im a pagan agnostic and feel that with the Overwhelming amount of holidays from Friends day to Christmas that its just TOO much... Why do we need SPECIFIC days to Celebrate? I feel that EVERY day is a day worth celebrating and showing that you care for a friend or your own God... Why make people who might not be in the mood THAT DAY to celebrate and if they dont, they get a label placed on them as uncentimental, uncaring or just a plain old stick in the mud?
130043
I absolutely agree! I celebrate them because there sort of forced on.  My family just sort of shows up every freak'n Holiday & my dad's always calling and asking "so what are we going to do for...?"  I swear they do it out of spite because they know I hate holidays.  \n\nLike you said, every day is worth celebrating, not just some designated, commercialized day.  They cost to much too celebrate, I'm a tight a** and I hate spending my money on crap i.e., easter baskets, candy, table clothes, it's all sh**.\n\nI don't mind Christmas though, not for the religious associations, I just love that time of year, the cold weather, the warm food, and the fireplace.  But that's what I do during the winter anyhow.  \n\nThe most disturbing to me though, has to be Valentine's Day.  Good lord, I despise that day!  "Oh, honey, I love you so much today.  Here's some flowers and a box of chocolates I pickup at the grocery store." F*** all that!\n\nIf you love someone so much why wait until fr'kn Feb 14 to show it.  Bring them chocolate, flowers, love notes, sing them a song, cook them dinner, every day.\n\nMan I hear you!
507503
If it helps, I am a liberal and do not think Christmas should be about anything other than God and Jesus (well, maybe Mary).  Let's respect religious holidays for the distinct and beautiful experiences that they are, whether we observe them or not.
381368
Well, there is Yule AND there is Christmas.\nYule, which I celebrate, has been around longer and yes, Christianity came along and tried to convert us hethens by creating their own holiday around the same time. But that doesn't make Christmas any less significant. Those that celebrate it have every right to celebrate their beliefs; just as those pagans out there have every right to still celebrate Yule and the solstices. \nChristians celebrate Christmas as Jesus's birthday (and we all know he wasn't actually born on that day, but it was just picked as a day to celebrate it) and that is a beautiful tradition. Christians of today had no hand in the Church's actions of the past; therefore should not be punished for it.\nPeace to all and Blessed be!
449514
You've got it all wrong.  Christmas is only December 25.  It is consumerism that "celebrates" Christmas from right after Halloween until the New Year.  How else do you encourage spending if you don't consistently and strongly commercialize the concept of gift-giving during the holidays?  I agree with you, it isn't necessary to hammer the idea of Christmas in the stores or in the media, soon after you've received your trick-or-treat loot but that is the way of the world we live in.  We have gotten away from the true meaning of the celebration.\n\nHanukkah is recognized, not just in the very commercial way that Christmas is.  For that matter, don't forget Kwaanza for those who choose to celebrate that holiday or the Winter Solstice for the Wiccan community.
141230
The thing about being a Pagan is that you don't have to follow any traditions. I am a pagan because I am an individualist, and follow my heart.  I have been considered a solitary practitioner.  I read and learn about everything, and just try to enjoy life.   I don't feel comfortable with any strict practice... it smacks too muchy of Catholicism to me... I suffered enough under that.
367798
Maybe because it's a Pagan holiday? Don't say it's stupid before asking him the details of why. I personally don't like how commercialized the holiday has become. It's not about spending money, it's about spending time with your loved ones. It's Jesus' birthday, not ours, so exchanging material is so very trife.
436318
What the hell has religion got to do with this? Chritianity has absolutely nothing to do with rememberence day. Jews, christians, muslims, sikhs and almost every other religion sacrificed their young men and women in various wars and conflicts. Why does everything we do have to be hijacked by religous obsessives trying to point score over other denominations? I'm in the army and a white poppy is completely disrespectful to those that lost their lives. I knew a muslim soldier who died in Afghan this year, are white poppy wearers ignoring him?
