a Non Christian Christmas isn't shallow and materialistic

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a lot of people seem to think that Christmas is EITHER treated as a religious festival OR shallow and materialistic. well let me tell you that those aren't the only approaches to Christmas. you don't have to celebrate the birth of Jesus, or even believe he exists for Christmas to be special and meaningful. to not believe in Jesus doesn't mean that Christmas is all about spending money and receiving material things. the true meaning of Christmas, for those of us that aren't Christian, isn't about getting presents. it's about being with the people that you love, spending time with them. it's about silly little traditions that might be unique to your family, like in my family, we all sit together in the kitchen, by the rayburn, and prepare the vegetables around the table, while drinking vodka and orange. which I only ever drink at Christmas, and that time around the table working together is a special part of the festival to me. another important part of the spirit of Christmas, is caring about others, those that you don't know. at Christmas we are reminded how lucky we are to have a warm home, plenty of food and our loved ones around us. my mum is a community based care worker for the elderly, and she always works Christmas morning, and enjoys doing it. because for some of the people she visits, she might be the only person they see on Christmas day, and being able to wish them a happy Christmas, and give them a small present makes her feel good. at Christmas, people often give a donation to a charity, because they are reminded that they are lucky, and others aren't as lucky. it's a special time full of pretty lights, time spent with the people you love, appreciating what you've got, cheesy music, silly little traditions, and all in all a warm fuzzy feeling inside. Christmas without Christianity isn't the empty, soul-less shell that Christians think it is for others, but a time of goodness. if you look at the story of a Christmas Carol, Ebenezer Scrooge isn't changed by learning about Jesus. he is changed because he learns that when you are kind to others your life is more fulfilled, and that love is worth more than money. if you look at Pratchetts discworld story, The Hogfather, the festival equivalent to Christmas isn't about religion either. but it's undeniably brimming with the spirit of Christmas. eat, drink, be merry, but above all, love. for many of us who are not Christians, Christmas is about love. most religions do have a midwinter festival. and for all religions these festivals are a time of celebrating. they usually centre around the birth of a deity that can be classified in some way or form as a Solar God, bringing light and love into the world. this is why they all fall at the time of the Winter Solstice. when the days start becoming longer again, and we know we are seeing winter turn back. while Christmas for Christians is special for the reason of celebrating Jesus, it doesn't mean it's not just as special for non Christians. so it's sad when you see people saying "for some people it's not about Jesus, it's about materialism" they need to remember that it's not one or the other. so whether you are celebrating Christmas for it's Christian roots, it's Pagan roots, or simply for the love it celebrates, enjoy your midwinter festival. whatever you call it and whatever you beleive in, it's a special time of year.