Celebrate

I know christians celebrate christmas. I live in the UK and during this season, every where you go its all bright colorful lights, tinsels, and christmas trees and carols. And it makes me feel cheerful and since its not often that I am cheerful i would like to be part of it for the december month.
I enjoy the weeks where its coming to it where all the old christmas songs and the kids christmas movies are on and everyone has their house decorated. Is it weird that i want to celebrate chrismas when idon’tt follow christianity??

Well considering Christmas was originally a Pagan Holiday to celebrate the Winter Solstice, I would say yes. I’m an atheist. I use Christmas as a time to spend with family and friends. I do not believe in God or Christianity. Christmas holds no religious value for me. I love decorating the tree and putting lights up. You can celebrate what you want, how you want. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.

It might seem silly to ask this question but for spare time.
I don’t get why we celebrate it also known as Easter were everyone is happy… On jesus death?
Or did he really not die on that day?

Jesus died on ‘Good Friday’ and was resurrected on Easter Sunday, therefore Easter is a time of rejoicing. His death is not celebrated but memorialized in the Good Friday services of the Catholic and some other Christian churches.

We are doing a project where we do a report and powerpoint presentation on Christmas island. I need to figure out what they do to celebrate christmas.

Probably the same as other countrys. It is only named christmas island because it was discovered on christmas day.

I am aware that to many the holiday is NOT about Jesus, but about gifts, etc. Just wondering what is your reaction when someone says "Merry Christmas" to you?

I say "Merry Christmas" back.

I’m an atheist, not a dick.

I finally did it today! I made it to level two so I want to celebrate in style so how did everyone else celebrate the event? Can I get demoted back to level one if I use too many of my points?
oh man these sounds so intense! i want to give a speech about this but to who??! maybe i can do a speech at a little presidential rally they aren’t very big events

I had a formal dinner and cocktail party and gave a speech

What do you have planned to do today, while Christans celebrate chrismas? What do you do on the day of December 25th, that is not a holiday for you, while people that do celebrate the holiday, are celebrating the holiday?

Thats not a reason to stop living your life as i do not celebrate cristmas,
i just realax on that day and i usally know whats going to be on tv before i get some drinks and chocolate and sweets whatever i want and then i watch t.v and i dont care if i get fat what else is everybody doing at that time ?? so thats my idea x

Love From
Gazzy x

We celebrate our birthday. We celebrate the birthday of family members, friends and relatives. But why can’t some people celebrate the birth of Jesus? Some of them are even so-called “Christians”. Is it because they do not know when He was born so it is their way of avoiding the issue?

I believe that the reason many Christians don’t celebrate the birth of Christ is because God showed constant and consistent displeasure toward birthday celebrations throughout many areas of the bible. God does not seem to be a fan of birthday parties.

Regarding other religions, many do celebrate Christmas – they just call it something else – something that fits in with their personal belief structure. There are religions older than Christianity that have celebrated or do celebrate their version of the winter holiday at around the same time. For example, Pagans celebrate Yule on the day of the winter solstice, to recognize the rebirth of the sun. Educated Christians will acknowledge that, while Christmas has been set at the same time for hundreds of years, December was chosen to replace the Pagan holiday. Churches were built atop Pagan temples to aid with the conversion of the "heathens." Other holidays were celebrated on certain days or during significant seasonal periods in order to make the crossover easier on those who were being converted. Looking at it as an issue of convenience and acceptance, it was a brilliant tactic.

if so, does this encompass all the orthodox denominations – like greek / byzantine, russian, armenian, ethiopian etc.? in which country do we see christmas celebrated on a wide scale on 7th January?

do you guys have christmas lights and christmas tree and family dinners / parties too? what do you guys do?

Widescale Orthodox Christmas celebrations on 7 January can be seen in Russia, Bethlehem – the birthplace of Jesus in Palestine, Egypt as they still follow old Julian calendar

In Bethlehem especially, there will be Greek Orthodox Christmas procession at Manger Square on the eve (6 Jan). The Greek Orthodox will use most of the area in the Church of Nativity for its Christmas Vigil. Other Oriental Orthodox denominations such as Syrian, Coptics and Ethiopian will celebrate their masses in their designated points in the church.

In Russia, you will see President Medvedev attends Christmas Vigil led by Patriarch Kirill.

In Egypt, you will see Gamal Mubarak attends Coptic mass led by Pope Shenouda III.

Many other Eastern Orthodox countries like Macedonia, Bulgaria, Ukraine, Belarus also will celebrate Orthodox Christmas on 7 Jan. Oriental Orthodox countries like Ethiopia and Eritrea will also celebrate.

Check CNN and BBC, they will highlight the news of the celebration every year.

I think Armenia celebrates Christmas on 6 January.

what is the celebration and what country does celebrated? I am not english speaker but someone gave me a calendar in english and it appear januay Ist finished this holiday

Kwanzaa is a week-long secular celebration in the United States honoring African heritage and culture, marked by participants lighting a candle holder called a, "Kinara". It is observed from December 26 to January 1 each year. It is not a religious holiday.

Kwanzaa features activities such as candle-lighting and pouring of libations, and ending in a feast and gift giving to children who receive educational books and pieces of african art and clothing. It was created by Dr. Maulana Karenga in 1966. Dr. Karenga is an american of african heritage and currently a Professor and Academic Advisor Department of Africana Studies at California State University.

Originally, Kwanzaa was created to give people of african heritage an alternative to the existing holidays and an opportunity to celebrate themselves and history, rather than simply imitate the practices of the dominant society. The founder later decided it should not be an alternative to faith based holidays and was simply a celebration of african history and culture and could be celebrated along with the other holidays by anyone. However, very few people actually celebrate the holiday. It is estimated that only one half to two million people celebrate kwanzaa. Most people of african heritage today prefer to consider themselves to just be american.

The links below provide more details.

I’m doing a Jewish project at school…anyone help me?

See the link below for a good discussion.