For those of you who don't celebrate Christmas...

KeriKadi - 2010-10-14 9:05 AM What are they doing during the celebration that is religious?
We are Catholic and celebrate Christmas but I can't think of anything religious we do.  I mean, we pray before we eat but that certainly isn't 90% of the celebrating.

I am sorry you are uncomfortable and think it's a great idea to have your own party, why not invite family?  Then you could spend some time with them during the holidays.  I don't understand why the party has to be non-Christians only.

My opinion on the guilt thing is people can't give you guilt if you are confident in your decision.  They can try to make you feel bad but how you feel is up to you, don't give them that power.  "We love you guys but are not comfortable celebrating with you." 

KeriKadi - 2010-10-14 8:05 AM What are they doing during the celebration that is religious?
We are Catholic and celebrate Christmas but I can't think of anything religious we do.  I mean, we pray before we eat but that certainly isn't 90% of the celebrating.

I am sorry you are uncomfortable and think it's a great idea to have your own party, why not invite family?  Then you could spend some time with them during the holidays.  I don't understand why the party has to be non-Christians only.

My opinion on the guilt thing is people can't give you guilt if you are confident in your decision.  They can try to make you feel bad but how you feel is up to you, don't give them that power.  "We love you guys but are not comfortable celebrating with you." 

Pector55 - 2010-10-14 8:08 AM Sorry Andrew but I don't understand how this is an issue.  We celebrate Christmas but the family get-togethers are about family, not religion.  Perhaps you can elaborate on what makes them so unbearably religious?

FWIW, if you do come to our house and start a creationism vs. evolution debate then yeah, I would throw you out just for being a douche but if you come to enjoy being with family, you would be extremely welcome.

AndrewMT - 2010-10-14 9:11 AM

Oh, I'm not feeling guilty, but I'm getting mad at the attempt to get me there!

Anyway, for our families, Christmas is almost solely a religious thing.  Go to Church, pray, read the bible, sing religious carols, etc.  We do have dinner and open a few gifts, but that stuff is peripheral.  My wife's family is German/Polish, so they have a very traditional Catholic religious celebration.  Hard to describe.  Either way, the focus is on Jesus and his birth and what it means...very little else.   

AndrewMT - 2010-10-14 8:13 AM

LOL....d?on't worry, I won't be bringing up evolution at anyones ??c?h?r?i?s?t?m?a?s? ??????p?a?r?t?y??!??????

GNO93 - 2010-10-14 8:15 AM

We get together with family every christmas...regarless of who is hosting, there are christians and non-christians always there. The only religious activity is the prayer before the meal...

even as caveman-ish as I am, as a christian, family members/friends who dont believe what I do, are still welcome at my house.  I would have a problem with yall not being welcomed, and that would make me not want to go.

are you getting pressured to go, and then made to feel un-welcome when you do go?  I would have my own party too.

AndrewMT - 2010-10-14 8:19 AM

That's not the intent, but in practice that's how it ends up.  Of course both families want us there.  It's an important holiday for them and they want the family to get together.  But for our very christ centered families, they can't fathom having Christmas without it being centered on what they are actually celebrating; which is the birth of Jesus.  We're not made to feel unwelcome, but when you can't participate in many of the celebration, it's awkward!

As a caveman, how do you celebrate Christmas?  I'm pretty sure Jesus wasn't born before the cavemen were around.... 

AndrewMT - 2010-10-14 7:58 AM ...how do you handle your (christian) families around the holidays?  Make other plans, come up with excuses...?


Both my wife's and my families like to get together to celebrate, but it's very awkward when we're there, since 90% of the celebrating is religious and we don't/can't join in.  This year we're planning on hosting a Holiday party at our house for all of our friends in Houston who similarly don't believe in Christmas, but we're getting guilt tripped by our families.  This really makes me mad as it makes it seem like we're the ones ruining everything.  If your celebration doesn't welcome heathens such as myself, don't expect me to come! 

I'd love to hear your experiences and how you dealt with it. 

AndrewMT - 2010-10-14 9:11 AM

Oh, I'm not feeling guilty, but I'm getting mad at the attempt to get me there!

Anyway, for our families, Christmas is almost solely a religious thing.  Go to Church, pray, read the bible, sing religious carols, etc.  We do have dinner and open a few gifts, but that stuff is peripheral.  My wife's family is German/Polish, so they have a very traditional Catholic religious celebration.  Hard to describe.  Either way, the focus is on Jesus and his birth and what it means...very little else.   

Leegoocrap - 2010-10-14 8:33 AM Festivus?

meherczeg - 2010-10-14 8:35 AM

I can see why you would be uncomfortable, and would opt out if I were you too, but it's nice to see a family that DOES celebrate Christmas rather than commercial Christmas.  Head over for dinner and to kiss your grandma, then head home.

...

DerekL - 2010-10-14 8:37 AM Why not just spend time with your family despite the fact that you don't believe what they believe?

I've learned to pick my battles over the years, ... 

AndrewMT - 2010-10-14 9:29 AM I'm really surprised at the fact that all the responses have been from Christians but that for many of you, Christmas is a fairly non-religious celebration!

AndrewMT - 2010-10-14 8:29 AM I'm really surprised at the fact that all the responses have been from Christians but that for many of you, Christmas is a fairly non-religious celebration!

Last year my sister (also an atheist) hosted a Winter Solstice dinner as an alternative to Christmas dinner.  Caused a huge uproar...."celebrating the darkest darkest day of the year instead of celebrating the birth of Jesus, yada yada".  Don't think we'll try that one again!

Leegoocrap - 2010-10-14 8:33 AM Festivus?