Do you think Christmas still holds its original meaning?

If only christians celebrated Xmas, the shops would stop selling so much, and the christians would probably grumble that the non-christians didn't join in with the goodwill and celebrations bit of it. My partner and I are both non-christians, and don't celebrate xmas, but we get sick to the back teeth of having it rammed down our throats on the TV and shops every year. We try to have goodwill and be nice to people all year round, and show the people we care about that we care about them all year round - we don't just put on a show of fake hyped "caring" every year. If you want to keep Xmas as a christian festival with its religious meaning at the heart of all celebrations, then you'd probably find that most people would go back to the pre-christian traditional celebrations and feasting - the midwinter revelry existed before christianity did - your religious leaders just hijacked it in their attempts to assimilate people from other religions into your ways - a trick they learned from the Romans! Midwinter celebrations were a way for people to enjoy the fruits of the last year's work, to celebrate the earth's bounty and to welcome in the new year together. If this was what was celebrated nowadays, we'd be happy to join in, and you christians could celebrate whatever jesus-based thing you wanted!

Of course, I must respond to this one as well. I do not believe Christmas is generally a religious holiday anymore - which I think in some ways is good. I think people of all religion/beliefs should be able to celebrate this holiday because it is generally a feel good holiday. As for going further into debt to buy Christmas presents, I have never done that. My husband and I actually purchased all of our presents from a locally owned toy shop (supporting local business) and we have spent less than $300 for both kids. (I'm proud of that, I know some people might think that's a lot but in my area it's common for people to spend 3 or 4 times that.) As for Santa's beginnings he is actually a combination of several figures of history - real and not real. Here is the link to the wikipedia article on the origins of Santa (interesting): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Origins_of_Santa_Claus. The reindeer? I don't know. Here's the wikipedia article for them, though: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Claus%27_reindeer#Origins. My mom is one of those who hold true to the "Christmas Spirit" (celebrating the birth of Christ) however I think the "Christmas Spirit" has changed. I think it's changed to mean giving and helping others. My husband is atheist but we still celebrate Christmas. He loves to give gifts to our kids and we both enjoy just celebrating this time of year. I don't like that Christmas has taken over Thanksgiving and I REFUSE to purchase any Christmas presents from Wal-Mart, but I think there is new meaning to the holiday.

no i don't think so , Chistmas has almost become so secular that it barely reflects its religious roots at this point. I dont want to offend anyone, but now days, most kids when asked what Chistmas means will tell you "Getting presents", I have seen Athiests with Christmas trees and lights up....If you dont believe in god, how on earth can you celebrate the birth of his son?Please do not misunderstand, there are many people out there that still hold true to the "Christmas spirit" and many that do understand its meaning, but where did Santa come from? and the riendeer? Someone please help me understand this? I try to live my life as good and solid as I can, helping when someone needs help and standing up for the truth...but I just cant seem to see Christmas the way others do....I just cant see going further into debt, spending beyond my means and making the retailers just that much richer as a way to thank god for his son and the price that was paid by Christ...Am I wrong? Havent we gotten so far off track as to loose sight of the real meaning? Wouldnt donating old clothes and toys, money, even your time at a homeless shelter be a better way to show appreciation and what we have learned from Christs example? Just my opinion on the matter.

Christmas isn't what it used to be. But for my children it stands for Jesus and his birth. This year my kids are going to have a good Christmas as far as what they get from me(their mom). Money has been tight and bills are due. When I told my kids this I expected to see them upset, crying, throwing a fit. You know, what most children would do. I'll be honest, if my parents ever told me I wasn't getting but one gift for Christmas I would have thrown a fit. But when I told my kids that we would only be able to get them one thing for Christmas...They looked at me and said, "That's Ok, momma. It's not what Christmas is about anyway." Then they smiled and gave me a hug. Brought tears to my eyes! It made me wish I could do more for them, but very proud of them at the same time. See, Christmas isn't just about gifts to all kids! :-)

It's that time of the year, and we are going to get a number of discussions like this one. There are many points to this particular discussion. Firstly, anyone who has read my contributions knows where I stand. I am a Christian whose one goal in life is to serve my Lord and Saviour. My relationship with my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, is the most important thing in my life. I don't think I would be classed a Bible-basher, but I do tell of what Christ has done for me. Having reiterated that, you will think you know where I stand on Christmas, but you may be wrong. I love Christmas: it is the time when we remember, in a very special way, that God loves us so much that He was willing to give His all for us. On the other hand, Christmas has become so commercialised and misrepresented, that I would prefer it to be dropped off the calendar. I believe Christmas has largely become an offence to the One I worship. If it was dropped from secular celebrations, we Christians could still celebrate as we want. I am not objecting to the santa fantasy. If that is the way people want to look at things, that is their right, and I guess the origin of santa teaches some good points. If people want to celebrate this by gift giving, that again is their right. However, I DO object to the commercialism and misrepresentation of what was - and is - a celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. Only last week I overheard someone buying Christmas cards, and complaining "Look at this! They try to bring religion into everything nowadays!"It is CHRISTmas. I am in favour of doing away with Christmas as a national holiday and calling it Thanksgiving, or Family Celebration, or whatever people can come up with. If they want to leave Christ out of Christmas - or even give Him a back seat - then call it something else.

you are correct.christmas has perhaps lost its original meaning.christmas is for our prayers to the lord and seeing within us to correct our mistakes and ensuring that such mistakes do not occur again next year, christmas is for doing something for the poor and needy people who look towards us for help on such festivals.

No I don't think so! When I was a child I remember my town full with ornaments and festive atmosphere. Now, this whole event is just an occasion for shoppers to buy things and for stores to sell. I'm so unhappy about this.

