since when is christmass a religions event?

[Lieju]

Yes, Christmas is in fact a Christian holiday to celebrate the birth of Jesus.

Ever wondered why it's called "Christmas"?

Just like Sunday is a religious holiday for the sun. Or Thursday for Thor. Or how we worship Wodan on Wednesdays.
And let's not forget Easter, the celebration of Goddess Ēostre.

Also, Christmas is called 'Joulu' here is Finland, from the word 'Yule', I believe.
All those names have religious origins, and the holidays and the customs change over time anyway and borrow elements from other cultures and religions.

I celebrate Christmas, or Joulu, or Midwinter-festival, whatever you want to call it, and have no religious meaning behind it. Unless you count Santa Claus (or Joulupukki).

And I don't care if some people do, or if some people don't because it's against their religion. It only starts to bug me if they start bothering me for not celebrating it the same way they do.

I don't think anyone has the right to tell others how they should view a holiday and what meaning it should have for them. (Correcting misunderstood views about history or culture is a different thing, though)

 

[thylasos]

Well, the tree and baubles are part of the 19th century Gemutlichkeitkultur brought over to Britain by Prince Albert, as far as I'm aware...

The use of the term Yule belies the origins of the date of Christmas, as finally settled upon by the Third Council of Nicaea around A.D. 300, coinciding with pagan midwinter festivals across Europe and the Northern Hemisphere. which plenty of Christian denominations don't agree with nowadays, in their efforts to be closer to the Biblical accounts.

Xmas derives from the greek letter Chi, as in (forgive me for poor transliteration) Christos, written in Greek as Xpictoc (not quite, I know, but I cba opening word and selecting the greek symbols).

For many people, in our generation and several preceding it, Christmas is a fact of life whether you're Christian or not, as the mass marketing onslaught and steady stream of "Merry Christmas"es are unavoidable around this time of year, and often even if one's parents only Christian in terms of putting "C of E" down on the census every ten years they'll still decorate the house, have the meal, and give presents, because it's a nice thing to do.

If particularly fervently Christian people take offence at this... well, why? Even if it were taking the Lord's name in vain, shouldn't you not cast the first stone? If people want to decorate their houses cheerily and spend time with friends and family, I don't see that being terrible, really.

Even more confusing is the annoyance at being wished "Happy Holidays"... I've never seen, or even heard of, someone flying off the handle because you wished them a merry Christmas, but if they're not Christian, and it's more natural to wish a happy Eid-al-fitr/Wesak/whatever, then why can't we compromise at a time supposedly of good will to all men?

Chill out, everybody. And don't forget the brandy butter.

Have a good'un.

 

[Tentickles]

alright this is somthing that bugs me,

aparently...if your not christian...you dont celebrate christmas? is this an american beliife or somthing?

anyway let me exaplain

now I dont actually know if chrstmases origins were christian Im a VERY sure it actually wansnt, I know baby jesus didnt have his birthday on the 25th of decenmber..and I think christians "stole" the date to compete with another festival

but that aside....

as far as Im concerned christmas thease days generally has nothing to do with religion..no really, my family is not religous....most of Australia is not religous and we (and I imagine alot of Australia) celebrate christmas.....(aside from going to mass of coase)

you know what christmas is? its a comercial holiday, its the itme of year when kids get presesnts, and its the itme of yeah adults stress out, put up with family or eat/drink themelfs into oblvion (or all three)

last time I checked jesus hardly had anything to do with it aside from the nativity plays we somtimes has...thats it, mostly it was about santa

Oh god! There's so much lazy in this post.
Please, please, please! Take 5 minutes and just goggle "The History of Christmas" and 90% of your answers are right there.

Also, the "Happy Holidays" thing is political correctness mumbo-jumbo so that we dont accidentally offend the people who dont celebrate Christmas.


and be honest: You do. You celebrate it. Who doesnt love Mystery Gift Giving Day?

 

[Ziame]

Whole Christian calendar was build around pagan calendars, so that the newly converted people could adjust to changes more easily. Easter = celebration of spring (thus why the bunny/eggs), for example.

On the other hand, the tradition of giving presents on Christmas day is derived from Romans, as they had a tradition of giving each others presents at the end of the year.

And iirc Christ was born in summer, actually. It's all symbolic and what not. I am a Christian, btw, so stfu fanatics.

 

[Denamic]

Yes, Christmas is in fact a Christian holiday to celebrate the birth of Jesus.

Ever wondered why it's called "Christmas"?

Giving presents to each other is just something that has developed over time.

Because that's what you renamed it after you stole it from the pagans.
It used to be called Yuletide.
In fact, it still is called that in some languages.

Besides, there is actually a passage in the bible that explicitly forbids dressing up trees in celebration.
Because that's a pagan tradition.
Go figure.

 

[ChupathingyX]

I think jesus was a real guy. I think jesus was an awesome guy in fact, one of the best men to ever live. I dont think he was born ANYWHERE NEAR the time we say he was.

You have to remember that "celebrate the birth of Jesus" is not the same as "Jesus' birthday". "Celebrate the birth of Jesus" means to celebrate the fact that Jesus was born, and from my understanding th 25th of December was chosen as that date.

SNIP

Just to make it clear; I have never judged anyone, and probably never will, on whether or not they celebrate Christmas and how they celebrate Christmas.

 

[CounterReproductive]

alright this is somthing that bugs me,

aparently...if your not christian...you dont celebrate christmas? is this an american beliife or somthing?....

