Why I don't mind celebrating Christmas

[bertha katzenengel]

I'm an atheist (most of the time), and I grew up a fundamentalist evangelical Christian. Was saved at age six, baptized at age nine, attended church (twice each Sunday), youth group & bible study, etc., all through grade school & high school. Attended a Baptist college. I also sang in the choir every chance I got, from about age 14 on.

At age 23, as part of a very long process of healing & recovery, I began to reject my beliefs angrily. Only since I married a follower of Christ five years ago have I begun to identify myself as a (usual) atheist. Odd....

My mother died on December 10, 1974, to my tremendous immediate grief -- and my older sisters' incredible relief. She was a horrible mother, and the difference in our reactions was probably due in part to our ages. Predictably December 10 has become the day my eldest sister decorates her home for Christmas. I love that tradition, I just love it. But Christmas is a time of intense bitterness for both my sisters.

I love Christmas. I get pretty depressed, but I still love it. I ignore the crass commercialism and consumerism and materialism and "I WANT!"-ism as best I can. I love decorating our home. I love wrapping gifts and sending them home. Most of all I love the music.

I don't mind celebrating Christmas -- I don't mind celebrating the birth of Christ, the son of God -- because it's just a festival to me. Throughout the ages, mankind has celebrated festivals to various deities, and to me this is no different. Of course all deities are mythical -- why not celebrate a fantasy? AFAIC, any good excuse to party is valid. It's fun, it's beautiful, and you can SING! Christmas music is among the most beautiful ever composed.

As for the oppression of the radical Christian right: they do not enter into my celebration of this festival and they can't ruin it for me. Thinking people easily resist proselytization....

Are you "non-Christian" and do you celebrate Christmas? Do you not celebrate Christmas?

(re-posted from GD)