Why do most people attend a midnight mass during Christmas, but never attend a mass during the year??
962142
a desperate attempt to fall into Gods favor,and it is a tradition as well as a social event.
26268
The Twelve Days of Christmas is probably the most misunderstood part of the church year among Christians who are not part of liturgical church traditions. Contrary to much popular belief, these are not the twelve days before Christmas, but in most of the Western Church are the twelve days from Christmas until the beginning of Epiphany  (January 6th; the 12 days count from December 25th until January 5th). In some traditions, the first day of Christmas begins on the evening of December 25th but the following day is considered the First Day of Christmas (December 26th).\n\nThe origin of the Twelve Days is complicated, and is related to differences in calendars, church traditions, and ways to observe this holy day in various cultures (see Christmas).  In the Western church, Epiphany is traditionally celebrated as the time the three Wise Men or Magi arrived to present gifts to the young Jesus (Matt. 2:1-12). In some cultures, especially Hispanic and Latin American culture, January 6th is observed as Three Kings Day, or simply the Day of the Kings (Span: la Fiesta de Reyes, el Dia de los Tres Reyes, or el Dia de los Reyes Magos; Dutch: Driekoningendag).  Even though December 25th is celebrated as Christmas in these cultures, January 6th is often the day for giving gifts. In some places it is traditional to give Christmas gifts for each of the Twelve Days of Christmas. Since Eastern Orthodox traditions use a different religious calendar, they celebrate Christmas on January 7th and observe Epiphany or Theophany on January 19th.\n\nBy the 16th century, some European and Scandinavian cultures had combined the Twelve Days of Christmas with (sometimes pagan) festivals celebrating the changing of the year. These were usually associated with driving away evil spirits for the start of the new year. \n\nThe Twelfth Night is January 5th, the last day of the Christmas Season before Epiphany (January 6th). In some church traditions, January 5th is considered the eleventh Day of Christmas, while the evening of January 5th is still counted as the Twelfth Night, the beginning of the Twelfth day of Christmas the following day.  Twelfth Night often included feasting along with the removal of Christmas decorations. French and English celebrations of Twelfth Night included a King's Cake, remembering the visit of the Three Magi, and ale or wine (a King's Cake is part of the observance of Mardi Gras in French Catholic culture of the Southern USA).  In some cultures, the King's Cake was part of the celebration of the day of Epiphany.
217856
The only person I celebrate is Jesus at Christmas time, and show honor and respect at Easter. More than once I've had people mad at me for not celebrating pagan holidays. Sorry, don't do idols or false gods.
749945
I would have to say christmas because ppl decorate their houses more for this holiday than any other. and people seem nicer this time of year than any other . people go to church more . I dont know it just seems like the world is at peace . good luck and god bless and happy holidays.
743977
Could be because Christmas is such a wonderful time of the year for some people with family and friends and happiness and laughs and presents and memories and stories and get-togethers and everything good and happy...and they've been waiting anxiously all year long for it to come -- and when it finally arrives, they realize, now that it's here, that it will soon be over, and then their vacation will be over and they'll have to go back to work and family will be gone back home and the tree will get taken down and the house will be quiet once again, and life will go back to normal and they'll have to wait another whoooole year before it comes back again!  and maybe they're just too busy thinking about that to really sit back, relax and enjoy the moment...
24708
doesn't new year's precede christmas like... every year? so 2005
407504
Christmas is fixed because the Catholic church fixed it.  and it is totally the wrong time of the year, but they did it anyway.  \nEaster should be linked to the Jewish passover, as Jesus was the ultimate passover lamb.  This should be fixed by the Jewish calender, which we don't use.  A Rabbi should know.\nChristmas is definitely a pagan holiday, but the passover is a feast initiated by God in the Old Testament.  We really have communion and can do it anytime.
860674
I would give a gift of enlightenment. I rather love my friends and family all year long and I can give them gifts at anytime, but not at christmas for celebratory purpose. In short, I would give gifts but not in celebration of Christmas.  To avoid misleading others or misinterpretation, I would rather not give at Christmas.  I would give my friend a gift of enlightenment....by letting her know that Christmas is a big lie and it originated with paganic practices. I would let her know that sheeps wouldn't be out in the fields in the winter. ..That in the winter, if it rains, the rain gets soaked into the sheep's wool and actually gets frozen, potentially killing the sheep. Therefore,...that Christ couldn't have possible been born in December. I would get with her and look up the word 'Christmas' in encyclopaedia and read the origin of Christmas. Most encyclopaedias are online and; the Catholic encyclopaedia is a good one. So, I would reason with my friend that only Satan is the cause of perpetrating the big lie about Christmas. I would let her know that the word 'devil' means a vicious liar and where ever a lie is involved, the source is 'of the devil.' I would tell my friend.."Let's get out of the evil practices of the world and that we should be in the world but not of the world."
