Poll for atheists - Do you still celebrate Christmas and why?

[Arkilogue]

Thanks, it looks like I jumped the gun and forgot the intro. Doing one now.

You and me both.

[Thumpalumpacus]

Good to hear and thanks mate! I'm in Sydney Australia and was in from 1986 to 2011. I'm guessing you'd be very familiar with foam drill and incidents?

Oh yeah -- every truck I rode, drove, or commanded carried at least some AFFF. Worked two Class-As, one fatal (two SoBs), but also did some structural and wildland stuff due to basing demands and mutual-aid pacts. Got a lot of flightline work, and a little taste of the other stuff, too.

  

Regarding the thought, I agree. The original one though had "peace among those with whom he is pleased" which means that he doesn't wish peace to the ones which piss him off! 

Well, he can kiss my skinny white ass, then!

[Firefighter01]

Good to hear and thanks mate! I'm in Sydney Australia and was in from 1986 to 2011. I'm guessing you'd be very familiar with foam drill and incidents?

Oh yeah -- every truck I rode, drove, or commanded carried at least some AFFF. Worked two Class-As, one fatal (two SoBs), but also did some structural and wildland stuff due to basing demands and mutual-aid pacts. Got a lot of flightline work, and a little taste of the other stuff, too.  

We started using AFFF at the end of my career a lot more, even for m/v fires and bush. It was great!  I think we had something called marine grade foam when I first started, but no-one used it much because of the expense. I actually caught up with some fire-house buddies only a couple of days ago up the road from my joint. They were playing some touch footy (recreational football without the tackles) and asked me if I wanted to join in.  It was like I only left yesterday!
  

Regarding the thought, I agree. The original one though had "peace among those with whom he is pleased" which means that he doesn't wish peace to the ones which piss him off! 

Well, he can kiss my skinny white ass, then!

Hahahar!

[Incognito]

I celebrate Christmas because it's a time for family to get together, not because I believe some guy named Jesus was born on that day

[InsaneDane]

Though in Denmark (And most of Scandinavia) it's known as "Jul" - from the old Jól that the Norse Pagans celebrated.
It's still VERY Christian though, with Christian songs, Christian decorations, dancing around a christmas tree and some people go to church.

None of those things are Christian (besides going to church).

The tree, mistletoe, yule log, decorating the house, caroling, giving gifts, etc, etc. All pagan.

You're telling me that dancing around a Christmas tree, singing about how Jesus came about on Christmas night and how "God is in that Blue Sky" is not Christian?

[Bunburryist]

The word "celebrate" can mean a whole lot of different things.  We see it as a fun winter holiday, Christmas songs included.  There really are a lot of great songs.  It's interesting that no other holiday has come up with near the number of songs as Christmas.  The only decent Halloween song - besides Monster Mash - is the great classic by the Shaggs -


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=11_nsW151tg

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Now that your taste has been whetted for more of the Shaggs - here's THE WHOLE ALBUM!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQqK1CjE9bA

[Sterben]

I find it a waste of time and money, it only brings up problems. The PC moment with saying "Merry Christmas", most people I've talked about it whom work at other places, their management teams have told them to stay away from the phrase "Have a Merry Christmas". In a business sense it makes sense; you can't go offending your customers with a religious slogan.

[Mr Greene]

Kids thing mostly with a reason to get together with my family, usually on Boxing Day (Mum's side) and the 27th (Dad's side).

[Jehanne]

We celebrate it.  I love our Christmas tree, which, this year, I am going to put up after Thanksgiving and leave up until after the beginning of the New Year, after which, I will be sick of it.  Don't ask me why, I just do.  It's a harmless tradition and my kids love it.

[Brian37]

No, some do, many do, and yes it is a stolen pagan holiday Christians adapted. But even without the magic crap people like to believe, the commercialism of it advertising 5 million months ahead of time as if we didn't know does get annoying. It reminds me of Bart pestering Homer and Marge "Are we there yet" over and over and over.