Agnostics,atheists And Non Believers.....

[Retrochic]

what do you do at Christmas? celebrate 'something', ignore it all together, or reluctantly send 'Happy Christmas' cards despite your beliefs?

We celebrated Yule which conveniently goes on for 10 days so we have a few parties and a 'feast' on the 21 st & 25th

If you ignore Xmas how did/does it effect your children?

[janbee]

I liked it all as a child but as an adult, no I don't . I'm going out for a curry on the day itself. Yes, I send cards but this year will be my last, simply because I'm very much against the Royal Mail privatisation and I don't want to put money into the shareholders pockets. I'm now very much in the Bah humbug camp. Ho ho ho retro xx

[ummmm]

I don't celebrate it, never have. I used to go along with it when the kids were little. Never send cards unless I'm giving a gift of money so will buy individual cards 'to son' 'to daughter' type cards.

Go to MIL's for dinner on xmas day if they're in England.

[RATTER15]

I grudgingly celebrate Xmas, but only by sharing a few gifts to my own. On religious grounds it means absolutely nothing.

Just a commercial scam these days. I would rather it never happened!

[ummmm]

It's not even his birthday!

[RATTER15]

Exactly ummmm, well nobody know when he was even born! and he is supposed to be the greatest man ever walked on this earth, yet everybody forgot his birthday!

[AlwaysConfused]

I do get gifts for family as I don't always get to see them on birthdays, but I don't bother with Christmas cards at all these days. Grandson will be 1 years old this Christmas day, so we will be spending it celebrating his birthday instead.

[Old_Geezer]

One doesn't need an excuse for having a good time. But if someone provides an odd one, that'll do.

[andy-hughes]

Happy to celebrate Christmas with all my family - especially grandchildren.

I attend Midnight Mass with my wonderful wife.

Christmas as a religious festival is meaningless to me, but I am happy to go along with my family's enjoyment of it.

[jno]

just because people don't know when he was born doesn't stop them thinking this is 2014...

[Zacs-Master]

Is this you Retrochic?
http://i60.tinypic.com/27xggmh.jpg

[jim360]

It's a chance for family time, and in itself that's enough. I also enjoy the music.

[tiggerblue10]

As an atheist I just join in for the fun element and also for Little Tiggs. I've cut right down on my card giving and presents as I used to go a bit overboard. I'm going to my parents for Xmas dinner as I have done most years.

[Frank97]

Having no family or children I find ignoring it quite easy, as long as I don't have the TV or radio on. Having said that, I am going to cook myself a nice steak and I have bought the neighbour a present, so I suppose I'm not totally immune.

[Zacs-Master]

In the absence of proof of a deity, I will celebrate being alive and, like Jim, my family which is especially poignant this year.

[Quizmonster]

As a child in Scotland long ago, our family didn't celebrate Christmas as such, but we kids did hang our socks on the mantel-piece on New Year's Eve and an uncle of ours came next day - dressed as Santa and bringing other gifts.
As a result, even today I buy only one present for my (English) wife and hand it to her on New Year's Day, just like the old times. She loves Christmas and spends it with her extended family in Derbyshire, which allows me to settle down with my King Prawn Vindaloo Curry and all the trimmings for lunch in front of a log fire after a pint or three at my local on Christmas Day.
As far as this atheist is concerned, absolutely none of the trappings of Christmas affect me at all.

[China Doll]

See family, eat too much, exchange presents and try and keep it 'magical' as much as possible for the children who still believe in santa. I don't send cards except to immediate family.

[The Builder]

A few devotions to attend to, Retro.

First off... down to the Local to pay homage to St. Arnold (patron Saint of brewing).

Then home to give some respect to St. Uguzon, patron Saint of cheesers, and St. Mungo (smoked salmon).

[sandyRoe]

I think it's at this time of the year that many of them would feel the loss of their faith most strongly. They probably try to compensate for that by over eating and drinking, wild parties, and the like.

[ummmm]

So, Retro, do you still feel sorry for my kids?

[solvitquick]

An interesting post addressed to agnostics, atheists and non-believers from someone who does not state their own religious beliefs.
The first paragraph reads a bit spikey with words like "something" and "reluctantly".
Of course some ignore the religious connotations and send cards conveying "best wishes" but that is just using a traditional time to express goodwill to fellow-manind. That includes an atheist (non-believer) like me along with my agnostic (dunno what to believe) female partner.
I certainly respect those who ignore the christmas holiday season without sending cards or presents. Quite the opposite, if I were a christian, I would be the first to reject the modern christmas because of its commercialisation, boozing and obesity.
Yule celebrations involving parties and a "feast"? it sounds pretty selfish to me.
Apart from buying presents and sending cards, just as what I now regard as regular moral duty, I have spent a lot of the previous days giving to food-banks and providing clothing to the needy. This even tho' we have only modest income.
As for effects on children, I suppose it depends on how much they understand of their single-parent's or their parents' circumstances and beliefs. I doubt if it effects their lives fundementally, one way or the other.
SIQ.