Christmas: non-Christians and atheists...Do you 'celebrate'?

[luna moth]

We never did before. Our DD loves trees and tinsel and we thought we might get one. We're not sure what we're going to tell her just yet, but it will be as factual as we can make it.

We have presents. We have a tree. My brother is coming and we will have a big lunch. I guess we're treating it kind of like a folk tradition, the reasons for which are outdated, but the celebration remains.

I can't say much as DD is still little. Ask me when she is talking

[Epacris]

Oh yeah baby!!! (we are atheist)

We have a tree, decorations, lights, presents (way too many), Santa, massive lunch, the works. For us Christmas is a social institution, it’s all about family (and friends too) and an important punctuation to the year. My Mum likes to make snow scenes. She builds a little village in the snow on the fireplace mantelpiece. I know it sound a bit tacky but it is actually absolutely beautiful, a work of art.

[Trillian]

Oh yeah baby!!! (we are atheist)

We have a tree, decorations, lights, presents (way too many), Santa, massive lunch, the works. For us Christmas is a social institution, it’s all about family (and friends too) and an important punctuation to the year.

This is pretty much us as well.

[Phteven]

We join my family every couple of years for presents and so on.
When we don't join my family it's just another day, albeit one that everyone has off, so we often get together with friends for lunch or summat.
This year I was going to celebrate by catching up on maintenance at my holiday house in a leisurely kinda way but my ILs have invaded it. Yes, I'm bitter.

[Saffy]

yeah ( athiest here) we go the full shebang with tree, presents decorations, cards, big chrisse dinner, mince pies etc. Its a celebration of family and friiends as others have said.
None of my sisters or I have kids so no explaination needed at this stage!

[LuluHB]

We do the whole thing too. Definitely a celebration of friends and family, and either celebrating the year or just celebrating that its over! DD1 goes to a Christian kindy (DD2 will next year) so we also have discussions about it being the day Jesus was born etc. When they are older I will be more open about my beliefs while encouraging them to walk their own path, but in the meantime it is our choice for them to have a Christian education and so we support what comes with that. I am not religious at all, but there have been times when I truly envy the faith of those that are.

I have a friend who doesn't celebrate Christmas at all, despite her family doing so. She spends the day at the beach each and every year. It does annoy her that she is constantly told that effectively she is an idiot for not being involved, that you don't have to believe in God/Jesus etc - just enjoy the day. I think that however someone's views may differ from our own, we should all respect the right of others to act in the way they choose if it does no harm.

[krysalyss]

We aren't religious and have always celebrated christmas. Growing up, the only people that I knew who didn't celebrate xmas were from a non-christian religion (JW) but everyone else did. It wasn't a terribly big or multi-cultural school though either.

[[M]umma[M]ia]

Just because you dont believe or follow a religion, doesnt mean you dont believe in Santa

[Teeki]

We aren't religious - DH and I are more spiritual without subscribing to a particular religion. We do celebrate Christmas though, we were both brought up with it. My Mum was brought up Christian and so told my brother and I about the Christian meaning behind it, but it was still all about getting together with family and friends for us, rather than Jesus. We would see family members who lived far away and we never saw otherwise, so it was always a fantastic day

Now, it's more about family & friends than ever. After having close family members pass away close to Christmas, it's really become a time of reflection and... I dunno... kind of like family bonding or something? So we do a big meal, and gifts, and it's just a whole load of fun

At the moment DD is too young to understand anything, but we'll explain the different meaning behind the holiday, and how for us it's about family and showing appreciation for each other. We will have Santa, because it was such a magical time in my childhood. Nothing over the top, just something for her to get excited about. I'm already looking forward to next Christmas when she'll be a little older and the entire family (both sides) are coming to us so I can host it!