I canceled all holidays 30 years ago when my wife refused to send Xmas cards to business contacts I felt obligated to mail this nonsense. From then on we always travel on holidays, leaving no forwarding address. This year leaving Nov 30, returning Feb 11. Holidays are subtle way consumerism forces us to buy rubber duckies no one needs or wants. Taking a trip is much better then causing a living plant to be cut, destroyed, placed in our homes where it make a mess. Some pay back catching on fire and killing the unweary. Next it is on the street presenting danger to motorists. Food? Who need the extra calories??? In our culture X mas time is called "home slaughter time". Most stressful time of the year when relatives kill each other under the tree. The Xmas is remembered for month, sometimes years when we write that check to the credit card. Not for me. I believe that we have evolved.

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.

If I do any decorating at all, it is simply Winter Season themed decorations.

I buy gifts for my grand kids and do the "white elephant" gift exchange with my daughters and sons-in-law.

I have dinner with my family. And, when they pray, I close my eyes and go "lalalalalalalalalala..." in my head until it is over .

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.

Christmas??? Do you mean the Winter Solstice?

I hole up from mid-November until mid-January. Can't stand the commercial-capitalist hype or phony good cheer any more than I can the religious bullshit.

I don't put up any decorations, I don't send cards, I don't give any presents, .....if a fool gives me a present I say..."thank you"

I was raised without religion but always celebrated Christmas, it's family time for adults and a magical time for children, a time of tolerance and good will to all. unfortunately greed and commercialism have a different agenda.

I try to see my Mom and my Aunts. I don't have a lot of family left. I see friends too. That's what it's about for me, seeing good and important people in my life. I like the Winter Solstice as well. It can be lonely and depressing too. It's not my favorite time of year.

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.

if someone cannot enjoy a holiday without some religious superstition has not much brain power

Santa Claus

Christmas falls close to the old celebration of the solstice which was celebrated by the pagans. Solstice occurs usually on the 21st and 22nd December. There is no need for expenditures. Just remember the old celebration days of the pagans and enjoy it. By the way, history indicates that Jesus was born in April and was executed 30 years later. I do not celebrate the birth or execution of criminals.

All the fun, none of the dogma

I don't. Seriously, I don't invest too much energy into it. Now that both of my parents are gone, it's just me and my siblings, but I'm the only one who lives out of state, so they never see me for the holidays anyway, but I do send out cards... just haven't for last couple of years. I just spend most of the days leading up to Christmas working and staying home and running out in the snow. Oh, and my cats will get presents. It's just not a big deal for me.

And, if anyone tries to sing me a christmas carol, I'll shove my finger right up their nose! Try singing now choirboy!

How do I deal with Christmas? Stab it in the face until it leaves me alone!

I can enjoy the gift giving without any of the religiosity. That said, it's only my 3rd favorite holiday behind Thanksgiving and Halloween.

I feel you!!!! I absolutely HATE Christmas. Partly because it was never a HAPPY TIME for me as a child. We were always threatened with no presents and surprised if there was any. This was a sick mind game my Mother Dearest got pleasure in.

As a parent, I played along to make my children happy and to ensure they would never have the disappointment of getting nothing.

As an Agnostic adult I loathe this time of the year. The in your face decorations and the friggin music pisses me off. I am actually looking for a t-shirt (I live in Hawaii) that says "FUCK XMAS"

I also count the days until the bullshit is over and get on with my life.

Americans are actually celebrating Pagan Saturnalia/Generic solstice festival rebranded as Christian through a tortuous series of events throughout history. I just enjoy the time off work and don’t take it all too seriously.

This podcast goes into a lot of detail about it And is pretty entertaining

[pointofinquiry.org]

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.

No need to include religion in the holidays. It’s a time to enjoy and have fun with family and friends. To show kindness and caring to others. And to eat, and eat some more. Then go on a diet. I’m full already just thinking about it.

Just enjoy it . Have a few drinks good food .

Since nearly everyone in my life finds it significant, I have little choice but to grin & bear it. Really the toughest part is the music. All else is cake by comparison.

I spend my time with my close friends... It's a fun time of year...