Serious question, and one I'm sure gets asked every year...how do you guys deal with the social conventions that surround Christmas? 95% of the people, I know, celebrate Christmas and the other 5% celebrate things like Yule; Solstice; Hannukah; etc. What if you just don't care about all of the hype and commotion that leads up to this day? I'd love to hear some of your thoughts and insights on this.
My biggest pet peeve on Christmas? The music. It's so repetitive.
It's like listening to pop radio back in the day where they'd play the same hackneyed hits over and over and over. Like in 2001, that radio in the office playing "Your Body Is A Wonderland" every half hour until I wanted to defenestrate the damn thing.
Pleeeease, come up with new Christmas songs!
 JustChris
                                                
                                                Level 6
                                                Nov 11, 2019
                                            
                                                
                                                    JustChris
                                                
                                                Level 6
                                                Nov 11, 2019                                            
                                        You should work at a department store or grocery store during Christmas like I did while in school... 
It is another pagan holiday that people loved and refused to give up so the Christians are still trying to convert it to their holiday.
 Oldman51
                                                
                                                Level 7
                                                Nov 10, 2019
                                            
                                                
                                                    Oldman51
                                                
                                                Level 7
                                                Nov 10, 2019                                            
                                        Try as they may, but they will never get people on board with the idea, because it only holds power over those dumb enough to fall for the political scarecrow that is religion, which is really just a variation on the concept of Boy Scout camp, but for those foolish enough to be politicked.
I enjoy Christmas a lot. Grew up celebrating it. Since I'm only one of three atheists in my family, we observe a secular version of the holiday right in the midst of the religion going on all around us. We don't interfere with the religious ritual because we're not assholes.
 Deb57
                                                
                                                Level 8
                                                Nov 10, 2019
                                            
                                                
                                                    Deb57
                                                
                                                Level 8
                                                Nov 10, 2019                                            
                                        You can celebrate anything you want without any religiosity attached to it. If you get accused for being a non-believer on Christmas, that's tantamount to having someone accuse you for not believing in Harry Potter or magic while you're at Harry Potter World at Universal Studios. You don't have to believe it to enjoy it with your family.
 JuanBonami
                                                
                                                Level 3
                                                Nov 10, 2019
                                            
                                                
                                                    JuanBonami
                                                
                                                Level 3
                                                Nov 10, 2019                                            
                                        This is why I'm so chill about Christmas. I just don't have the time or reason to be grumpy about it, when I can just totally enjoy the good parts about it anyway.
Also, Harry Potter actually happened. 
No problem! I wish that more pagan traditions were practiced; ie. spring fertility festivals, bacchanalias, leprachuan steeplechase. Hey, maybe be reciprocal & invite all xmas keepers to a pagan party?
We are creatures of cultural habit & it's not so easy breaking a habit. Party with some like-minded people & celebrate the soltices & equinoxes. As if we need an excuse to party.
 Atheist3
                                                
                                                Level 7
                                                Nov 9, 2019
                                            
                                                
                                                    Atheist3
                                                
                                                Level 7
                                                Nov 9, 2019                                            
                                        I put up tons of secular decorations,play my "music box" holiday CD's, cook a big dinner, stuff my face.
Give family subscriptions for goats, chickens, whatever from Heifer International, donate to the Food Bank & Heat Bank in town.  Tis the season to be giving!
 AnneWimsey
                                                
                                                Level 9
                                                Nov 9, 2019
                                            
                                                
                                                    AnneWimsey
                                                
                                                Level 9
                                                Nov 9, 2019                                            
                                        When I had Kids I did Yule, so they did not feel disenfranchised from the overarching society. As they grew I utilized the holiday as a teaching tool for world religions, none of which I practiced.
With the nest empty I do nothing, but I do exploit the sales after it for things I or my family might need.
 Davesnothere
                                                
