While I really don't celebrate Christmas (do typically do something for Solstice though) - I can't say I hate Christmas or avoid celebrating it in subtle ways.

Just do what I do - embrace the gift-giving and family reconnecting aspects of Christmas, and tell yourself that you're just celebrating Solstice a couple days late - and with people you love.

No one serms to care when I tell them I don't celebrate holidays.

Religion needs tacit approval to help maintain the facade, the delusion. They are worried that XMas will become secular and lose its meaning in SOCIETY, which will mean their belief will be marginalized. That's a huge threat when they likely already have all sorts of doubt. Other religions are less threatening because they postualte some supreme being.

I have friends with young children who do not buy them any presents until they are four or older. Even then its rarely more than one.I saw on the news that an actress does the same with her preschoolers so perhaps it's becoming a trend?

Almost all Christian holidays were stolen from other "pagan" religions so why not let your kids enjoy a secular holiday that is more in keeping with your family beliefs?

I think much of that fear and distrust is simply jealousy and also an atheist like Jews, Gays and others make good scapegoats for the faithful.

Google the Crusades and Inqusition to begin with. Since day 1 ppl are willing to kill for their fairy tale, a few mean comments is nothing.

I celebrate and enjoy them both, as the pagans did. Food, friends, decorations. Just a good time.

DIrty Harry Quote - Opinions are like assholes everybody has one

Yes, it does. Declining to participate for religious reasons in Canada brings out the politeness and political correctness genes right smartly. However, most religious fanatics in Canada have just learned polite ways to be obnoxious - only in Canada, you say, pity.

Since most Canadian non-believers and otherwise celebrate the secular versions of these holidays, one can just lead with that.

I got into a bit of a dust-up with the admin of the school I taught in (now 7 years ago) when I objected to their playing Christmas Carols over the PA - a clear violation of non-believers' right to freedom from religion in Canada. They stopped when I quoted Ontario Human Rights Tribunal precedents, but then I had to point out that there was no reason to stop playing winter songs like "Frosty the Snowman," "Walking in a Winter Wonderland" etc. because they thought those were Christmas Carols.

Speak for yourself! I'm very much into the Pagan Yule Season and celebrate all its rituals of evergreen decor and candles and feasting! I even regularly wear a wonderful high-quality stylish top hat in the image of Charles Dickens' novels.

I love Christmas. I love the lights, the concept of giving, the mythologies, the sense that miracles happen. And that it happens in the darkest part of the year I think is relevant since darkness can get rather depressing.

Religion and politics are hot button issues. Both are based on feelings more so than facts. When you are facing an unwanted discussion of either one (and sometimes both these days), politely decline to engage in the discussion. Set a boundary and stick to it. Saying something such as, "I don't feel that if is appropriate for us to have this discussion as we both may have conflicting beliefs in this area and I value our friendship and don't want to do anything to damage our relationship." If you are confronted by a complete stranger, then ask them to stop. Let them know that you are uncomfortable with such a personal discussion. Walk away.

I don't hate Christmas, but I call it what it really is. The winster solstice celebration.

I admire you. I don’t celebrate them for religious reasons but feel culturally pressured into the consumerism. I hate lying to my kids about Santa, the Easter bunny, Jesus etc because when they figure it out on their own I’ll have to own the lie and debrief with them.

I LOVE Christmas! I get a week off

I don’t like Christmas at all. Very depressing time of year with added social pressure to buy crap. Once I made an effort to ignore it and focus on New Years’ Eve I started feeling much better. It came and went last December very casually. One of the few smart things I’ve done and will continue to do.

I feel the ones who hate Christmas are the Fox News types looking to make a buck promoting the War on Xmas and the Merry Christmas vs. Happy Holidays. Not to fond of those sour Christian pr*cks yelling about "The Reason For The Season" and telling little kids there's no Santa. As an Atheist I've always enjoyed Christmas for many reasons. The lights, ornaments ( I have some bitchin' ornaments), trees, decorations, winter weather, giving gifts, hanging out with the friends and family that I actually like, watchin' Rudolph on TV, awesome luncheons and dinners, paid days off work and rockin' Xmas tunes. So yeah, I'm an atheist who definitely doesn't hate Christmas. Now Easter is a whole different thing.

I don't advertise the fact that I don't do christmas thats my business luckily I am old enough to be hte backstop in the family the oldest member so basically I can do as I please I think if I started to ennumerate all of the things that make me weird in other peoples eyes I'd never stop so just doing what I want to do is good enough for me!

I've thought about this quite a bit, because I, too hate Christmas and have done so for quite some time. First, the consumerist bastardization comment - Seeing as Christmas stood in for Saturnalia, which was all about excess, the giving of gifts, revelry and debauchery, I would say it is currently much more in line with the traditional celebration.

I don't hate christmas because I don't believe in gods; I HATE christmas because of 25 years of retail management. If anyone ever questions me on this, I tell them they need to get some christian spirit and quit being dicks when doing their christmas shopping.

I also HATE all but about 10 christmas songs. Three of them involve being in jail at christmas, one is about Pagans celebrating, and most of the rest are about how horrible people are to each other.

Yep, I am a total BLAST at holiday parties.

I’m of the opinion that one should take any excuse for a good party.