Do you have a problem with the secularization of Christmas?

[WDWMom]

Christmas isn't the only holiday that the stores start stocking way to early. If you notice

back to school starts in July. Just as school starts Halloween items are out. As soon as Halloween is done, Christmas items are out. As soon as Christmas is over, the Valentines Day stuff arrives. When Valentines in over, Easter items arrive.

The same every year. I wish it would stop so consumers can take a break. Not that I feel like I need to buy for each holiday or season, but I hate feeling that I must be prepared so early for all of these.

I wish Halloween stuff came out the first of Oct. Christmas decorations and music after Thanksgiving and lasted until New Year's or Epiphany.

 

[DarkSideMoon]

It doesn't bother me since the X comes from the Greek word meaning Christ.

yes, but how many people use it in that sense? i always took that as a way to take Christ out of Christmas.

 

[Mandabella]

yes, but how many people use it in that sense? i always took that as a way to take Christ out of Christmas.

I do, as do many people I know. I just don't see the big deal.

If they are doing it thinking they are removing Christ, then it just shows they aren't too clued in on where it originated.

 

[IMGONNABE40!]

Thanks for the responses everyone. I enjoyed reading all of them. BTW--I have no issue with people not focusing on the Christian aspects of the holiday and practicing "good will towards all" (I think Christ would be happy about that too ) It is the vulgar commercialism that bother me. I know I can celebrate what/how I want in my home, but it is not like you can escape it when you turn on the radio/TV/computer or venture out to a store.

 

[mickeymom923]

Hi. I am Jewish and do not celebrate Christmas. I think it is a beautiful time of year when people decorate and everyone seems so friendly. This is the part I like. What I do not like is why everyone assumes that everyone celebrates Christmas. When my children were younger, cashiers, bank tellers, strangers etc would ask my children if they were good so Santa would bring them gifts. When my children replied "we do not get gifts" people looked at me like I was a mean terrible parent. If I replied that we do not celebrate Christmas, their comments were, Santa has nothing to do with Christmas. Santa does. I do resent hearing Christmas songs starting in November in every store I go into. I do wish that people would say "Happy Holiday" when answering phones etc instead of "Merry Christmas". I send out "season greetings" cards and I do not like it when I receive a Christmas card. Would the people that celebrate Christmas like it if they received a card that said "Happy Chanukkah". I just wish more people would respect each others religion and not assume that everyone celebrates Christmas.

 

[Talking Hands]

As a Christian I don't want secular Xmas shoved down my throat from early November on. I don't want to hear about Red nosed reindeer and Santa and I certainly don't want to sing those songs. Give me a Christmas focused on Jesus and his birth, Christian Christmas music like "Once in Royal David's City" and Silent Night", Christmas Eve wordhip service with friends and family and a quiet Christmas day with family. Oh and I must have Pfeiffernuss!

 

[DarkSideMoon]

Hi. I am Jewish and do not celebrate Christmas. I think it is a beautiful time of year when people decorate and everyone seems so friendly. This is the part I like. What I do not like is why everyone assumes that everyone celebrates Christmas. When my children were younger, cashiers, bank tellers, strangers etc would ask my children if they were good so Santa would bring them gifts. When my children replied "we do not get gifts" people looked at me like I was a mean terrible parent. If I replied that we do not celebrate Christmas, their comments were, Santa has nothing to do with Christmas. Santa does. I do resent hearing Christmas songs starting in November in every store I go into. I do wish that people would say "Happy Holiday" when answering phones etc instead of "Merry Christmas". I send out "season greetings" cards and I do not like it when I receive a Christmas card. Would the people that celebrate Christmas like it if they received a card that said "Happy Chanukkah". I just wish more people would respect each others religion and not assume that everyone celebrates Christmas.

i have no problem with that, and i respect people who dont try to warp Christmas, and dont celebrate it. IMHO you either celebrate it, admit the origins, and dont try to warp it, or you dont celebrate at all, make up your own holiday.

 

[Laura]

Apparently there is no evidence in early Christian writings to suggest that the celebration of Christ's birth was scheduled on Dec. 25 to quash the Roman celebration of Saturnalia.

It's hard to know exactly what Pope Julius I had in mind when approving December 25 as the official date of Christmas. It is obvious that what has happened is that the pagan trappings have been incorporated into Christmas. Yule logs, mistletoe, and so forth.

Making Christian holidays acceptable to pagans was part of a plan. Samhain and Ostara were usurped by the Church as All Hallow's Day and Easter, so why not Yule too?

I don't think it's such a coincidence.

 

[mickeyfan2]

No, I celebrate exactly the way that I want to. If the holiday season is as you wanted I would not be happy. I love Christmas Carols and couldn't wait until Dec 20 to hear them.

 

[bgirldeb]

Apparently there is no evidence in early Christian writings to suggest that the celebration of Christ's birth was scheduled on Dec. 25 to quash the Roman celebration of Saturnalia.

Maybe its because the early Christians did not celebrate Christmas?

 

[mickeyfan2]

I have Hindu friends who love the Christmas season. All the lights remind them of a religious holiday they have back in India that is celebrated with lights.

 

[MsLeFever]

No, I celebrate exactly the way that I want to. If the holiday season is as you wanted I would not be happy. I love Christmas Carols and couldn't wait until Dec 20 to hear them.

I'm with you mickeyfan2 - I'm getting out the Christmas CDs and movies this week - otherwise it isn't until I'm packing them away that I realize that we haven't heard them/seen them all!

Honestly I just love Christmas so much that I want it to be Christmas as long as possible. Plus, since I have a kiddo that acts (he'll be the youngest Scrooge this year!) we start thinking about Christmas as soon as the cast list for Christmas Carol goes up!

