Kids want a Christmas tree; we are not Christian

[Anonymous]

Suggestions? We are Hindus. We've decided to play up the Hindu holidays a lot, decorated the house for Diwali, had a big party, etc. Do the same for a lot of the other holidays.
Kids have never even noticed Christmas till now. The older one is 6.

[Anonymous]

"A Christmas tree is something people who celebrate Christmas sometimes have, and our family doesn't so we don't have a tree." Then acknowledge Christmas trees are pretty and looking at ornaments can be fun. Enjoy seeing your friends' and neighbors' trees.

I'm Jewish and don;t like the approach of making Hanukkah a substitute for Christmas or equating them. I wouldn't suggest playing up a Hindu holiday to "make up for" not celebrating another religion's holiday, but pointing out there are some things your family does that others don't is just fine.

[Anonymous]

The tree is not deemed a religious symbol, actually. I know it is counter-intuitive, but it makes perfect sense.

[Anonymous]

We are atheists and have a Christmas tree. Christmas is mostly a cultural holiday. I know the religious people have some special attachment to it, but it's okay to not have any attachment but still engage in the merry making that goes along with it.

So we have a 9-ft tall tree, an ungodly amount of lights, ribbons, ornaments, and etc.

I take pride on having the best tree in the entire street.

[Anonymous]

We are not Christian and have always had a tree.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are atheists and have a Christmas tree. Christmas is mostly a cultural holiday. I know the religious people have some special attachment to it, but it's okay to not have any attachment but still engage in the merry making that goes along with it.

So we have a 9-ft tall tree, an ungodly amount of lights, ribbons, ornaments, and etc.

I take pride on having the best tree in the entire street.

I'm atheist also and I just want to say there is a huge difference between an atheist celebrating Christmas and a person of a non-Christian faith celebrating Christmas. I am so tired of the person or people who always chime in to 'explain' that Christmas is not religious. Ok, it's not "religious", but only Christians (or people like us, who just don't care about religion) celebrate it.

Anyway, I don't know how to help, OP. It's tough when you want to go against the crowd, regardless of the reasons, especially if the crowd includes your kids.

[Anonymous]

OP what about doing just lights outside the house? They are pretty and fun and fairly far away from religion per se. Really, the lights and candles in all the world's winter holidays is more about the solstice than anything else. Would that be a compromise you would be ok with?

[Anonymous]

You can call it a holiday tree, it's american

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are not Christian and have always had a tree.

I grew up in communist Russia, and we always had a tree for the New Year's Eve. (My family did not celebrate Christmas. My parents came from the Christian tradition, but they were atheists at the time. I guess.)

So... tree away!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You can call it a holiday tree, it's american

Thanks for calling Jews, and people of other faiths (or no faith) who don't participate in the historically Christian holiday of Christmas. Un-American. Are you voting for trump?

[Anonymous]

I'm Hindu too, and my family always had a Christmas tree growing up. My parents explained it by saying that Hindus are polytheistic and embrace aspects of other religions. Not a big deal in my opinion to get a tiny table-top one if they really want it. I have fond memories of attending Christmas parties at our Indian friends'' houses when I was little, and wondering why the Santa who came to the party was brown, when they were always white in the pictures.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You can call it a holiday tree, it's american

Thanks for calling Jews, and people of other faiths (or no faith) who don't participate in the historically Christian holiday of Christmas. Un-American. Are you voting for trump?

NP - but saying something is American is not the same as saying that someone who doesn't do it is NOT American. Don't get too upset over something that hasn't been said by anyone here.

[Anonymous]

Get your kids a CHRISTMAS tree and stop making them outcasts.

Damn. It's just a tree people.

[Anonymous]

OP, do you want a tree? Or not? We are Jewish and don't have a tree because we don't celebrate Christmas, secular or religious. It's never been a big issue for our kids. Partially, I think because we participate in many of the community aspects of Christmas (light festivals, school sings longs, etc) and partially because we are pretty clear in our intention about what our family does. I can't tell from your post what your intention is for your family's traditions. Maybe if you clarify that, people can be more helpful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are atheists and have a Christmas tree. Christmas is mostly a cultural holiday. I know the religious people have some special attachment to it, but it's okay to not have any attachment but still engage in the merry making that goes along with it.

So we have a 9-ft tall tree, an ungodly amount of lights, ribbons, ornaments, and etc.

I take pride on having the best tree in the entire street.

Actually, it is not. You're an atheist celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ.