Do You Celebrate Christmas a religious holiday?

Just curious, but do you celebrate Christmas as a religious holiday or not?

People have been celebrating this time of year long before there were Christians and I don't think you can say well if you celebrate Christmas, you have to be Christian.

Personally, it's nice to have at least one day of the year where we try to be nice to each other and go out of our way to spend time with our friends and family. The religious and gift giving parts of the holiday are not so important to me. Although I'll never turn down a Christmas present or cookie.

For whatever reason you celebrate and even if you don't, I hope you have a pleasant Christmas and the day finds all of your friends and family healthy and happy.

Edit: Yes, I know I spelled religious wrong. Doh.

Nah, more of a cultural holiday.

Yes. And just to clarify...without the Christian Christmas you wouldn't be celebrating a holiday. The pagans proper...not the current wave of neo pagans died off a long time ago...and so without Christianity creating the new celebration then we'd just go about our business.LJS9502_basic

no need to attempt to get a dig in, either way your wrong, if the christians didn't steal the pagan celebration it would still be celebrated.

Besides which didnt someone say jesus if born at all was born some timein aug? Strange that people still celebrate Valentines day or did the christians hi-jack that one also?

christmas is famous because everyone gets to receive awesome presents and eat awesome stuff in family, whoever thinks other people are really celebrating a religious holiday are deluding themselves, thats why santa is mainly the figure of christmas.

i don't see holy week being nearly as important as christmas and s 10x times more important guess why,

No, I just celebrate the time with family/friends, gift giving, and decorations aspect of the holiday. I'm not Christian btw.

[QUOTE="LJS9502_basic"]Yes. And just to clarify...without the Christian Christmas you wouldn't be celebrating a holiday. The pagans proper...not the current wave of neo pagans died off a long time ago...and so without Christianity creating the new celebration then we'd just go about our business.tenaka2

no need to attempt to get a dig in, either way your wrong, if the christians didn't steal the pagan celebration it would still be celebrated.

Besides which didnt someone say jesus if born at all was born some timein aug? Strange that people still celebrate Valentines day or did the christians hi-jack that one also?

Aug? That would be a guess...I've heard spring as more likely. Nonetheless, picking a date for a celebration doesn't mean the celebration doesn't exist.

Valentine's Day? The day is named after one or more early Christian martyrs named Saint Valentine, and was established by Pope Gelasius I in 496 AD.

It's not a day celebrated other than being a day for a particular saint. The commercial holiday came much later and took his name.;)

nope

lol, and without religions we'd have less wars. although im sure we'd find other reasons to kill ourselves. #religiousthreadsFTW!pygmahia5

[QUOTE="tenaka2"]

[QUOTE="LJS9502_basic"]Yes. And just to clarify...without the Christian Christmas you wouldn't be celebrating a holiday. The pagans proper...not the current wave of neo pagans died off a long time ago...and so without Christianity creating the new celebration then we'd just go about our business.LJS9502_basic

no need to attempt to get a dig in, either way your wrong, if the christians didn't steal the pagan celebration it would still be celebrated.

Besides which didnt someone say jesus if born at all was born some timein aug? Strange that people still celebrate Valentines day or did the christians hi-jack that one also?

Aug? That would be a guess...I've heard spring as more likely. Nonetheless, picking a date for a celebration doesn't mean the celebration doesn't exist.

What about valentines day? Do you think that is celebrated because of christinity or has it stayed true to its original pagan roots?

i say my 40psalms and go on a shooting spree, because i want to give credence to the views found in OT

[QUOTE="LJS9502_basic"]

[QUOTE="tenaka2"]

no need to attempt to get a dig in, either way your wrong, if the christians didn't steal the pagan celebration it would still be celebrated.

Besides which didnt someone say jesus if born at all was born some timein aug? Strange that people still celebrate Valentines day or did the christians hi-jack that one also?

tenaka2

Aug? That would be a guess...I've heard spring as more likely. Nonetheless, picking a date for a celebration doesn't mean the celebration doesn't exist.

What about valentines day? Do you think that is celebrated because of christinity or has it stayed true to its original pagan roots?

We have a very Santa-based Christmas at our house. All the fun stuff and none of that wearisome "Jesus died for you sins" junk. I always feel sorry for the kids when the parents brag about reading chapters from the Bible on Christmas. I can just imagine what an awesome opportunity that must be for Bible-thumping dad to harshly castigate his giddily cheerful kids because they're not being morose enough.

We have a very Santa-based Christmas at our house. All the fun stuff and none of that wearisome "Jesus died for you sins" junk. I always feel sorry for the kids when the parents brag about reading chapters from the Bible on Christmas. I can just imagine what an awesome opportunity that must be for Bible-thumping dad to harshly castigate his giddily cheerful kids because they're not being morose enough.

