since when is christmass a religions event?

[SilentCom]

Christmas started as a religious holiday although it is more commercial now than religious. The same goes with many other holidays. As a matter of fact, even the word "holiday" derived from "holy day" but now pretty much means vacation or time off to relax and celebrate.

Frankly, if people want to celebrate it as a religious holiday, then I find it perfectly fine as long as they don't try to force everyone else to celebrate it the same way as them. This also goes the same for celebrating it commercially.

 

[Ironbat92]

Simple, It's the day God son was born.

 

[DaJoW]

It's called Yule (jul) here, think I was a teen before I knew anyone associated it with Christianity. Since that goes back to the vikings, including several traditions associated with the holiday, I don't think Christianity can really claim "ownership" of it.

 

[mega48man]

well, christmas is about the birth of jesus, sooooooooooooooooo....

but i guess at this point that's just a lie. christmas, from a grumpy perspective, is about selling as much crap as the corporations can to make people believe the lie that they're going to have a magically happy christmas if they buy their products. but from a nicer perspective, it's about showing your freinds and family how much you care in the season of giving. either way, totally unrelated to jesus. the holidays should just be about gift giving. jews exchange gifts in hanukah (please don't be offended by the spelling), i mean, what's the big difference?

hey tell you what, invite your neighbor over for christmas and exchange gifts over some egg nog. do it. dead serious, just do it. you'll feel more warm inside than a shiny brand new set of golf clubs ever will, because no one plays golf.

 

[Cid Silverwing]

I'm an atheist and I celebrate, if only 'cuz I'm lucky the Norwegian language doesn't say "Christmas", but "Jul" (which is just "Yule").

Also, Christians trying to bring Christmas "back" to Christianity are just double thieves. Everyone knows they ripped off the Pagans 'cuz it's Winter Solstice and such.

 

[Yopaz]

The name connects it to Christianity. That's seriously all you can come up with that makes this a Christian holiday? I already explained to you that the name is based on language not stone cold facts. If I celebrate Christmas and say I do it to celebrate the birth of Pablo Picasso does that make it so just because I can convince a few thousands to join me in it? I also find it funny that you, the person quoting me and removing all the text from it so you wont have to address it in full complains about me putting words into your mouth. So after obscuring what I say you accuse me of putting words into your mouth. How classy of you.

I am addressing it in full; it's just that you don't need to show the entire quote. I snip quotes all the time and no one ever says anything about it, it's a common internet forum/chat technique that many people do to remove the amount of space that is clogging up a page so that it runs better. I'm not snipping it as a sign of disrespect, just to simply make room.

Like I said before, about 4 times;

1. I'm not trying to say that only Christians should celebrate Christmas.
2. I was just explaining why some might think it is only theirs due to the name being connected to them.
3. No that isn't all I come up with, there are other reasons which I explained.
4. I'm not even a religious person, so I don't even care. I only came on this thread to make a half-assed comment with a hint of jest. Most people ignored it; some people agreed with it, some people took it too far.

No, you haven't addressed my posts in full. You have addressed exactly the parts you quoted and little else and still you claim I am putting words into your mouth. You're clearly not able to find any real answers if you only repeat the same answers every time you're asked.
You mentioned the name (which I mentioned at once is only the case for one language).
You mentioned that Christians believe they celebrate the birth of Jesus, but ignored my question what difference it is to claim you celebrate the birth of Picasso.
You said it was an American thing, but you ignored my question about how a religion with middle-eastern origin with strongest support in Europe has a unique origin for a holiday in America.
You didn't respond to any of this and you still claim to respond to my posts in full.

 

[ChupathingyX]

You mentioned the name (which I mentioned at once is only the case for one language).

Well yeah because I figured that's what the topic was about..."Christmas". I also never said that no other celebration exists and that Christmas is the only one and it goes by no other name.

You mentioned that Christians believe they celebrate the birth of Jesus, but ignored my question what difference it is to claim you celebrate the birth of Picasso.

I thought that was rhetorical.

