I wasn't going to pull out the old "can't we all just get along" holiday soap box this year. But, sadly, my annual rant on the subject is still relevant.
Once again, I've been reading tweets, posts, blogs, etc. from small-minded people who feel they need to define "Christmas" (and, usually, other holidays) for other people.
Once again, I've been called hypocritical for being an atheist who celebrates a secular "Christmas". Because, simply by uttering the name, "CHRISTmas", I must be acknowledging the validity of the Christian savior, right?
Poppycock and balderdash.
If I call the fifth day of the week "Thursday", does that also mean that I believe in the Norse god of Thunder?
And yet, on one side you have Christians claiming that non-Christians are usurping "their" holiday. On another, you have atheists denouncing any suggestion of holiday trimmings as perpetuating commercialism or religion. And then there is yet a third group of Pagans and such who will be happy to 'splain to you all about how the Christians stole their holiday traditions in the first place.
And, so, once again, I say to all three camps: "Thhbbbt."
Get over yourself.
If you think there is only one way and reason to celebrate Christmas, well, that's fine. But, in the words of one of my favorite Mythbusters, "I reject your reality and substitute my own."
There is more than enough room on and around December for all the celebrations one could want.
Setting aside for the moment that there are a ton of other holidays also celebrated in December, trying to define a right and wrong way to celebrate "Christmas" is just egotistical to the extreme. Why would you even care how someone else celebrates? Does it really affect you at all?
So, while you are arguing your semantics, I will be enjoying the lights on my Yule tree, wrapping Christmas presents from Santa (the 1930's Coca-Cola version is preferred in this house), singing traditional songs from many different cultures and religions, and teaching my kids about Hanukkah, Bodhi Day, Winter Solstice and many more of the strange and wonderful traditions, new and old, that people share all over the world.
And if you think I'm doin' it wrong, you can just stuff it in your stocking.
Sorry, but I just refuse to cram myself in the little box of others' preconceptions. It's dark and cramped and no fun at all.
So, I'll just celebrate for my reasons and with my traditions, and you celebrate for and with yours, yeah? And, if it's not too much to ask, can we all call our celebrations whatever we want without arguing about who owns the patents?
Whatever you may celebrate this year, I hope this season is a happy one for you and your loved ones.
Happy Chrismahanakwaanzayulstice,
Zen
I want to say that I agree with you, but wouldn't that just make for the most boring comment ever?
ReplyDeleteMaybe it would be a bit more interesting to tell you about me. I'm Christian, like almost everyone else in my area, and I celebrate Christmas, but my boyfriend and his mother (both of whom I spend a lot of time with) are Buddhist. He doesn't celebrate Christmas (although we did exchange presents this month). She doesn't exactly celebrate it either, but she accepts gifts sent to her and she did sit down with her son to watch a holiday movie. 'Tis the season, after all!
I'm unsure of how we will treat Christmas in the future. We'll likely celebrate some form of it, but I'm not sure what it will be like. Here's to being interesting and non-traditional. Moseltov!
My first reaction was "oh, give me and effin' break, you can't be an atheist AND celebrate Christmas!"
ReplyDeleteBut then I thought, how different is this than a Christian participating in Halloween?
I still think it's odd though...
Amen Sistah!
ReplyDeleteThe devout Mormon at work who's spent the last year having me explain why I don't believe anything is quote baffled by my love of Christmas. And as I explained to her in slightly more polite terms, holidays, ALL holidays have fuck-all to do with invisible, potentially non-existent (I say potentially to be nice, truthfully you should say that at best they ate potentially existent, but anyway, I digress) nature spirits. They have to do with tradition and civilization and connecting with past. I don't in any of the mythology around Christmas, but it's important nonetheless to gather with my friends and family and remember the path that has lead us together and contemplate the path we will hopefully trod together in the future. It just so happens that because my grandparents weren't atheist, that that revolves around a Christmas Tree. It could be a menorah, it could be a fatted calf. I don't care. But it's fun and valuable to do with or without recognizing a larger necessary entity.