My family are Christian so we do focus very much on the real meaning of Christmas. Several years ago we cut back dramatically on the gifts and we are all much happier for it. If a member of the family is broke, stressed or simply cannot be bothered buying gifts its no big deal, it is their company we want and no one cares less. The gift grab I see going on in stores horrifies me though. Last Saturday I saw a mother and daughter screaming at each other in Target. The mother was telling the daughter that she wanted her to buy her a bag, and the daughter (about 16) was saying I dont want to buy you that, just leave me alone. If I had to scream at my daughter in a store like that I would give up celebrating Christmas forever. I got home and rang my daughter and told her how much I love her :)

It's lost a ton of it's true meaning for sure and has become very materialistic!

It's that time of the year, and we are going to get a number of discussions like this one. There are many points to this particular discussion. Firstly, anyone who has read my contributions knows where I stand. I am a Christian whose one goal in life is to serve my Lord and Saviour. My relationship with my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, is the most important thing in my life. I don't think I would be classed a Bible-basher, but I do tell of what Christ has done for me. Having reiterated that, you will think you know where I stand on Christmas, but you may be wrong. I love Christmas: it is the time when we remember, in a very special way, that God loves us so much that He was willing to give His all for us. On the other hand, Christmas has become so commercialised and misrepresented, that I would prefer it to be dropped off the calendar. I believe Christmas has largely become an offence to the One I worship. If it was dropped from secular celebrations, we Christians could still celebrate as we want. I am not objecting to the santa fantasy. If that is the way people want to look at things, that is their right, and I guess the origin of santa teaches some good points. If people want to celebrate this by gift giving, that again is their right. However, I DO object to the commercialism and misrepresentation of what was - and is - a celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. Only last week I overheard someone buying Christmas cards, and complaining "Look at this! They try to bring religion into everything nowadays!" It is CHRISTmas. I am in favour of doing away with Christmas as a national holiday and calling it Thanksgiving, or Family Celebration, or whatever people can come up with. If they want to leave Christ out of Christmas - or even give Him a back seat - then call it something else.

The Lord Iesous Christ was born of course but in the Holy Bible, the time is not specified. The place is in Bethlehem. But notice that the shepherds are in the field tending to their flock. Accordingly, during the month of December, the shepherds could not have been there outside because of the weather. The Holy Bible does not command for the celebration of the Christ's birth. Christians are to be silent where the Bible is silent. The New Testament was written from about the year 38 to 96 and for about that length of time, nothing was written about the apostles celebrating the birth of Christ. We do not celebrate Christmas but of course we eat when invited so we do not spend for such occasion.

No, it definitely doesn't. Christmas was supposed to be the celebration of the birth of our savior (if you are Christian). But it has become so commercialized that the spirit of giving and RECEIVING is all that it means now. It's to the point where we can't call it CHRISTmas anymore. We have to call it XMas because we might offend someone who doesn't believe in Christianity. It's retarded. I respect and leave alone the holidays of other beliefs....why do I have to tailor my religious holidays for others?

I think for some people Christmas still holds the true meaning. But mostly in religious families. I am the first to admit that my family celebrates more of the family time together. the giving and the atmostphere and not anything about the religious background.

christmas, i think is a pretty universal occasion, i believe that whatever race you are, whatever religion (blah, blah) - everyone needs christmas... everyone needs presents - whether to give or to recieve. on the other hand, though, if you think about the literal meaning of christmas - birth of jesus christ and all that ... it's totally gone right now, i think. but where i come from, the philippines - everyone still observes christmas traditions. we have a misa de gallo - which means "dawn mass" every christmas eve, go home and have noche buena dinner - which just means a big happy dinner for everyone... then we open presents.. but traditions are only traditions, symbolic things that's lost its meaning even in our predominantly catholic country. honestly, i can't really say when i've shared the "spirit of christmas" with anyone. guess it's about time i start...

Christmas to me will always be the celebration of Christs birth. One year my sister even told her kids three gifts only from mom and dad this year to represent the three wisemens gifts...she doesn't have a santa claus in her house anywhere. Yes getting involved in giving like clothes and food and stuff is awesome idea at the hoilday times but why just do it at the holiday times. Show your kids this all year round. As for going into debt. No one has to do this at Christmas time my mom and dad didn't when we were growing up nor do I...I save here and there all year and if I see something on sale I get it early...Have worked at homeless shelters the year through and other stuff on that lines....depends on your family and your area how far off track Christmas and the meaning there of has gotten off track...I live here in SC and its not off track in the town I am in...I mean hey I came from Cali and well is a place ya didn't see god hardly mentioned on tv but here in the south God is even given thanks for great business. Merry Christmas ...don't stress enjoy it get involved in the charities around your home town...but don't just stop because holidays are over

Of course it does. Christ cannot be unborn. History can't be changed even if it is ignored by some.

I think the meaning has changed a lot... I don´t like the idea of buying things for everyone and making big gifts for Christmas... I prefer little gifts, something nice for everyone and having a nice meal, but I don´t like making huge gifts. I also think that the birth of Jesus is not celebrated as it should be... some people do believe and some do not, but I think that the ones that do believe do not celebrate it as it should be...

i think it does... it just depends on the parents or others around you enstilling the true values into you.

I don't think Christmas has become secular at all. It is that time of year when Christians can have all the special programs on and people sing their music. The grocery stores are playing the hymns on the loud speaker. WE are drenched in Christianity even though alot of us aren't Christian. That "Christmas tree" is a co-opted pagan symbol. So and atheists having one makes perfect sense. It has lost its original meaning and been swallowed up! I truly agree with your talking about donating clothing and such to emulate the spirit of giving. If those who follow the teachings of Christ would place that energy in helping those who truly want their help, I think the world would be a better place for all of us.

christmas still hold the original meaning with me and my family.