If you celebrate Christmas, are you a Christian?

[Anonymous]

Not religious, but I love Christmas.

I love reindeer, elves, Santa, decorating the tree, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:15:14 here. I have absolutely no judgment for what anyone else chooses to do to celebrate the season, and as I mentioned I really do enjoy going to friends' homes to enjoy their decorations, drink eggnog, listen to festive music, etc. But by definition, these things are NOT secular. They are connected with Christmas, which is connected (however tangentially these days) with Christianity. I bet most people who use the word "secular" to apply to things like Rudolph, stockings, and red and green lights are people who have some type of Christian (even if non-religious) background. People who actively affiliate with a specific non-Christian religion are much less likely to be comfortable doing these things. It's actually kind of insulting to consider these to be general "American" traditions, because lots of us red-blooded Americans don't feel part of them. It's NOT the same as Thanskgiving or 4th of July, it's just not.

As far as blue lights, a "Hannukah bush," etc., to me that just feels like trying to keep up with the Christian Jones'. I want my children to understand that our own wonderful, unique traditions are enough. That said, I have Jewish friends who do stuff like that and it doesn't bother me. I just wouldn't do it in my own home.

Actually, this is not true at all. As I mentioned previously, I am a non-practicing Muslim and I have no problem celebrating the secular aspects of Christmas. And ALL of my Muslim friends who live in the United States (even the more religious ones) celebrate some aspects of Christmas. Additionally, many friends who are Hindu also celebrate Christmas. The only friends I have who do not feel comfortable celebrating any aspect of Christmas are Jewish and I completely understand their rationale for not doing so but I think it is a stretch to say that only people with a Christian background celebrate it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The Supreme Court says a Christmas tree is secular, and that's good enough for me.

Agree, but please tell me what is so wrong with a Jewish person having a Yuletide log in their house, one with branches that have lights on them. Also, what if this log had a gift or two underneath? Also, cookies and yummy food all day?

[Anonymous]

I like to celebrate Christmas by doing all the secular things -- the tree, the outdoor lights, the Santa and Rudolph traditions, the stockings, the gingerbread houses and Christmas cookies, setting up luminarias, stringing cranberries and popcorn, making taffy -- etc. -- To me those are non-religious, secular activities that have nothing to do with celebrating the birth of Jesus, and so I do them

I was raised Catholic, and the Catholic religious observances (nativity set, taking communion at Midnight "Mass, lighting of Advent candles and saying Catholic prayers each Sunday) are not part of what I observe any more, as I am no longer religious.

I don't care what you, the PP, believe is religious or non-religious, or what a non-religious person can celebrate, and why. It's up to me to determine that, for myself."



I agree with this 100%.

[Anonymous]

I guess people are lill messes up here... religious Xmas is going to church, praising God for his mercy giving us his only son, putting up a nativity scene and reading the gospel for our children before dinner.
Santa, Rudolph, Xmas tree, stockings n lights mean the captalism taking over the season.

[Anonymous]

Little known, but absolutely true fact:

For many Jewish people, myself included, Christmas is like porn. It's naughty. It's fascinating. It's what your parents don't want you to have. It sparkles.

I love Christmas. My highly religious parents have thrown me out of their house for simply saying that I like the holiday season, the decorations, the trees in the shopping areas, the lights. Seriously, they think that all of the traditions around Christmas are Christian and therefore not for us.

Which is one more reason it's total porn.

I respect that 12/25 is when Christ's birth is celebrated (though astronomers say that it's more likely that he was born in June). It's a sacred and holy day for many people around the world.

But the tinsel, "White Christmas," "It's A Wonderful Life," the lights on houses... those are American expressions of celebration. I agree with the Supreme Court that a Christmas tree is a more of a festive decoration than a religious symbol.

Sure, it's a festive decoration for a celebration with religious significance.

It's also pretty. And sparkly. And it smells nice. And you can indulge in almost limitless shopping to make it even more sparkly year after year.

I'll be eating Chinese food on Christmas, but I'm so glad that most people on my block are decorating their houses with lights and red ribbons.

I'm an Atheist raised Jewish, and although I really don't want a government-sponsored Baby Jesus on public property, I like Christmas. A lot.

[Anonymous]

Hindu here. We love Christmas and celebrate. So do all our Hindu friends.

[Anonymous]

I'm not an U.S. citizen and I LOVE TURKEY on thanksgiving so, I think I had answered this topic!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Little known, but absolutely true fact:

For many Jewish people, myself included, Christmas is like porn. It's naughty. It's fascinating. It's what your parents don't want you to have. It sparkles. ......


I'll be eating Chinese food on Christmas, but I'm so glad that most people on my block are decorating their houses with lights and red ribbons.