 

[Laugh O. Grams]

As a Christian I don't want secular Xmas shoved down my throat from early November on. I don't want to hear about Red nosed reindeer and Santa and I certainly don't want to sing those songs. Give me a Christmas focused on Jesus and his birth, Christian Christmas music like "Once in Royal David's City" and Silent Night", Christmas Eve wordhip service with friends and family and a quiet Christmas day with family. Oh and I must have Pfeiffernuss!

That's what so great about the holiday season....there's something for everyone!! It would be a shame if Christians decided that it was their holiday and slammed all who don't celebrate the holiday "appropriately", but instead, enjoyed watching their kids finding the magic of gifts from Santa, Christmas trees, holiday decorations, and fun fairytales about Rudolph the red nosed reindeer and Frosty the Snowman. Celebrate it's religious meanings or celebrate it for fun, your choice, but just enjoy the season, it's kinda hard not to!

 

[DarkSideMoon]

what i have a problem with is people trying to take over the holiday laughograms, its fine with me if they are not Christians, or choose not to celebrate the way i do, but i dont like them trying to turn Christmas into Santamas or Reindeermas, you can celebrate the way you want, just dont try and change the holiday.

 

[IMGONNABE40!]

UGH! Just today--while waiting in an office (could not escape it) I heard "Christmas" music on the radio! No surprise--it was a tune called "Santa Baby" (I think). It is sung by a woman who really expects it ALL from Santa. From what I remember, a mink, a big diamond ring, a convertible, a deed , a yacht--okay, so are you understanding my concerns? How did a celebration of Christ's birth evolve into this?

 

[ford family]

UGH! Just today--while waiting in an office (could not escape it) I heard "Christmas" music on the radio! No surprise--it was a tune called "Santa Baby" (I think). It is sung by a woman who really expects it ALL from Santa. From what I remember, a mink, a big diamond ring, a convertible, a deed , a yacht--okay, so are you understanding my concerns? How did a celebration of Christ's birth evolve into this?

It didn't. The depths of winter have long been a time to cheer each other up with gifts and hopes for a return of the light. Not hard to see why the early Christians wanted to make their "new" religion more readily familiar to potential recruits by cutting and pasting the old regimes into theirs.
This particular song, originally recorded in 1953 by Eartha Kitt, shows that materialism at Christmas is hardly a recent phenomenon.
It is good to be getting back to the real meaning of Christmas!!

ford family

 

[TheDisneyBunch]

Ahhh boy!! You guys would just HATE ME!!!

Over the weekend we decorated the inside of the house. Put up the tree and all the other inside decorations. It was so much fun and the house looks so awesome now. It is so warm and inviting. I just love it. We watched Christmas Vacation and Home Alone 3 times each..lol We needed something playing while we decorated so we just kept replaying the 2 of them. Today we bought Christmas with the Kranks and will watch it tonight.

We LOVE LOVE LOVE Christmas for many reasons. I am a Christian but not an overly religous one. I do know the true meaning of Christmas and will teach that to my son. However he will also be one of those showered with gifts for Christmas simply b/c there are things I want him to have and he deserves them and if it is in my power to give them to him and see his little face light up on Christmas morning I will sure do it. Christmas to me is a time of year to be with family, enjoy all the Christmas lights, do things together, etc..

People should do for others all year round, not just at Christmas. I hear so many people say this is the time of year to do for others...you should be willing to do for others any time of year not just at Christmas time.

I hate for people to act like we are crazy for putting our tree up early! It makes us happy and we sure are not doing anything wrong or hurting anyone by doing it so why would people put us down for it?? I don't get it.

For me everyone can enjoy Christmas as they wish. Stores put things out early b/c there are people like me who enjoy buying it and seeing it early and if others do not like it they can certainly ignore it. I do not think it is right to down people for what they choose to do about the holidays. There are certainly things I do not agree with when it comes to Christmas choices but I would not go around being mean to anyone about it.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!

 

[mickeyfan2]

Ahhh boy!! You guys would just HATE ME!!!

Over the weekend we decorated the inside of the house. Put up the tree and all the other inside decorations. It was so much fun and the house looks so awesome now. It is so warm and inviting. I just love it. We watched Christmas Vacation and Home Alone 3 times each..lol We needed something playing while we decorated so we just kept replaying the 2 of them. Today we bought Christmas with the Kranks and will watch it tonight.

We LOVE LOVE LOVE Christmas for many reasons. I am a Christian but not an overly religous one. I do know the true meaning of Christmas and will teach that to my son. However he will also be one of those showered with gifts for Christmas simply b/c there are things I want him to have and he deserves them and if it is in my power to give them to him and see his little face light up on Christmas morning I will sure do it. Christmas to me is a time of year to be with family, enjoy all the Christmas lights, do things together, etc..

People should do for others all year round, not just at Christmas. I hear so many people say this is the time of year to do for others...you should be willing to do for others any time of year not just at Christmas time.

I hate for people to act like we are crazy for putting our tree up early! It makes us happy and we sure are not doing anything wrong or hurting anyone by doing it so why would people put us down for it?? I don't get it.

For me everyone can enjoy Christmas as they wish. Stores put things out early b/c there are people like me who enjoy buying it and seeing it early and if others do not like it they can certainly ignore it. I do not think it is right to down people for what they choose to do about the holidays. There are certainly things I do not agree with when it comes to Christmas choices but I would not go around being mean to anyone about it.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!

I don't hate you I envy you. We starting putting up the decorations, but won't complete them until this weekend. Hope to watch a Christmas movie soon too.