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On the subject of Christmas
Dec. 30th, 2008 10:13 pmLately, I've seen a lot of people insisting that they do not celebrate Christmas because they are not Christian. Now, I'm not referring to people who have their own tradition in their own religions, but rather specifically atheists or people with no religious affiliation.
Now, I'm not a Christian. I consider myself an eclectic spiritualist, with leanings to the pre-Christian Earth Centric and magic based religions. I don't even like Christianity very much as a religious organization. However, I do celebrate Christmas, and let me tell you why:
In spite of the fact that Christians would like to claim the holiday as exclusively theirs, I see no reason why it should be. Yes, Christianity did decide to celebrate the birth of their messiah figure on the holiday, but so what?
Long before Christianity ever existed, the equinox was a time to celebrate the days getting long again. And, with the return of the sun, the return of warmth and life. It's a time to celebrate renewal, rebirth and being with people you love. It's a time for feasting and giving gifts. It's a time when the children who were conceived in the lusty spring months to be born. And it's a time to be joyful, hopeful, and feel at peace.
There have always been late December celebrations, and still would be without Christianity. Decorating evergreen trees, feasts, giving gifts, holly, mistletoe, wreaths, candles, would all still be there on or around the 25th if Christianity had never happened. Yes, it would not be called Christmas, and I know I keep using the name which IS Christan, but my point is still the same.
Yes, Christians celebrate the nativity too on the 25th, but again I say "So what?" Why do we fall into THEIR line of thinking that celebrating hope and giving and love and peace are Christian property, complete with trademark and copyright? It isn't, and neither is Christmas.
I feel that I have every right to celebrate, to hang my stockings and await the coming of Santa on the 24th, to have a decorated evergreen, to have a wreath on my door, to put up lights, to give presents, to have a turkey dinner with my family, and I see absolutely no reason why I shouldn't.
No reason why anyone else shouldn't either.
Now, I'm not a Christian. I consider myself an eclectic spiritualist, with leanings to the pre-Christian Earth Centric and magic based religions. I don't even like Christianity very much as a religious organization. However, I do celebrate Christmas, and let me tell you why:
In spite of the fact that Christians would like to claim the holiday as exclusively theirs, I see no reason why it should be. Yes, Christianity did decide to celebrate the birth of their messiah figure on the holiday, but so what?
Long before Christianity ever existed, the equinox was a time to celebrate the days getting long again. And, with the return of the sun, the return of warmth and life. It's a time to celebrate renewal, rebirth and being with people you love. It's a time for feasting and giving gifts. It's a time when the children who were conceived in the lusty spring months to be born. And it's a time to be joyful, hopeful, and feel at peace.
There have always been late December celebrations, and still would be without Christianity. Decorating evergreen trees, feasts, giving gifts, holly, mistletoe, wreaths, candles, would all still be there on or around the 25th if Christianity had never happened. Yes, it would not be called Christmas, and I know I keep using the name which IS Christan, but my point is still the same.
Yes, Christians celebrate the nativity too on the 25th, but again I say "So what?" Why do we fall into THEIR line of thinking that celebrating hope and giving and love and peace are Christian property, complete with trademark and copyright? It isn't, and neither is Christmas.
I feel that I have every right to celebrate, to hang my stockings and await the coming of Santa on the 24th, to have a decorated evergreen, to have a wreath on my door, to put up lights, to give presents, to have a turkey dinner with my family, and I see absolutely no reason why I shouldn't.
No reason why anyone else shouldn't either.