I'm an Atheist raised Jewish, and although I really don't want a government-sponsored Baby Jesus on public property, I like Christmas. A lot.

ITA. I love Christmas and I don't care what it's called.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:15:14 here. I have absolutely no judgment for what anyone else chooses to do to celebrate the season, and as I mentioned I really do enjoy going to friends' homes to enjoy their decorations, drink eggnog, listen to festive music, etc. But by definition, these things are NOT secular. They are connected with Christmas, which is connected (however tangentially these days) with Christianity. I bet most people who use the word "secular" to apply to things like Rudolph, stockings, and red and green lights are people who have some type of Christian (even if non-religious) background. People who actively affiliate with a specific non-Christian religion are much less likely to be comfortable doing these things. It's actually kind of insulting to consider these to be general "American" traditions, because lots of us red-blooded Americans don't feel part of them. It's NOT the same as Thanskgiving or 4th of July, it's just not.

You know, "secular" has an actual definition. "not overtly religious". I was raised catholic. I know the difference between religious, and secular.

Trust me -- Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, and stockings hung by the chimeny for Santa to fill -- are NOT religious. They have nothing to do with sacraments, or religious worship, or any church.

They are secular traditions. Maybe American, maybe imported from other countries. People may use them in association with the religious holiday that is Christmas. Certainly I can understand how people who do not celebrate Christmas might be offended of these secular traditions were used in non-religious settings (like schools). They areassociated with a religious holiday, and I can see ow that would be annoying or offensive.

But the fact remains that they are secular, non-religious traditions.

[Anonymous]

Another Jew here. I don't see the Christmas tree etc as a "betrayal" (although there's a fine line to watch out for with certain imagery, which is not part of Jewish tradition...).

However, I'm perfectly happy with my own traditions, and don't need to bring in anyone else's. I'm happy to share your traditions in your home, but I don't really need your traditions in mine. The diversity is fine.

Af for Hanukkah Bush... how offensive. If it looks like a duck... If you want to put up a tree, put up a tree. But call it what it is.

[Anonymous]

Agnostic here, also OP. I celebrate ANYTHING that has good food, music, or just plain fun. I have had a great time with Diwali, Eid, Christmas, and Purim. I can not understand why the religious aspect should be such an issue. It seems to me it is more that Jewish families are opposed to celebrating Christmas. I just don't get it. Even if you want to admit that it has to do (now) with the birth of Christ, what is so wrong with that? I do not believe that he is the son of God (if you believe in God), but I do believe that he said some interesting things and so on. We celebrate Washington's birthday, what is wrong with celebrating the birth of Jesus?

Historically Christmas came out of pagan holidays of the winter solstice and saturnalia. If we had those now, I would celebrate them too!

[Anonymous]

Orthodox jew here-

I think Christmas is great. I love the music, the cookies, and the general good spirit. That being said, I would never celebrate it - secular aspect or not - bc its a holiday belonging to a religion other than my own. I also do not celebrate Halloween, Valentine's Day, Easter, Ramadan, or anything else that has religious origins (even if it is currently only a "Hallmark holiday").

The Jews have enough holidays, and we have our own at just the same time of year (remember Chanukah?) that I dont need to add extra holidays to my list.

To anyone who wants to celebrate, please do so and enjoy, but to many people, jews in particular, it is impossible to seperate the secular aspects from the religious aspects of any holiday.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Orthodox jew here-

I think Christmas is great. I love the music, the cookies, and the general good spirit. That being said, I would never celebrate it - secular aspect or not - bc its a holiday belonging to a religion other than my own. I also do not celebrate Halloween, Valentine's Day, Easter, Ramadan, or anything else that has religious origins (even if it is currently only a "Hallmark holiday").

The Jews have enough holidays, and we have our own at just the same time of year (remember Chanukah?) that I dont need to add extra holidays to my list.

To anyone who wants to celebrate, please do so and enjoy, but to many people, jews in particular, it is impossible to seperate the secular aspects from the religious aspects of any holiday.

Are you speaking for yourself, or all Jews? I assume you would not be the type to spy on other Jews to see if they're up to "no good" by celebrating another holiday.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Orthodox jew here-

I think Christmas is great. I love the music, the cookies, and the general good spirit. That being said, I would never celebrate it - secular aspect or not - bc its a holiday belonging to a religion other than my own. I also do not celebrate Halloween, Valentine's Day, Easter, Ramadan, or anything else that has religious origins (even if it is currently only a "Hallmark holiday").

The Jews have enough holidays, and we have our own at just the same time of year (remember Chanukah?) that I dont need to add extra holidays to my list.

To anyone who wants to celebrate, please do so and enjoy, but to many people, jews in particular, it is impossible to seperate the secular aspects from the religious aspects of any holiday.

I am not Orthodox and I agree completely.