941753
Do they know it's Christmas, it strikes a chord in people. Christmas, is a time of year for gluttony for many (sadly including myself) And when the idea of Christmas is mentioned alongside talk of needy people it helps reminds people of how Christmas started, & inspires people to want to help. Tis the season, it's just unfortunate people have to have a season to give and can't find a good reason to do it all year. Good luck with all that you are doing & good for you!
833090
I'm from America, and our personal tradition is to go over to my parents or brothers house on Christmas Eve for dinner, family time, and opening gifts. Christmas morning, I try to wake up before the kids so we can watch them get excited by all the gifts 'Santa' left them in the night. Then, for the noon meal, my in-laws come over and we have more family time and opening gifts. Probably pretty similar to many Americans - very basic.\nOne thing our neighborhood does (on the 23rd this year) is have luminaries. It spans several blocks and the streets are closed to traffic, and the sight is really beautiful. It's a tradition that has been around since before I was born - there are carriage rides and hot cocoa and cookies in the park, and some people go caroling. \nMerry Christmas!
928294
WoW! It's unbelievable how some get so angry over this question.! I don't actually care what it's called; winterval or otherwise. I know it's not popular, but...here goes anyway.....\nDecember 25th, according to the Bible, (which is the ultimate and true word, on this subject and all others,) This date, has Pagan origins, and was declared to be Christ's birthday, by humans. The truth, which as Christians, we should be seeking, is that Christ was actually born in the Fall of the year, (Feast of Trumpets and Feast of Tabernacles Holy Days, are the time of the year when Christ was actually born.) Dec. 25th is the date that Mary was Immaculately conceived, BTW)\nMost people dont want to hear this; it's too hard to change some beliefs. BUT God does tell us to worship in Spirit and in Truth...soooo.... I guess it will be offensive to some! That's the way the Christmas cookie crumbles!\nThese facts about Jesus' real birthday have absolutely nothing to do with being politically correct...They were Biblical and true, before all this nonsense about stuff like that. \nAnyone who seeks the truth about Jesus' birthday, can read it in the Bible; those of us who know that December 25th is not His birthday, have already proved it to ourselves, and find comfort in knowing the truth that Christ has allowed us to know. \nIt's not about taking away a "religious" holiday....It's fine with me if people celebrate Dec 25th, no matter what it's called...but....in reality, since it's not Christ's birthday, it's just a tradition, a fun one perhaps, once you get thru all the hassles involved with shopping, the greed of the merchants, the expectations of what you're going to receive, the stress, not to mention the bills and the cookies that didn't turn out, and the commercialism! \nSo...call it anything...doesn't matter anyway...and I hate to be a party pooper..but Christ doesn't belong in it to begin with...\nWhy not just call it a WinterFest, and be done with it ? That's all it is, anyway!!!
673158
Of course Christmas is celebrated, atheists are semi-normal people. The 'Christ' part is ignored, and most atheists are the 'closet' type, they don't go around bad mouthing Christians like the the very liberal types do.
912674
I don't celebrate Christmas.\nI'm Jewish!\nHappy Hanukkah!!!!\n(December 15 - 23)
911538
As a child, I never realized how commercialized Christmas had become. As an adult, it is disheartening to know that many people do not celebrate Christmas for what it really means. Christmas means different things to different people and of course there are older traditions that reflect many of the practices today such as gift giving, putting up a tree, having a feast etc.. Of course to many Christians, it is the celebration of the birth of Christ. I believe these all reflect the true meaning of Christmas. It's just hard to keep it all in perspective because it has become so commercialized. Christmas to me is a sad time because I am away from my family, so I celebrate with my friends. It is also a happy time because I see many people give to those in need. I don't think that Christmas is the only time to help those in need, but it surely does perpetuate a good feeling in many during this holiday.
939818
I always celebrate Yule and Christmas I am a pagan well I am  a witch and I follow a celtic path so I honour all of the traditional pagan sabbats.\n\nMy only wish is that people could extend their goodwill throughout the year instead of keeping it to one particular time of year but as that is never going to happen I shan't hold my breath.
388809
geee,  it may have something to do with the fact that there are only 24 hours in a day. I don't think the government can change that.  But, if you want to make your Christmas holiday 48 hours long, knock yourself out.  Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
403778
There are some religions that do not celebrate Christmas, including a Christin group or two. And Christmas has been so commercialized that the true meaning escapes many who are not religious. Their thoughts are drawn away from Christ, who is the true meaning of Christmas.\n\nI have always felt sorry at Christmas time for the children of families that didn't believe in Christmas...all of the lights, the decoratins, and of course the gifts. But as Christmas is now maybe they aren't missing out on a lot after all. All that stuff is just glitter masking the true meaning.  Of course we try to keep our children's hearts turned to Christ at that time of the year, but it is hard with all of the other stuff going on.