Jackc8

Yep

[QUOTE="tenaka2"]

[QUOTE="LJS9502_basic"]Yes. And just to clarify...without the Christian Christmas you wouldn't be celebrating a holiday. The pagans proper...not the current wave of neo pagans died off a long time ago...and so without Christianity creating the new celebration then we'd just go about our business.LJS9502_basic

no need to attempt to get a dig in, either way your wrong, if the christians didn't steal the pagan celebration it would still be celebrated.

Besides which didnt someone say jesus if born at all was born some timein aug? Strange that people still celebrate Valentines day or did the christians hi-jack that one also?

Aug? That would be a guess...I've heard spring as more likely. Nonetheless, picking a date for a celebration doesn't mean the celebration doesn't exist.

Valentine's Day? The day is named after one or more early Christian martyrs named Saint Valentine, and was established by Pope Gelasius I in 496 AD.

It's not a day celebrated other than being a day for a particular saint. The commercial holiday came much later and took his name.;)

Valintines was also originally a pagan holiday, but I guess you already know that.

[QUOTE="Jackc8"]

We have a very Santa-based Christmas at our house. All the fun stuff and none of that wearisome "Jesus died for you sins" junk. I always feel sorry for the kids when the parents brag about reading chapters from the Bible on Christmas. I can just imagine what an awesome opportunity that must be for Bible-thumping dad to harshly castigate his giddily cheerful kids because they're not being morose enough.

LJS9502_basic

Easter the other stolen pagan holiday :P

[QUOTE="pygmahia5"]lol, and without religions we'd have less wars. although im sure we'd find other reasons to kill ourselves. #religiousthreadsFTW!LJS9502_basic

[QUOTE="LJS9502_basic"]

[QUOTE="tenaka2"]

no need to attempt to get a dig in, either way your wrong, if the christians didn't steal the pagan celebration it would still be celebrated.

Besides which didnt someone say jesus if born at all was born some timein aug? Strange that people still celebrate Valentines day or did the christians hi-jack that one also?

tenaka2

Aug? That would be a guess...I've heard spring as more likely. Nonetheless, picking a date for a celebration doesn't mean the celebration doesn't exist.

Valentine's Day? The day is named after one or more early Christian martyrs named Saint Valentine, and was established by Pope Gelasius I in 496 AD.

It's not a day celebrated other than being a day for a particular saint. The commercial holiday came much later and took his name.;)

Valintines was also originally a pagan holiday, but I guess you already know that.

[QUOTE="LJS9502_basic"][QUOTE="pygmahia5"]lol, and without religions we'd have less wars. although im sure we'd find other reasons to kill ourselves. #religiousthreadsFTW!pygmahia5

[QUOTE="LJS9502_basic"][QUOTE="Jackc8"]

We have a very Santa-based Christmas at our house. All the fun stuff and none of that wearisome "Jesus died for you sins" junk. I always feel sorry for the kids when the parents brag about reading chapters from the Bible on Christmas. I can just imagine what an awesome opportunity that must be for Bible-thumping dad to harshly castigate his giddily cheerful kids because they're not being morose enough.

tenaka2

Easter the other stolen pagan holiday :P

Nope, it's just some time off.

[QUOTE="tenaka2"]

[QUOTE="LJS9502_basic"]Not actually a dig. Just a reality. The Christians were converting the pagans. As such the holidays would have disappeared as well. So without a new meaning for the holiday....the soltice would have just been something you might hear of in history cIass.

Aug? That would be a guess...I've heard spring as more likely. Nonetheless, picking a date for a celebration doesn't mean the celebration doesn't exist.

Valentine's Day? The day is named after one or more early Christian martyrs named Saint Valentine, and was established by Pope Gelasius I in 496 AD.

It's not a day celebrated other than being a day for a particular saint. The commercial holiday came much later and took his name.;)

LJS9502_basic

Valintines was also originally a pagan holiday, but I guess you already know that.

[QUOTE="pygmahia5"][QUOTE="LJS9502_basic"]According to the Encyclopedia of war....religion accounts for only 7% of wars throughout history. Current war? What current war is religious in nature?LJS9502_basic

[QUOTE="tenaka2"]

[QUOTE="LJS9502_basic"]Not actually a dig. Just a reality. The Christians were converting the pagans. As such the holidays would have disappeared as well. So without a new meaning for the holiday....the soltice would have just been something you might hear of in history cIass.

Aug? That would be a guess...I've heard spring as more likely. Nonetheless, picking a date for a celebration doesn't mean the celebration doesn't exist.

Valentine's Day? The day is named after one or more early Christian martyrs named Saint Valentine, and was established by Pope Gelasius I in 496 AD.

