I am glad that the holiday most Americans observe at this time of year is a big mix of pagan/heathen/Christian/secular traditions. It’s kinda like the American people – a big mix of a lot of traditions, languages, cultures, etc. Maybe we could think of a national motto that would reflect that idea – hmmmm! Maybe something like, oh, I don’t know – E Pluribus Unum???

http://santacon.com

Now, to practise what I just preached –
An atheist embracing a belief system seems to me like an oxymoron. And the Santa Claus tradition has evolved a long, long way from its religious origin in the tale of St. Nicholas. As Dave pointed out, it’s a secular activity that anybody can share.

It’s still BS, of course. Santa is an imaginary supernatural critter just like the X Child. But not all BS is bad. Everybody likes to indulge in a little fantasy once in a while, and I don’t think there’s any harm in it as long as we don’t take it too seriously. I look forward to the time when the whole Nativity shtick, the Resurrection, and all the rest will just be a pleasant children’s game like Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny.

Trees and gifts can be fun. You don’t have to teach Christian beliefs to enjoy the holiday. Call it a Winter Celebration instead of Christmas if the name is an issue for you.

You don’t have to include Santa but isn’t it fun? As the kids get older they can Play Santa for the younger kids.

Imagination is not always BS and I encourge my son to use his imagination every chance he gets.

We enjoy Easter as well and could care less about the Holy Zombie aspect of it but decoration eggs and eating candy is fun. It’s a celebration of life, fertility and the passing of Winter.

Remember, a lot of the Holy Holidays come from Pagan roots. Look for the roots.

i don’t get too hung up on christmas (xmas, because it pisses people off). i have kids and they love it so whatever makes them happy is good with me.

they’re too young to give a hoot about god and they’re just about done with santa, but presents they like. they go to church, as i want them to, and will be encouraged to learn and be open minded and decided for themselves. an idea that never occured to my roman catholic upbringing.

peace.

I like the way you think. Welcome.

I catch hell from my in-laws for not celebrating Christian Hollidays, so I like to point out that they do not participate in Jewish or Muslim Hollidays, but I believe the point is lost on them.

John,

Also welcome.

i too am new here and it was not easy getting logged on.

I’ve been here for a while, and that seems to be the rule and not the exception.

i have kids and they love it so whatever makes them happy is good with me.

This was my M.O. when my kids were younger and my wife was still here, but now that it is just my son and I, I left it up to him, and he was completely uninterested. Of course he will still get a few gifts so he doesn’t feel left out when all his friends have a bunch of shiny new things, but it will all be very unceremonious.

The wonderful thing about our country is that we are free to celebrate our national holidays any way we see fit.

Not that there aren’t quite a few people in your country who would like to make you celebrate holidays the way they see fit. The two Bills and all their followers, for a start.

The US will be a better place when it reaches the levels of religiousity found in Canada, or better still, many European countries. AA and this blog are helping, I think.