just a big commercial thing.
and if thats how you feel about it...then theirs no harm in celebrating.

Me personaly...

I dont give a damn what religeon you are, a massive gift giving day is FUN.

and if you wanna let relgion get in the way of fun (again) go right ahead.
it'll save me money

Matt · Post by **Matt** » Fri Mar 09, 2007 1:28 am

I really do enjoy the family time and the whole holidays thing (shops being shut and stuff like that. That said, I worked boxing Day. Triple pay, though

Ill work any day for £16 per hour.) I only said the boycotting thing as a joke about saving money

Evil Matt · Post by **Evil Matt** » Fri Mar 09, 2007 1:29 am

If you're an atheist you can celebrate anything you damn well please. That's what I do. Christmas can mean different things to different people. For me it has always been about family.

I stopped exchanging gifts though. Maybe I'm a socialist tit but the Christmas shopping season just depressed me too much. My family got used to it. I don't buy anyone anything and I give every gift I receive to charity, so most people who know me just make donations in my name now. I donate some of my own money too, just so no one can accuse me of being a cheapskate.

Matt · Post by **Matt** » Fri Mar 09, 2007 1:31 am

That's atheism to the extreme, Matt.

I like easter, too. My grandmother plays bingo and wins easter eggs.

Bogey · Post by **Bogey** » Fri Mar 09, 2007 2:11 am

The way this country is heading, christmas won't be called christmas in the future. I may be an athiest but that sort of thing makes me sad.

Matt · Post by **Matt** » Fri Mar 09, 2007 2:48 am

Did you hear the latest after changing christmas lights to fairy lights? Something about hot cross buns needing a name change.

One community centre in London was forced to take down the St Georges cross last St Georges day, too.

Bloody ridiculous.

Post by **Chewi** » Fri Mar 09, 2007 2:49 am

I don't think you need a big reason to celebrate it, if you stay away from all the commercial crap then it represents a special time for your family and friends and so on. Even I'm not so cynical enough to have stopped gift-giving completely though admittedly, I don't get much for anyone but Marna. What, I'm poor! Or at least I was at the time...

Matt · Post by **Matt** » Fri Mar 09, 2007 3:07 am

That's the thing, though. It's practically impossible to avoid the commercialism. It's christmas and you're expected to buy people shit in return for socks and smellies.

I did a quick tally last year. My house spent roughly £20 on cards and wrapping paper. My family, entirely spent about £50 on cards and paper. Then you take the entire street. Which is a good 60 houses. £20 (estimate) x 60 houses = £1200. £1200 on cards and paper which are used for one day. I figured that my village is a set of lazy bastards and that leaves my street as no exception, so no-one recycled any of that (barr my gran who cuts cards up for tags the next year. God aren't post-war old people resourceful) I have no idea how many houses are in my village but i'll guess at close to 600. So that makes £12,000 in my village, spent on cards and paper which has one use, for one day, in an entire year.

So people, en masse, typically spend more than or just over what they'd each earn in a year on paper. Should I bother with the actual gifts inside the paper and cards?

There is one real beneficiary over the whole season and it's not jesus.

EDIT:

Anyone notice they're starting to advertise earlier and earlier each year, too?

Post by **Chewi** » Fri Mar 09, 2007 3:12 am

I think everyone notices that. It is annoying.

Actually cards is something I gripe about. What a fucking waste of trees, just to send every single person you know a greeting that says nothing more than "Merry Christmas" and you didn't even write that yourself. Generally speaking, I don't send cards on principle unless I make them myself.

Matt · Post by **Matt** » Fri Mar 09, 2007 3:43 am

So there you go, everyone. That thing covered in glitter and wiccaesque shit you found on your floor last December was actually a card from James.

And I go for the cheapest shit I can find. I loath writing out cards and never read what's in them.

I just think it's really pathetic how some people react to not getting a card

Bogey · Post by **Bogey** » Fri Mar 09, 2007 3:53 am

I don't like sending cards. That's definately a waste of money.

kaos · Post by **kaos** » Fri Mar 09, 2007 4:15 am

I never send cards.
I figure a gift says the bulk of what I mean anyhow.

how do i need mass produced poetry printed in gold letters?

you know what.

Postcards are actually fun, they have interesting pictures. and you dont need a special day for them.

Matt · Post by **Matt** » Fri Mar 09, 2007 4:44 am

and usually someone other than a fat cat gets paid for them, too.

Stephanie · Post by **Stephanie** » Fri Mar 09, 2007 4:48 am

If i send out cards..i make them myself..i also make my own tags for presents. and i buy the cheapest wrapping paper around. *nods* As for Celebrating christmas and being an Atheist... I know the whole meaning behind "christmas" is supposed to celebrate the birth of christ...and i AM a christian, I feel Christmas is really just a holiday for family's to get together have fun, be merry, and give gifts that you NORMALLY wouldn't give to a person. We don't even give gifts on birthday's really in my family.we save it up for christmas.