Why Do You Celebrate Christmas?

It’s that time of year again and like a lot of atheists out there it’s time for us to hear people asking, “why do you celebrate Christmas?” This is often a part of the discussion regarding nativity scenes and overt displays of religion on government owned property and government buildings, but that is not always the case.  Often it’s just a query from a confused Christian or religious person wondering why we celebrate “their holiday”.  Let’s set the record straight right here and now.

People will generally ask this question under a false assumption, that assumption being that celebrating this time of year is something that strictly belongs to or is because of their personal belief system.  Yes, we can tell them that Christmas is nothing more than the church usurping a pre-existing pagan holiday to make their new religion friendlier to those they wished to convert and bring into the fold.  Sure, we can point out that that the winter solstice is celebrated among almost all cultures as a time of renewal and rebirth of the sun celebrating the coming longer days and time to plant in the spring.  Of course we can list the gods that are also born on or around this time in other mythological belief systems, born of a virgin, celebrated by wise men, who would eventually be condemned, killed and also resurrected just like in the Jesus myth.  But the truth is we don’t have to and shouldn’t have to make excuses to these people.

Why do we celebrate this time of year?  Because we want to.  It doesn’t require some outdated religious belief system in order to want to be festive in the middle of the winter and gather with our families in order to spend a little joyous time together, be generous and share gifts.  There’s no need for religion to set up decorations, light up your house and simply have fun with friends and family.  There’s no requirement to create a mythology in order to sing and dance with the ones you love.  It only takes the desire to want to spread good will and cheer with friend and family and the ones you love in order to appreciate this time of year as a valid time of simple celebration.  That’s really all this is.

Next time you are asked this by your religious friends or acquaintances, turn and ask them the question.  Why do they “celebrate” this time of year.  Do they really treat it as the religious and sacred holiday they pretend it to be or do they really just buy into the commercialism, buying things, expecting presents and pretending that their holiday makes them more special than those who don’t recognize their religion as true.  Do they really hold this time of year as sacred or do they ruch out on black Friday in hopes of getting a deal no matter who they must thrust aside on order to save $10 off that shiny new smart phone.  Are they more worried about fulfilling Christmas lists or do they really teach their kids the love and compassion that they pretend to preach.  Do they embrace their loved ones regardless of their faith, sexual orientation or race or do they judge them all the while pretending to be loving and kind people.

You see, we celebrate this time of year because we love our families, friends and loved ones regardless of who they are.  So next time some self righteous individual confronts you about celebrating this time of year, just remember which one of you really embodies the true spirit of the season.