473203
Amen!\n\nI celebrate Christmas for it is the day that has been set aside to honor the birth of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.\n\nI will continue to say Merry Christmas, regardless what others say.  I'm not going to say "Happy Holidays" just to please someone that does NOT believe in Christmas. \n\nIf they didn't believe in Christmas, then let them work through the season, instead of taking it off.   You sure don't hear them complaining about having the day off from work. Wonder how many Christmas' they have literally taken part in?\n\nMERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
382369
There is nothing wrong at all, with many or most of our holidays being agricultural in nature.  \n\nThat does not mean that Christians can't also celibrate them in they're own ways.  As I believe you said, you celebrate the idea of Santa.  He is fun.  And yet there is no Christian symbolism with him, but that is ok, you also celebrate Christ's birth.\n\nAs far as holiday's also being agriculturally based, that is ok and good, we all have to eat.  And so we enjoy the times that things are planted and harvested, and rejoice in God's creation.\n\nMany of the early festivals in the Bible are based on harvests, plantings, etc.\n\nJesus had wine at the last supper.  An agricultural product.
52792
Jehovah's Witnesses are quite celebratory; anniversaries, goings-away, welcomes-home, graduations, whatever! However, Witnesses do NOT engage in practices which are inextricably linked with false religion, such as those around Christmas and birthday celebrations.\n\nThe facts about Christmas' pagan origins (and its traditional pagan date) are well-documented in most reference books. Most Christmas traditions are independently rejected on their individual pagan origins.\n\nChristmas is also not commemorated as the ostensible 'birthday of Christ' because birthday celebrations are ALWAYS associated in the bible with unbelievers and false worship. The message is clear: while Jesus commanded Christians to commemorate his death, the scriptures do not even mention the dates of birth for either Jesus or any of the apostles.
184340
the point is that they dont try to take jesus out of the holidays. they only act when they see the situation is growing and might cause a dispute bigger than what it should be. it is true we have a freedom of Religion in this country and part of that freedom is respecting everyone else's beliefs. The people that you see "standing" out against your christian holidays is becuase they feel like your forcing them to believe the way you believe. they feel like your being in their faces about it.\n\nTo relate to this situation. I assume you are a christian and if your not please imagine you are and you are located in a muslim country and there are muslim posters everywhere promoting islamic beliefs and Allah everywhere. thats the way those people feel about the holidays that you have in the country. they feel you are interupting their daily life.
371300
cause it's the best way to celebrate God! God is everywhere, and so many descriptions of God remind us this fact, all the time!\nwhy you care so much about what kind of worship other peoples do?
1858
I know you said this question is for those who don't celebrate any religious holidays, but I'm going to answer anyways.  People seem to take great precaution to not offend anyone--unless, of course, they are Christians.  Go figure.  It can be so frustrating to see everyone try to take Jesus out of Christmas, isn't it?  :(  It may make you feel better to know that Happy Holiday means Happy Holy Day.  And I think it is safe to say Jesus's birthday is a VERY holy day, wouldn't you?  So... Happy Holy Day and a very Merry Christ-mas to you!
188102
I'm with you.  \n\nI don't think it's a sin to celebrate holidays, but they are separate from Christianity.  \n\nThe only thing the Bible tells us to celebrate is Christ's death, burial, and resurrection - the Lord's supper - and the disciples did that on the first day of the week.  (Acts 20:7, I Corinthians 10:16-17 and 11:20)\n\nGrowing up, my sister thought that Santa was more powerful than God, because Santa brought her presents.  We do need to be careful what we teach children with our traditions.
457169
I think you are sooooo right!  I think the only thing would be if you had friends that you knew were of another faith then you could be sensative to their religious beliefs and send them a generic card to wish them "Happy Holidays."  But if you celebrate Christmas then that's exactly what you should say... "Merry Christmas!"
339877
It says that you are a normal person and you like happy occasions even if they belong to another religion. Get it the mood and have fun and don't think about it. I mean Christian holidays origin from way back before Christ and church turned their meanings cause people could not stop celebrating.\nAnother thing is that even Japanese people celebrate Christmas so don't worry.
409099
This is just taking the PC. If Diwali and Yom Kippur can be celebrated then surely Christmas can for a start off Christmas is celebrated in several religions not one like most of the other festivals. Baubles to the lot of it where is the true meaning of Political Correctness, it should be all or nothing. PC my winter celebration stocking.