Well said. You are seriously cool. I love this post...merry everything!!
ReplyDeleteDeidra: Thanks for sharing that! As you can see, I don't think it much matters what you call your party, just that you're all happy with it! :D
ReplyDeleteHubman: Most of my extended family is Christian. I would celebrate Christmas with them, even if I didn't celebrate it at our own home. I even occasionally go to church with my Grandparents. Just because I don't believe the same things they do, doesn't mean I shun them or their beliefs or traditions.
But, for us here at our own home, our celebration is totally secular - there is no religious significance of any kind to our holiday activities.
As you say, is it any different than Christians celebrating Halloween or non-Catholics celebrating St. Paddy's day or St. Valentine's Day?
If you think about it, many Christians embrace the secular side of the holiday as much as the religious. What do Santa and stockings and candy canes have to do with the birth of Christ?
Now, if I was putting up a Nativity scene in my yard,*that* would be odd. But snowmen and penguins and colored lights? Not so much with the spiritual significance there.
If you ask me, a Christian who celebrates the birth of their savior with a blow-up yard decoration of Santa Claus is odder than an atheist who celebrates a cultural tradition of fun, giving and compassion with the same imagery.
I say if you and your family is happy, than who am I to be the holiday police. (Unless you don't have cookies-then you are just a freak)
ReplyDeleteGrowing up I had many Jewish friends. They were not religious, but participated in many of the customs surrounding the holidays. They called themselves cultural jews.
It was all good.
@Deidra: Buddhists don't get presents, they are IN the present.
ReplyDeleteZenMom: I must say that when you TRY to write, it's nowhere near as good as when you just pop-off on your blog. This is an awesome post on every level.
What I don't get is how Christianity survives at all considering how many different sects of Christianity there are. What is it now, 50? 70? 200??
No. 30,000. Thirty THOUSAND different denominations of Christianity. So it kills me dead when one person purports in yo' face how you should or shouldn't be celebrating the holiday season. Tell those people to go handle snakes or speak in tongues and to leave you alone.
Bah. Christians. YAHOO Christmas!
Yeah. There's been a "what's with not saying 'Merry Christmas' debate in our local newspaper of late." I seem to find most of these cranks are also the ones with who put the least effort into practicing the true "Christian spirit" of charity and giving.
ReplyDeletePeace, ZenMom. K
I'm Jewish We celebrated Hanukkah a few weeks ago. This has not stopped us from taking the kids to visit Santa, make homemade eggnog (okay WonderWife™ did), put on Santa hats, watch the Grinch 158 times, and spend the afternoon singing "Feliz Navidad" all before heading out to a Christmas eve party.
ReplyDeleteChristmas may have its roots in a religious holiday, but true Christmas is a state of mind. Even a Jew like me knows that.
So Zen...celebrate the way you want to and the rest of 'em can get a big lump of coal you know where.
I like calling it "Celebrating another's celebration." I don't need to be Christian to enjoy my Christian family or have fun during Christmas. In fact it is a wonderful time to practice some fairly universal positives.
ReplyDeleteCheers!
John
Personally, I love your ranting in your robe from the front porch that you do every December.
ReplyDeleteBut maybe that's just me.
Lion and ASM: Yep. We sometimes call it a "good-parts version" of holidays. ;)
ReplyDeleteBSM: Thank you. And a very merry everything to you, too.
Mintz: Thanks. I think. ;)
K: Funny thing: My friends and family who are actually quite devout have no problems "sharing" the holidays. Seems to be the "Sunday Christians" who get all het up about it all.
DGB: One of these years, I plan to put up a Menorah and teach the kids about the traditions of the Festival of Lights. I'm an equal-opportunity holiday-stealer. And, like The Bean says, 8 days are better than 1, right? ;)
John: Thank you for coming by! There are always positives to be found! :)
SFD: If you were my IRL neighbor, you might not think so. But I'd still invite you in for egg nog. ;)