My secular Christmas

[True North]

It's getting to be the holiday season! As a new family, we are just starting our own family traditions, and are looking forward to the holidays. I have read a couple of threads here that I find very interesting, including the Christian thread about Santa and Jesus. I found it wonderful how many families incorperated their religous beliefs to fit the magic of Santa.

My family, however, is not Christian, but still will be celebrating the Christmas holiday. I was wondering what others do to celebrate the season? My thoughts right now is to focus on the whole peace, family, and helping others (giving) idea. This way we can showcase ideas that our secular, Christian, Jewish, and Muslim friends all share during the holiday season. (Yeah, I guess I am from a pretty multicultural area.) Christmas Day will be about giving presents, and not just getting them.

Two things I am having problems with, is how do you explain Christmas? I in no way want to deny the Christian views towards Jesus' birth, yet that is not what my family is celebrating. At the same time, I don't want to focus only on Santa, and turn him into some sort of demi-god, and have the kids praying to him.

Also, a problem with Santa is why do we need to help others when Santa givess something to everyone? I don't like the idea of paying Santa, just becuase it brings money back into things, and also seems to take away some of the magic. I guess I plan on giving only a couple of gifts actually from Santa, but still would like some more thoughts and ideas.

When looking online, I tend to just see a lot of site complaining about taking religion out of Christmas. I was looking for others that celebrate a secular Christmas, and would like to share any traditions, ideas, or plans.

 

[True North]

It seems sad to bump my own thread, but I already killed 2 threads today, and don't want my thread to die too. I know there are more like us on here, I have talked to you before! Please give me some ideas!

 

[gigglesnort]

Maybe go help out at food shelters? Teach them to help the less fortunate. That's a lesson for the human race, not just for the religious!

Tell the kids those people are homeless, so Santa couldn't find them. That way they understand why they need to share in the giving.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

well without Jesus and without Santa--kinda 'tuff to explain why we do Christmas. (tough for me anyway)

I guess it is the one day of year--to really focus on others. And the season is usually associated with this as well.

What if once a week between Thanksgiving and Christmas you do a significant deed--volunteer at a soup kitchen...pick an Angel a week per family member--since you have only 3...maybe the 4th week a joint family thing or something.

And I would just nix the whole Santa bit since you child is only 1 anyway and just have gifts from each other.

Family traditions to start....a homemade gift (lack of talent isn't an excuse ) every year. Start a family collection--anything..nutcrackers, special ornaments (we do travel ornaments every year).

Visit nursing homes. Pretty safe venue--and they LOVE kids! Maybe visit once per week during the holidays. From what I hear--they love kid crafts at least in our neck of the woods.


Other things--adopt-a-platoon does holiday campaigns (send a box of candy canes and Christmas Cards--secular is requested due to the area they would be going).

Good luck and Merry Christmas!

 

[chrissyk]

Would you be comfortable explaining XMas from the Pagan point-of-view perhaps? There are some good Pagan children's books available...one that comes to mind is a winter one is called something like "A Solstice Tree for Jenny" or something similar. When we have kids, I'm going to buy this and a few other books to explain why we celebrate XMas, Easter, etc. from the secular viewpoint since that is also how we celebrate these holidays. HTH!

 

[EthansMom]

I've explained to DS that some kids are "poor" and don't have many toys. Usually, during the holiday season, he and I purchase a toy for the "angel tree" at the mall together.

In our house, Santa only brings one medium toy and stuffs the stockings. All other gifts are from Mom & Dad, Grandma & Grampa, etc...

You could concentrate on the "Season of Giving".

Other secular activities we enjoy are decorating the tree, baking & decorating christmas cookies, and making a holiday feast.

 

[gigglesnort]

Would you be comfortable explaining XMas from the Pagan point-of-view perhaps? There are some good Pagan children's books available...one that comes to mind is a winter one is called something like "A Solstice Tree for Jenny" or something similar. When we have kids, I'm going to buy this and a few other books to explain why we celebrate XMas, Easter, etc. from the secular viewpoint since that is also how we celebrate these holidays. HTH!

Why would you celebrate Easter if you aren't religious? Christmas I can sort of see (lot's of other celebrations at that time), but Easter? It was never meant to be a big gift-giving holiday. It's about the death and resurrection of Christ, that's it.

Unless I'm misunderstanding you, then I apologize in advance.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Why would you celebrate Easter if you aren't religious? Christmas I can sort of see (lot's of other celebrations at that time), but Easter? It was never meant to be a big gift-giving holiday. It's about the death and resurrection of Christ, that's it.

Unless I'm misunderstanding you, then I apologize in advance.

I think that a secular interpretation would be about re-birth and spring.

(We celebrate as you describe, though).

 

[chrissyk]

Why would you celebrate Easter if you aren't religious? Christmas I can sort of see (lot's of other celebrations at that time), but Easter? It was never meant to be a big gift-giving holiday. It's about the death and resurrection of Christ, that's it.

Unless I'm misunderstanding you, then I apologize in advance.

Good question Lisa answered it well...it's mostly about spring, rebirth, etc. When we have kids, it will also encompass basket-leaving bunnies and dyed eggs I guess (according to my DH, who does not even eat the hardboiled eggs...go figure ). We really don't celebrate it now, but we will once we have kids...just in a secular way and probably not in a very heavy-duty way.

 

[True North]

Tell the kids those people are homeless, so Santa couldn't find them. That way they understand why they need to share in the giving.

I really like that idea!!

I think I got the Santa bit figured out, but that was my last bit of confussion. I am sticking with "no one really knows for sure who Santa realy is" strategy. That way all the stories, movies, and so on that contradict each other can just people some peoples ideas. I know for my neice the fact that Santa was usually white but sometimes black in the movies was a confussing idea. As Lisa pointed out Mark is only one so it doesn't matter that much, but I just want to get my story straight. Also, I can't nix Santa! Every child needs a stocking Christmas morning no matter how young they are.

 

[True North]

I also love the idea of family trips to a soup kitchen and other volunteer jobs. I would love to turn something like that into a family tradition. We are spiritual people, just not Christian, and don't attend a regular church. I would love for something like this to become our families version of a midnight mass. Something to put a little more meaning behind a day that tends to focus on getting gifts.