Why do atheists celebrate Christmas and Easter since both of these holidays are to honour the Christian "Jesus"?
Why are most people (including the atheists) going into debt to buy "Christmas" presents? Why not totally ignore this holiday by going to work and carrying on, as usual? Don't you think it's a bit hypocritical to join in the festivities when you clearly abhor their very reason for being? The excuses that "everybody else is doing it" or "I have no other choice because my place of employment is closed on Christmas" aren't valid....The fact is, if you in any way partake in the festivities, then you are a hypocrite because you're catering to the Christian belief. Take action at your place of employment and insist on your right to work during Christian holidays, because you are atheist!
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Why do Christians make such silly false claims?
Christmas is nothing to do with either Christianity or Islam but it does have it's origins in the midwinter festival and many other basically pagan rites but since much of it is a celebration of nature rather than religion everyone should be able to enjoy it and be happy together despite religion!
The ancient European pagans celebrated the midwinter festival and a number of other festivals long before Christianity ever existed!
Babylonians celebrated the feast of the Son of Isis with gluttonous eating and drinking, and gift giving and the goddess of fertility, love, and war.
The Romans held a festival on 25 December called “Dies Natalis Solis Invicti, celebrating their own god Sol Invictas – PAGAN!
The Persian god Mithras, the Syrian sun god Elah Gabal, the German Sol, the Greek Helios and the Mesopotamian Shamash. But also Saturnalia, honouring Saturn, the God of Agriculture. The law courts and schools were closed. No public business could be transacted an this is where the holidays originated - ALL PAGAN!
Wax tapers were given by the more humble to their superiors. The origin of the Christmas candle - PAGAN!
In Rome groups of costumed went from house to house entertaining their people. And this was where the carolling Christmas tradition originated PAGAN!
Statues of the Mother and lover or Mother and son were paraded through the streets not only in Italy but also in Africa, Spain, Portugal, France, Germany and Bulgaria. Thus, the symbolism of the Heavenly Virgin and the infant child paraded on a yearly basis are not of Christian origin. They stem from the Mother-goddess religion, which is very ancient ENTIRELY PAGAN!
Scandinavian countries celebrated Yule honouring Thor – PAGAN!
In Germania (not Germany) they celebrated midwinter night followed by 12 wild nights of eating and drinking. The 12 days of Christmas PAGAN!
The church under Pope Julius I declared that Christ’s birth would be celebrated on December 25 in 350 AD in order to try to hijack the PAGAN festivals but it was largely ignored. Christians did not really celebrate Christmas until 378 but it was then dropped in 381 and not resurrected until 400.
The Christmas tree stems from pagan tradition and ritual surrounding the Winter Solstice, which included the use of holly boughs ivy and other foliage as an adaptation of pagan tree worship. Holly and ivy represented male and female. Mistletoe was considered a sacred plant, and the custom of kissing under the mistletoe began as a fertility ritual - all PAGAN!
Jeremiah 10:2-4 bans Christians from Christmas trees showing clearly it was practiced long before Chrsitianity was even thought of!
Santa Claus came from the Dutch “Sinterklaas” and was a tall figure riding a white horse through the air and usually accompanied by Black Peter, an elf who punished disobedient children. Also the origin of the reindeer, sleigh and the elves ALL PAGAN!
The modern red coated Santa was brought about by coca cola!
AMERICA ACTUALLY BANNED CHRISTMAS several times and is the originator of the expression “Happy Holidays” which came about because of the pagan origins of Christmas to include all religions and traditions!
Easter is set by the first full moon after the vernal equinox. This is the one day in the year when day and night are roughly equal!
It varies by more than a month over the years and so it simply cannot represent the date of anyone's death!!!
It is in fact a combination of several pagan festivals most notably the spring festival.
The name Easter comes from “Eastre” an Anglo-Saxon pagan goddess. Also the Norse goddess,Ostara who took her name from the Teutonic lunar goddess Eostre
Even the Chinese have the festival of Ching Ming where flowers and sweets are put on their ancestors graves!!
The egg and the rabbit are symbols of springtime and rebirth along with the custom of giving flowers etc!!
The Venerable Bede, an early Christian writer pointed out that the Christian church absorbed Pagan practices when it found the population unwilling to give up the festivals. Thus a lot of what Christians now see as Christians practices are in fact pagan!
Fun to watch the Christians worshiping a pagan festival though - makes it just like Christmas when they do the same thing!
Actually, Christmas is a Mithrain holiday. Jesus couldn't have been born in December if the Bible is to be believed. Mithra was though.
Same with Easter. That is the day that Mithra, the only begotten son of God (the sun), rose from the dead and ascended into heaven to be with his father. He rose as the SUN was rising in the EAST on EASTer SUNday.
The fact is that if you participate in any of the festivities and you call yourself a Christian, you are a hypocrite, just as you call others hypocrites
Many aspects of Christmas are actually pagan in nature. I.e. the Christmas tree. and Easter is so commercialized its easy not to think of Easter as a christian holiday. painted eggs and a bunny = Jesus resurrection??? sure if you say so....
In either case I don't have to be christian to enjoy the excuse to take a few days off of work and enjoy spending some time with my family.
Holidays are what you make of them... just as Christians took the Winter Solstice and Spring fertility rites of Pagans and inserted Jesus, so can others take the modern holidays as they are now and subtract Jesus.
People just want to carry on the traditions they have always enjoyed; the parts that no longer hold meaning for them are dropped.
And of course the fact that your job is closed that day is a valid reason for not showing up. Duh, don't be stupid. You guys wanted Christmas to be a government holiday, right? Congrats it is-- now everyone can get it off whether they celebrate it religiously or not.
I myself don't celebrate either of your holidays, however. I have my own holidays.
I don't celebrate either one. I celebrate the Winter Solstice in December, and I ignore Easter.
BTW, WHY DO CHRISTIANS CELEBRATE THESE HOLIDAYS WHEN BOTH WERE ORIGINALLY PAGAN?
Ever wonder about that? Talk about hypocritical.
XMas: Turkey dinners, presents and cards for friends and family, and a decorated evergreen tree.
Jesus content: Zero.
Easter: Peeps, chocolate and bunnies.
Jesus content: Zero.
Deal with it. Beside, the christers STOLE both holidays, anyway.
Well, I've made a start by not sending Christmas cards. Although this started as protest against the privatization of Royal Mail, I am now quids in and feeling all self-righteous and superior.
Because I have family and friends who celebrate. It's quite possible to celebrate the secular get-togethers, parties, feasting and gifts, while ignoring the religious fervor of the twice-a-year Christians.
Buck up, and have some more ham.
Atheists can celebrate any pagan holidays they want, including the winter solstice and the celebration of Eostre.
Face it, Christmas is no longer a religious holiday. You can keep Easter.