Oh god! There's so much lazy in this post.
Please, please, please! Take 5 minutes and just goggle "The History of Christmas" and 90% of your answers are right there.

Also, the "Happy Holidays" thing is political correctness mumbo-jumbo so that we dont accidentally offend the people who dont celebrate Christmas.


and be honest: You do. You celebrate it. Who doesnt love Mystery Gift Giving Day?

Would you be a nice human and do a little something for me ? Use your search engine , the one you mentioned earlier and check the spelling for Google.

Merry Christmas

 

[Bobbity]

Yes, Christmas is in fact a Christian holiday to celebrate the birth of Jesus.

Ever wondered why it's called "Christmas"?

Giving presents to each other is just something that has developed over time.

Actually, I think there was a festival dedicated to the god Roman sun god Sol Invictus, and the Christians eventually took it over. Just as they stole Easter from the pagans.

OT: Yes, it is essentially a Christian holiday, although it didn't start as such. That said, for many people, it's more of a cultural thing now that it's been commercialised and all, so go ahead and celebrate it whatever your beliefs.

 

[DracoSuave]

I don't celebrate Christmas. I celebrate Saturnalia.

But I don't get huffy at Christmas stuff, so long as it's in season. Like Not in November.

 

[Vault101]

Oh god! There's so much lazy in this post.
Please, please, please! Take 5 minutes and just goggle "The History of Christmas" and 90% of your answers are right there.

Also, the "Happy Holidays" thing is political correctness mumbo-jumbo so that we dont accidentally offend the people who dont celebrate Christmas.


and be honest: You do. You celebrate it. Who doesnt love Mystery Gift Giving Day?

now I dont actually know if chrstmases origins were christian Im a VERY sure it actually wansnt, I know baby jesus didnt have his birthday on the 25th of decenmber..and I think christians "stole" the date to compete with another festival

P.S: When I say that we celebrate Jesus being born on Christmas, I am saying that we moved his birthday to Christmas so not only is it easier for everyone, but it's also the most graceful holiday out of the whole year.

the point of my orginal post was not to go into the details and history of christmas

I was really just confused that people seem to think that ONLY chirstians celebrate christmas..and secular people dont, my point is that christmas..whatever it was OR ment has evolved to become a general "gift giving" and "see the family" holiday..which for alot of people has nothing to do with the christain side

 

[ChupathingyX]

Because that's what you renamed it after you stole it from the pagans.

Woah woah woah, calm down there buddy I never meant to provoke any hostility.

Also, "you"? I hardly care about religion, I can't even remember the last time I went to church or prayed. And what proof do you have that I am Christian? Or did you just take a wild guess?

 

[Tentickles]

Of all the things you could have commented on, you comment on a word I misspell?

Sir, please be a little more creative.

 

[Tentickles]

the point of my orginal post was not to go into the details and history of christmas

I was really just confused that people seem to think that ONLY chirstians celebrate christmas..and secular people dont, my point is that christmas..whatever it was OR ment has evolved to become a general "gift giving" and "see the family" holiday..which for alot of people has nothing to do with the christain side

Could have just put that in the first post

 

[Denamic]

Because that's what you renamed it after you stole it from the pagans.

Woah woah woah, calm down there buddy I never meant to provoke any hostility.

Also, "you"? I hardly care about religion, I can't even remember the last time I went to church or prayed. And what proof do you have that I am Christian? Or did you just take a wild guess?

Educated guess based on the fact that you used the argument of "Christmas".
Religious people are generally the only ones to use such vacuous arguments.

 

[The-Epicly-Named-Man]

It's based on the Roman "Day of the Unconquerable Sun", the birthday of the god Mithra. Again, another fine example of Christianity usurping "pagan" traditions in order to spread the religion (see also: the Celtic Cross, Halloween and St. Bridgette's Day). But that doesn't really diminish the fact that the holiday is still fundamentally religious, and still symbolises the birth of the Christian messiah.

 

[kingdelete]

Yea it was st nick first then coco cola made santa into what we see it today with the red suite instead of the green one etc

Lot of people just see the gifts part to it, while others like it to spend time with the family. Personaly i like it as a family event bu the presents are nice , yea i am christian but not like i go to church or anything and dont use the day as the birth of christ

 

[Sparkytheyetti]

The story of jesus is the greatest story ever told throughout history. Go look up Horus, Mithra and numerous others that tell the same story. It's all a lie.

 

[Vamantha]

Christmas is fucking awesome!

Only to those who can afford it. Last year one of my nephews said "fuck you" because I didn't get him some game.

OT: yes it was a christian holiday. Now it's a comercialistic tradition.

Thankfully, you don't have to get him a gift this year. x3

 

[ChupathingyX]

Educated guess based on the fact that you used the argument of "Christmas".
Religious people are generally the only ones to use such vacuous arguments.

The OP was specifically talking about Christmas...seemed relevant.

 

[girzwald]

Since when? Since ALWAYS. Like some other people said. CHRISTmas.

So, you have it backwards. You should be asking, since when is CHRISTmas, NOT a religious event.

People who "celebrate Christmas" but aren't christian are piggybacking on everything the holiday brings with it, but removing the religion from it. I.E. Those billboards.... "Jesus is the reason for the season". Because its an unfortunate trend, people want all the good things in life, but none of the work or responsibility.

So when you say "not just Christians celebrate Christmas" and "Christmas has become a secular holiday" You are wrong. Well over 50% of the US is christian.