Can an Atheist Celebrate Christmas?

Why are so many of my titles questions...? Just kidding.

First, let me point out that in the United States of America the day of December 25 is set aside as a Federal Holiday. That Holiday happens to be called Christmas. Now, the way Federal Holidays often work is that if the Holiday falls on a weekend, then the Feds celebrate on the previous or following week day (that is Friday or Monday). This year Christmas will be observed on Friday, December 24th, by the Government.

Now, because this day is set aside as a Federal Holiday by the Government, American atheists are by heritage of birth included in this day of observation. The whole country has the day off (sort of). It is a Federal Holiday and so while Christmas by definition began as a Christian Holiday, it has a secular meaning as well (in this case, a day off). Sadly, perhaps, I'll be working on December 24th anyway. Someone has to.

OK, that's one reason an atheist might observe Christmas in the United States. Could there be other reasons? Let's look at the legacy of the holiday and what it "means." (after the jump)



Many Christians rightly point out that Jesus is the reason for the holiday (they usually use the word Season, but that's stretching things a bit, I mean really, Jesus is the reason for winter?). In fact, hopefully, everyone recognizes that the first six characters "Christ" can have no other meaning. "Mas" as a suffix has a very specific meaning too, though that can be extended to secular events since it evolved from an Old English word for festivals or celebration. OK, that's a reason atheists might not observe Christmas. That seems contrary to my point. I publish that as a point to cede.

If that were the only thing Christmas Celebrates, it would not have become a National Holiday. Oh, and if you think the word Holiday, which stems from Holy Day, cannot be used for Secular purposes, think of Labor Day, Veterans Day, Presidents Day, Independence Day, or New Years Day. There are nine Federal holidays not associated with religious celebrations. Christmas being the exception that really is a Holy Day.

So what are we celebrating on Christmas Day?  Well, I mean beside the Christ's brith (represented by the Nativity).

1) Gift Giving - Generosity of Spirit
2) Decorated Pine Trees - Proof that gods (well, Thor in the original case) don't exist
3) Caroling - Festive Songs
4) Feasting - Abundance
5) Peace and Goodwill toward Man
6) Brotherhood
7) Family

These seven items, and I'm sure you could think of more, don't seem to me to be limited to only Christians, or even only the religious.  In fact, at many points in time, various sects of Christianity banned several of the features of our current Christmas Celebration.

Generosity is a common trait for atheists, despite what some in the media and blogosphere might think.  The studies conducted might show that Christians give to charities more than atheists.  But does that mean the atheists aren't giving?  A very large number of atheists give their time, volunteering and doing - not just donating to charity.  Atheists might tend to be wary of Christian charities, perhaps reducing the number of charitable choices.  The image of an atheist as a Scrooge in wildly inaccurate.  Atheists just don't expect to get brownie points in Heaven for giving and don't make a big show of doing so.

The bit about the decorated pine trees is a bit tongue in cheek on my part.  Some time ago in Germany the Tree of Thor was cut down to prove a point.  Somehow that evolved into the Christmas tradition of cutting down and decorating Christmas Trees.  This particular tradition is only about 400 years old and really has nothing to do with anything in the bible or with the reason to celebrate Christmas.  It's also notable that the use of plants and trees as a symbol of resurrection and rebirth predate Christianity.

Singing as a religious rite is also older than Christianity, and singing at a festival seems to be a tradition that began in the distant misty era before written history.  Some religions even had their gods singing the universe into existence.  Singing Christmas Carols is just another song at festival and cannot be considered a Christian only tradition.  Not to mention many Christmas Carols are fairly secular.

Feasting also has a fairly long and wide history as a part and parcel of celebration, not just for religious events (which truth be told, religious hold somberness and fasting in higher regard).  Feasting is a celebration of the plenty to come, the rebirth of the world in the coming spring, the end of the darkest days, and so on.  The Solstice seems to bring out the hungry in people.

Peace and Goodwill?  Surely you don't think these are strictly Christian Ideals.  Yes there have been horrible atheists.  There have been horrible Christians.  Essentially, these were horrible humans and they happen.  Atheists wish for a peaceful world as much as anyone else.  Atheists wish for human rights for all, not just those that believe in our one special way.


Tell me if you think an atheist cannot celebrate brotherhood.  It is the atheists that are more likely to believe we all came from a common ancestor with all life on this planet.  Talk about brotherhood! We are all related, we are all brothers (and sisters and whatevers).

How about Family?  Show me atheists that do not have any sort of familial lineage!  A great number of philosophies around the world hold family in higher esteem than even Christians.  Atheists however are more likely to extend the idea of family to those that also disagree with our philosophies.

Here's the thing.  Many of the religious seem to enjoy painting atheists as some sort of clone of Mr. Spock, all logic and no humanity.  The funny part is, the closest thing to a religion atheists have is Secular Humanism.  It's all about humanity.  It's all about our relationships and the high value placed on human life, human dignity and human rights.  So, while the Religious Holiday of Christmas is truly a Christian thing, people need to realize there has become a secular holiday of Christmas (because that's what the government calls the holiday) that atheists also celebrate.

Atheists are humans, have feelings, laugh and cry.  Atheists see beauty in a sunset and take joy in the birth of their children.  They find wonder in the Universe and are awed by its grandeur. Atheists celebrate Christmas, at least the ones that were brought up with its traditions of excess and celebration.