What does Christmas mean to you?


What do you do to celebrate this holiday?

Or are you someone that does not celebrate this holiday?

I would like to hear from those who do and do not recognise this holiday.
Thank you

Having a peaceful time with my family. Enjoying each others company and playing board games.

It has no religious meaning to me, and even when I actually think about the "reason for the season" it makes me nervous thinking there are so many people out there who believe that.

But I don't fight Xmas, nor get offended by folks who wish me a merry xmas--I actually wish every a merry Xmas myself. During the last week of the holiday you witness folks actually trying to be nicer to each other, unless of course you're in the return isle at the store or your bumping into some asshole at the mall.

Christmas is strictly a secular holiday for me, but one in which I take time to reflect upon my life and family.

It's about spending time with my family/extended family. Eating a great dinner, exchanging gifts, playing lots of board games (the only time of year we tend to do that) and laughing a lot.

It has no religious ( christian ) meaning to me either - Dec 25 as "christmas" that is

I celebrate Yule and the winter solstice
http://www.metamercury.ne...letide.htm

I would not give up the fellowship and gatherings but I did switch it from the supposed celebration of jesus and a fat make believe man in red to something that has far more meaning to me personally

BUT - to each their own

SO what about you Val ...



What does Christmas mean to you?


What do you do to celebrate this holiday?

Or are you someone that does not celebrate this holiday?

Christmas is just an illusion.

Mach said:

Christmas was never a religious thing in my family. We all got together to eat and exchange gifts.

I used to celebrate by decorating the house and the tree. I used to buy a live tree and we would plant it in the yard.

This year I will celebrate it by sending a few very important ppl a gift and talking to my mom on the phone.

I am dreaming of a white Christmas

JustErin said:

Same here. And we take A LOT of pictures.

For a few years I was a big old scrooge and positively HATED Xmas, but still "celebrated" with my family, as it would have been harder to avoid altogether.
Now, I'm back at a place where I appreciate the traditions, the rituals, the time with family and the merrymaking with friends. Costumes and decorations and specific music and food and presents... It's fun.
For me, it's never been religious, or associated with it really in any meaningful way. And that's the way it will continue to be.

Two words: schnapps.

(Okay that's one word, but I've just had some. )

2the9s said:

What kind???

shanti0608 said:

Eggplant.

2the9s said:

Oh...never mind ...

no need to share...

This year unfortunately we won't have as much family around since some have moved out of state. But we get together with the family that is left, we celebrate Dec. 24th and stay up til midnight to open gifts . We have lots of food mexican food such as tamales and pozole

http://prince.org/msg/100/254068

I celebrate Christmas because I enjoy the holiday hooplah.

What I mean by that is, I glorify Jesus everyday, so I don't just need Christmas to celebrate "his birth".

I show my family and friends love everyday, so I don't need Christmas to tell them I love them.

I help those less fortunate throughout the year, so I don't need Christmas to remind me to do that.

I just think it is fun. I do what I want to celebrate...the 12 ft Christmas tree is a lot of work but just a riot! AND the decorations are really beautiful.

veronikka said:

That sounds yummie

Mach said:

Coca-Cola raped Saint Nick

One4All4Ever said:

My mom told me at an early age that there was no Santa...that she buys all of the gifts I get.

shanti0608 said:

We celebrate Saint Nick on December 6th ... Due to the questions about him from a certain orger, I delved into the story and actually it is very interesting.
http://www.stnicholascent...?pageID=38

In Europe (Especially Belgium and The Netherlands) he was celebrated to keep the focus of X-mas to Jesus' birth. He was Americanized to Santa by Coca-Cola

One4All4Ever said:

Interesting..thanks

what is christmas to me?

well, i do love the christmas eve service with the family... so nice to get everyone there, the church is filled with so much love - its a magical night with the candle lighting, the children, the families, the kindness... its beautiful

the family all around, i love those times... this year will be different without my sister but, it also is a reminder to love the family you have with all your heart - immerse yourself in the moment and rejuvenate your soul... laugh out loud, cry if you need to, play like a child, and love with all your heart...

and, on a lighter note, i love to do all the holiday baking, cookies and candies everywhere. being a single mom, i say no to my kids wants quite a bit... but on christmas, i throw all that out the window and just about anything goes - i love seeing their little faces when they get that one special thing they thought they would never get

One4All4Ever said:

Yeah we celebrate that here in Austria as well . But it's not as big as Christmas of course.

I'm Catholic. I Christmas for the religious reasons, which for me are plenty, and for the fact that it seems to make everyone a little happier,Christian or not.

I spend part of the day with one side of the family and the other part with another side. They're Christian but I'm not so I just take the time to enjoy being with everybody, the only religious element during the day really is their prayer before we eat so I can deal with that. And the day will be filled with a little gift giving(which I'm not so fond of), lots of food and lots of laughter

Its about when the baby Santa was born in a manger & the 3 wise elves came & brung him some gold, frankincense & herb.

Illustrator said:

Tis the season

We're starting new traditions this year. I had a hard time making Meggy and Igopogo wait until Thanksgiving to put the tree up. Igo is our resident expert on all holiday things.
We are all going to Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve even though Igo is the only one who is Catholic. I have never done that so it will be interesting and we have much to be thankful for so it seems appropriate.
I'm sending cards out to all friends and relatives, even those who don't celebrate.
Lots of friends and family get togethers, everyone's going to be home for a few days so it will be lovely.
It's Miah's first Christmas!!!!

Oh, and January 7 is Rastaferi Christmas- that is even better yet.
We will have a houseful of our Rastaferi friends, have a lovely day full of love, good food and music.

for me, christmas is more of a time to stop and appreciate family and loved ones and a time to allow yourself to be appreciated by them, than it is anything else.

if it were a matter of celebrating the birth of christ, i wouldn't celebrate christmas, since i don't believe in christ any more or less than i believe in the buddha or any other major religious figure, and i don't celebrate their births even if i do have a certain respect for the different teachings of various religions.

and it's not a celebration of the holiday's supposed pagan origins, cuz i have little knowledge of what all THAT is about.

it's just something i grew up with, and something that was important to my family, and something that i know is important to most people i know, so i guess in short, it's more about tradition and appreciation than anything else.

and hey, when else are ya gonna drink egg nog?

Anxiety said:

I'm like so RAW Vegan now that I don't do that kind of stuff. That's for Windows Vista users who like Dunken Donuts coffee