Annoys me that atheists still celebrate christian holidays

it really annoys me that atheists say that they dont believe in god, but they still celebrate christian holidays like christmas and easter. I'm a christian and if I wasnt I wouldn't celebrate the holidays. I think atheists only celebrate these holidays...

so they get the presents. well thats what most of my atheist friends say anyway. I havent got a problem with them not believing in god, but if they dont believe in him then dont celebrate his holidays!

Does it annoy you that these holidays are not even originally christian holidays. They are based on pagan holidays pre-dating christ.

I am actually celebrating the pagan holiday Saturnalia in december, and in spring I celebrate Eostre (which is where the word easter is derived).

You know just because we don't believe in some magician in the sky does not mean we don't like to get together with family and friends a few times a year.

It's a little hipocritical for you saying this as Christians are only in it for the presents tbh.

Christmas and Easter has been pretty much thrown into the face of everyday lives. Wether your atheist or christian, or whatever. Most people celebrate it because it's a day that was pretty much forced down everyones throat due to marketing and greed. Take a day that is considered holy for most and find a way to make a bigger and quicker buck out of it. So it doesn't matter what belief you have, your pretty much forced to celebrate it.

I agree with you and I've often wondered the same thing. I'm not sure what religion I am, but I'm pretty sure it's not Christian. My friends and family are Christians although most of them aren't actively practicing any faith. I celebrate the holidays as more of a family tradition then for the religious reasons behind them. And like thecowgod said, it's been forced down our throat due to marketing and greed, and how do you tell a five year old that there is no Christmas and Santa won't be coming to see them because Mommy is an atheist?

On the other hand, both Christmas and Easter were celebrated in pagan times as well, and originally had nothing to do with Christianity.

The date of December 25th was established only in the 4th century, after the Emperor Constantine had declared Christianity the religion of the empire. Before that, the time around the winter solstice had long been a pagan festival, celebrating the return of the sun. (Likewise, Scandinavia still celebrate Midsummer Eve (summer solstice) although it has now been declared the Feast of St John the Baptist.)

And Easter was the ancient spring festival , just as Eostre was the ancient goddoess of Fertility (therefore the fecund bunnty rabbits, for instance)

That said, yes, it does mean hypocritical to expect presents at Christmastime if you are decide3dly non-Christian.

If a person is athiest and celebrates holidays let it be. Usually people say their athiest for attention or to be different Don't let it bug you and try not to judge others but what they do, focus on the things you do.

Mr. Thecowqod nothing is forced on to anyone, if you choose to accept whatever marketing has thrown in people's face, then that is your decision.

thanks greenmonkey I agree!

christians celebrating PAGAN holidays is what really annoys me- and then having the nerve to call pagans and witches- EVIL, it just blows me away- that is gratitude for ya.

first of all, we gotta have some respect to others' beliefs, for us to be repected as well... That's all...

As other posters have pointed out, both Christmas and Easter are originally pagan holidays. They were coopted by the early Christian church, so they're not originally 'christian' holidays either.

And like it or not, they're both now _secular_ holidays, in that secular governments recognise them as official holidays. I celebrate Christmas because it's a nice opportunity to get together with family and show them how much you love them (and yes, there are presents, too). I buy easter eggs, too, but if you think easter eggs have anything to do with christianity, you have a rude surprise coming.

...I think atheists only celebrate these holidays so they get the presents...

That's SO true...!!

The winter holiday season is the time for people to take time off from work or school, spend time with their family and friends, exchange gifts, and reflect on their accomplishments for the year and plan for the next.

It doesn't matter if you celebrate Christmas, Saturnalia, Winter Solstice, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Yule or whatever.

greenmonkey I disagree atheists dont say they are to get attention or be different its because we dont just believe bullshit stories from a bunch of dilusional people claiming they spoke to god or claiming they had a virgan birth if you beleive christianity youl pretty much believe anything if someone today made any sort of claims that are in the bible they would surley get sectioned under the mental health act get a grip of yourself

I think everyone celebrates it for the presents though lol

I can see how youd be annoyed by that though
seems like we are only willing to be christian for a day

Christmas and Easter were originally Pagan holidays.

Bunnies, eggs, tree decorating, lights, santa, reindeer, presents, mistletoe, yule logs, wreaths, egg nog, etc. ...have nothing to do with Christianity.

So apparently, you're annoyance is a result of your own ignorance regarding the history of those holidays.

well im agnostic so the reason I celebrate christian and catholic holidays is because my family is christian and catholic. Kinda tradition thing

***If a person is athiest and celebrates holidays let it be. Usually people say their athiest for attention or to be different Don't let it bug you and try not to judge others but what they do, focus on the things you do.

Mr. Thecowqod nothing is forced on to anyone, if you choose to accept whatever marketing has thrown in people's face, then that is your decision.***

atheists dont do it to be different, thats just ignorant and stupid, we are still human even though we dont believe in your saviour who hasnt saved anyone...

I was born into a muslim family, until we went to germany (92') my parents didnt celebrate christmas or easter, but I grew up with them, why? because everyone celebrates them, its become a thing of a normal year, to celebrate holidays

and CHRISTIANS are the ones to put up decorations everywhere, so how exactly do you think we non believers can get away from it? yeah thought so...

christmas has been celebrated since 3000 BC, because OSIRIS the son of god, king of all kings, lamb of god etc. was born on the 25th december, in the spring solstice (or easter) he was killed and buried for 3 days, then he was reborn... exactly like jesus christ... weird huh?

*** sofee ***

it really annoys me that atheists say that they dont believe in god, but they still celebrate christian holidays like christmas and easter ***

Sofee - I cant see how we can ignore your holidays, cause shops are flooded before it, so every one can stuff their faces, then on the holiday, most or all shops are closed !!! What da heck must we do? Go and work even though half of the country pretending they are xtians, to be off??? In my opinion they must get rid of all religious public holidays, exchange it for something else to celebrate, if they really really still want it to be a public holiday. Such public holidays are anyways bad for any economy, except for the food industry!

I dont CELEBRATE these holidays anymore, I take it as any other Saterday or Sunday or normal non xtian public holiday.

ianmcl understand I was reffering to certain athiest not everyone. For you to trash what Christians say makes you a more worse person. At least Chrisitians try to focus on a positive outlook in life. As for you all you have is angst and angriness. You can say we are dilusional, but did our people not believe the world was flat many years ago? You dont have concrete research or observation that God does or does not exist. Keep on believing what you believe. And if you can't say anything nice then don't say anything at all.

***At least Chrisitians try to focus on a positive outlook in life. As for you all you have is angst and angriness.***

Generalization... incorrect...

For one thing, many of our family and friends that celebrate the holidays include us.

When I celebrate christmas, it's not even about the christian aspect of it, so it really doesn't matter. I've heard of it but never gave it much thought, I just thought it was a story that wasn't true.

Why would you find it annoying anyway? I think that's quite ignorant and offensive, how about you mind your own business?

If my family was jewish and celebrating hanukkah I probably would be too, even though I don't believe in judaism.

I think atheists only celebrate these so they get the presents

What... the hell -=Looks at profile=- Oh, you're only like 14? No wonder... grow up

And greenmonkey, the people who had no clue the Earth was sphere were some of the same people who invented god. How about you follow your own advice and not make insolent comments.