It's not a day celebrated other than being a day for a particular saint. The commercial holiday came much later and took his name.;)

LJS9502_basic

Valintines was also originally a pagan holiday, but I guess you already know that.

you argued that without christianity there would be no holiday at christmas even though it was originally a pagan holiday that christianity corrupted.

Yet many people all over the world celebrate valentines day even though it is also a pagan holiday.

Why would your rules apply to christmas and not valentines day?

[QUOTE="pygmahia5"][QUOTE="LJS9502_basic"]You seem to mix up symbolism. As for miracles....well I do believe they exist. LJS9502_basic

you argued that without christianity there would be no holiday at christmas even though it was originally a pagan holiday that christianity corrupted.

Yet many people all over the world celebrate valentines day even though it is also a pagan holiday.

Why would your rules apply to christmas and not valentines day?

tenaka2

The current celebration if you want to call it a holiday....it's not by the way.....for Valentine's Day is a commercial day that puts pressure on the public to spend money or risk ruining a relationship. It has...and never did....nothing to do with Christianity. And it's not a pagan celebration today but a commercial celebration of "love".

I haven't called either day a pagan holiday. You have.:|

[QUOTE="tenaka2"]

you argued that without christianity there would be no holiday at christmas even though it was originally a pagan holiday that christianity corrupted.

Yet many people all over the world celebrate valentines day even though it is also a pagan holiday.

Why would your rules apply to christmas and not valentines day?

LJS9502_basic

The current celebration if you want to call it a holiday....it's not by the way.....for Valentine's Day is a commercial day that puts pressure on the public to spend money or risk ruining a relationship. It has...and never did....nothing to do with Christianity. And it's not a pagan celebration today but a commercial celebration of "love".

I haven't called either day a pagan holiday. You have.:|

Your just avoiding the point, Valentines still exists even though it was originally a pagan event.

Christmas would also still exist in the same way valentines day has.

It doesnt really matter that the holidays were originally pagan and that the christians twisted them to their own purpose, however it is disingenuous to pretend that it didn't happen.

[QUOTE="pygmahia5"][QUOTE="LJS9502_basic"]According to the Encyclopedia of war....religion accounts for only 7% of wars throughout history. Current war? What current war is religious in nature?LJS9502_basic

Um..Er... I'm not going to enter this thread.

I celebrate it and I'm not religious. 50% of the country are atheist yet there are still Christmas decorations everywhere and tons of people crowding the shops (more so than usual), so I presume I'm not alone on that.

Yes. And just to clarify...without the Christian Christmas you wouldn't be celebrating a holiday. The pagans proper...not the current wave of neo pagans died off a long time ago...and so without Christianity creating the new celebration then we'd just go about our business.LJS9502_basic

I'd have to disagree with you there. Not sure of the climate where you live but where I live (until recently) it used to get pretty cold here around December and January and if there were no Christmas per se, I have to believe people would celebrate something around this time, just so they wouldn't go insane from the dreary grey skies and cold.

Now people in nice warm year round climates, I can see the middle of winter meaning nothing in particular to them...

[QUOTE="LJS9502_basic"]

[QUOTE="tenaka2"]

you argued that without christianity there would be no holiday at christmas even though it was originally a pagan holiday that christianity corrupted.

Yet many people all over the world celebrate valentines day even though it is also a pagan holiday.

Why would your rules apply to christmas and not valentines day?

tenaka2

The current celebration if you want to call it a holiday....it's not by the way.....for Valentine's Day is a commercial day that puts pressure on the public to spend money or risk ruining a relationship. It has...and never did....nothing to do with Christianity. And it's not a pagan celebration today but a commercial celebration of "love".

I haven't called either day a pagan holiday. You have.:|

Your just avoiding the point, Valentines still exists even though it was originally a pagan event.

Christmas would also still exist in the same way valentines day has.

It doesnt really matter that the holidays were originally pagan and that the christians twisted them to their own purpose, however it is disingenuous to pretend that it didn't happen.

I haven't avoided any point. If anything the name of the saint was taken for the commercial day. It's nothing more than a feast day. You have a magic crystal ball that tells you that the date would still be celebrated long after the culture died? Because ancient cultures did have specific days that we no longer celebrate today. And I doubt anyone would have celebrated the winter solstice even decades after paganism died out.

No what happened is they picked the same date. It's really that simple. That would be like if I had a fantastic military and invaded the UK and made it subservient to me and my co conspirators. I don't want to celebrate Guy Fawkes anymore but I want to keep the natives happy. So I create Liberation Day...make it a bank holiday, close the shops, have everyone get a paid holiday, and light up the sky with fireworks. Note...I'm NOT celebrating Guy Fawkes Day anymore. I'm celebrating something entirely different but instead of creating a new day.....I give you the same day off to avoid confusion and keep the population as happy as they're going to be under my reign. If you can't see that the meaning of the day is what is celebrated and NOT the date then I don't know what to tell you.