But to answer it, well it isn't, if you want to go ahead I'm not going to stop you

You said it was an American thing, but you ignored my question about how a religion with middle-eastern origin with strongest support in Europe has a unique origin for a holiday in America.

Actually I was referring to how Americans would call it "Christmas", at least the English speaking ones, and how some would believe that it is a strictly Christian event. Christianity originated in the Middle East but it has spread to other parts of the world.

You didn't respond to any of this and you still claim to respond to my posts in full.

Okay, well there are you happy? To be honest I don't even know why I needed to have a discussion, I honestly didn't think my post would cause this much hostility and anger over such a petty thing that I don't even care about.

Calm down dude, take a chill pill, a chillaxative, lay down and rest your head for a bit

It's all over now (I hope).

 

[Yopaz]

You mentioned the name (which I mentioned at once is only the case for one language).

Well yeah because I figured that's what the topic was about..."Christmas". I also never said that no other celebration exists and that Christmas is the only one and it goes by no other name.

You mentioned that Christians believe they celebrate the birth of Jesus, but ignored my question what difference it is to claim you celebrate the birth of Picasso.

I thought that was rhetorical.

But to answer it, well it isn't, if you want to go ahead I'm not going to stop you

You said it was an American thing, but you ignored my question about how a religion with middle-eastern origin with strongest support in Europe has a unique origin for a holiday in America.

Actually I was referring to how Americans would call it "Christmas", at least the English speaking ones, and how some would believe that it is a strictly Christian event. Christianity originated in the Middle East but it has spread to other parts of the world.

You didn't respond to any of this and you still claim to respond to my posts in full.

Okay, well there are you happy? To be honest I don't even know why I needed to have a discussion, I honestly didn't think my post would cause this much hostility and anger over such a petty thing that I don't even care about.

Calm down dude, take a chill pill, a chillaxative, lay down and rest your head for a bit

It's all over now (I hope).

Now I don't think you understand my first point there. I said that the name is different in other languages I haven't mentioned one other holiday but Christmas at all.
In English it's Christmas, in German it's Weinacht and in Norwegian it's jul. So what I am trying to make you understand is that the name isn't a good indicator because it changes from country to country. What doesn't change however is that Christians believe this is a holiday that is all Christianity. Also what makes you think I need to calm down? I am slightly annoyed at your claims that you answer my posts in full, nothing more.

 

[ChupathingyX]

Now I don't think you understand my first point there. I said that the name is different in other languages I haven't mentioned one other holiday but Christmas at all.
In English it's Christmas, in German it's Weinacht and in Norwegian it's jul. So what I am trying to make you understand is that the name isn't a good indicator because it changes from country to country.

Yes I know, the OP only specifically mentioned America and Australia and only used the name "Christmas", so I tought the issue was mainly with English speaking people and "Christmas" in general.

Also what makes you think I need to calm down? I am slightly annoyed at your claims that you answer my posts in full, nothing more.

Haha, I'm just joking around with you, trying to stop this from spiralling out of control and resort to name calling and other acts of aggression.

 

[CleverCover]

From what I've celebrated, Christmas has become the holiday to gather around loved ones and give presents that are supposed to mean something and then eat a meal that had been previously prepared and talk/have fun for the rest of the holiday.

If that is not Christmas, then I don't want your holiday.

In defense of the Christ part of Christmas, my mother has a manger scene by the tree. That's about it.

 

[Zen Toombs]

Also, Santa is St. Nicholas, a Catholic Bishop. Just throwing that out there.

Nope!

The dutch, and inspiration for Santa, Sinterklaas is St. Nicholas. Santa I believe was inspired by this phenomenon and created by some company or other, I think it was Cola.

Um, how are we not saying the same thing? (Admittedly, you are being significantly more specific, but still.)

 

[Vykrel]

Wasn´t the other way around? Didn´t the Romans stole the Greek´s Gods? Zeus became Jupiter? Hermes became Mercury? I always thought it was that way.

yeah i accidentally mixed them up.