Some Thoughts On Non-Christian Christmas

Yesterday I had to go pick up some new toilets & several trees for our new house. It was quite a drive so I turned the radio to NPR. During part of the trip the topic turned to the Hallmark Channel's depiction of Judaism in some of its corny Christmas movies. They were explaining how several of the films were rather tone-deaf of anyone that doesn't celebrate Christmas. This is a subject that could be discussed in infinitum but it got me to thinking. Everyone in my home is Agnostic, Atheist, or too young to make the decision for themselves. Even still we choose to celebrate Christmas every year, though not in any religious fashion. For us it's a gathering of fellowship, kinship, & friendship. We spend time with one another & catch up with those we've been estranged from the rest of the year. It's a way to carve out time for the loved ones we lose through the hustle & bustle of daily life. Even being raised in a catholic household religion never really played a part in Christmas (with the exception of being forced to go to midnight mass). Now I’m grown, married, & have children of my own & we don't feel the need to have a reason for the holidays. On the rare occasion someone asks why we, as nonbelievers, are celebrating I simply tell them if we need a reason it has to be birth of the profit of reason himself, Sir Issac Newton (born Dec. 25th, 1642). It shouldn’t matter though as Christians just moved the birth of their messiah to an already established winter holiday to make transition more palatable. Though I know it will never happen, It is my sincere wish that everyone would celebrate together on Dec. 25th. Not as a holiday for one type of faith but a celebration of friends, family, & the fortune of making it another year. Merry Christmas to all & to all a good night