                                                Level 7
                                                Nov 9, 2019
                                            
                                                
                                                    Davesnothere
                                                
                                                Level 7
                                                Nov 9, 2019                                            
                                        Barbecue with family, having fun with drunk uncles cursing on young cousins.
Gifts that spread chaos (noisy things, water guns or those merf guns to carry young members of the family and anonymous naughty stuff for the most religious members) 
 Pedrohbds
                                                
                                                Level 7
                                                Nov 9, 2019
                                            
                                                
                                                    Pedrohbds
                                                
                                                Level 7
                                                Nov 9, 2019                                            
                                        Have in mind that December in Brazil is summer, Christmas eve can be over 30°C.
Eat, drink and be merry ....just like everyone else. It’s a holiday, I enjoy it, even the carol singing..especially the carol singing, as I’m a choral singer! We were an atheist household, even in my childhood, and we always celebrated Christmas with present giving and the usual festive cheer, why should we miss out on it?
 Marionville
                                                
                                                Level 10
                                                Nov 9, 2019
                                            
                                                
                                                    Marionville
                                                
                                                Level 10
                                                Nov 9, 2019                                            
                                        The history of the holiday, which was actually a pagan holiday . . .
.
[historytoday.com]
.
Christmas is used to sell christianity, just like a whole lot more of their paraphernalia - I do not celebrate it, I consider it nothing but one more tool in their long list of tools to gather more sheep.
 Archeus_Lore
                                                
                                                Level 7
                                                Nov 9, 2019
                                            
                                                
                                                    Archeus_Lore
                                                
                                                Level 7
                                                Nov 9, 2019                                            
                                        I participate in the celebration and ignore the religion.
 Sgt_Spanky
                                                
                                                Level 8
                                                Nov 8, 2019
                                            
                                                
                                                    Sgt_Spanky
                                                
                                                Level 8
                                                Nov 8, 2019                                            
                                        Enjoy and grateful for the family time. Ignore the reason.
 KevinMR
                                                
                                                Level 7
                                                Nov 8, 2019
                                            
                                                
                                                    KevinMR
                                                
                                                Level 7
                                                Nov 8, 2019                                            
                                        Good answer
@AgnosticJeff truthiness
I like all the bright, shiny things.
No shopping, maybe a string of lights because I like 'em.
 Ellen-SoCal
                                                
                                                Level 5
                                                Nov 13, 2019
                                            
                                                
                                                    Ellen-SoCal
                                                
                                                Level 5
                                                Nov 13, 2019                                            
                                        I see it as any other month.....have to buy presents to all my family because they believe in Christmas and i respect them. But what i do love is the joy in children specially in this month. 
 magnoliarosada
                                                
                                                Level 4
                                                Nov 13, 2019
                                            
                                                
                                                    magnoliarosada
                                                
                                                Level 4
                                                Nov 13, 2019                                            
                                        Alot of people nowadays realize that Christmas does have anything to do with sky daddy's son. I just see it like a celebratory season, which I love, btw.
 godlessinal
                                                
                                                Level 7
                                                Nov 11, 2019
                                            
                                                
                                                    godlessinal
                                                
                                                Level 7
                                                Nov 11, 2019                                            
                                        I will celebtate the winter solstice and look forward to the longer days.
xmas holiday to new year I will work looking after 40 dogs and cats - give or take a few
26th december lunch will, as always, be sausage egg and Yorkshire chips (similar to french fries, but far better) - venison sausage this year. ...... and from 2nd January - relax ... breathe deeply ... and take a holiday
 ShadowAmicus
                                                
                                                Level 8
                                                Nov 10, 2019
                                            
                                                
                                                    ShadowAmicus
                                                
                                                Level 8
                                                Nov 10, 2019                                            
                                        I was raised Jewish, so I'd always feel kind of left out this time of year. Ever since I've learned it's mainly co-opted Solstice rituals, I've felt much better... But still, it's the the energy and the stress I pick up from others that bothers me the most, and that people seem to feel a lot more lonely this time of year.
 bleurowz
                                                
                                                Level 8
                                                Nov 10, 2019
                                            
                                                
                                                    bleurowz
                                                
                                                Level 8
                                                Nov 10, 2019