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| Author: Posted: Sep. 8, 2002 | This Page Viewed: 7,007,681 |
Question of the Week: 89 - 12/15/2002 Bah-Humbug! Are You Offended by Christmas? Do all of the Christian-based celebrations, songs and religious programming at this time of the year irritate you? Do you, as a Pagan, feel slightly uncomfortable if someone wishes you a 'Merry Christmas'? Do you 'correct' him/her, just let it go (The season is just too short!) or counter with a 'Happy Solstice' or 'Merry Yule' without further explanation? Or, on the other hand, do you think that PC (political correctness) has run amuck and that the efforts to please everyone -- and to offend no one -- during this time of year has virtually expelled any and/or all spiritual meaning from the season? Is Christmas just another secular/commercial holiday these days? And finally, what does the Yule season mean to you and how will you celebrate? Will you also join in Christian or Jewish holiday events with family or friends? What do you love about this time of year and what always makes you want to snort, 'Humbug'? |
| Reponses: There are 173 responses posted to this question. | Reverse Sort |
| I Have To Tell So Many Lies | Dec 22nd. at 3:00:07 pm EST |
| Cheryl In The US Midwest (The Midwest) | Age: 46 - Email |
|
I really don't mind Christmas or any other holiday this time of year. I personally celebrate Yule but if you say "Merry Christmas" to me, doesn't bother me a bit, I say "Merry Christmas" right back or whatever. I am not at all offended and feel no need to tell people I am not Christian or explain anything. BUT what I do hate is women (in particular they seem to be the ones that do this) saying, "Have you finished your Christmas shopping?" I don't really shop at Xmas and don't shop much period. So I lie. Usually, they don't listen to what I say anyhow, just want to regale me with tales of how organized they are and how many friends and family they have. Sigh. Or "What did you get your husband or what did your husband get you?" There is really nothing I want material wise and as for husband, he buys power tools, car parts, electronics, guy stuff this time of year to please himself. So what he doesn't get a wrapped sweater from me that I bought with his money? This season for me is full of more lies than normal and replete with personal alienation. This is the time of year when I have to pretend, more than any other time, that I am like others, particularly women, and I feel the loss of personal integrity keenly. So buy your gifts, kill a tree, do whatever you want, but not everyone wants to. At least, not me. |
| Yule, Christmas, And Other Things!! | Dec 22nd. at 4:58:14 pm EST |
| GACatmandu (Indiana) | Age: 36 - Email |
|
Well I personally am kind of new at the Pagan/Wicca thing (just getting serious at the begining of this year) although I have considered myself Pagan for about 3 years now.. I use to be christian up until about 5 years ago and I believed christmas was a christian holiday but, I now know better.. Just about all the things christians do on christmas are taken from Pagan ways (but for the so-called birth of christ).. The christmas tree is Pagan which I knew when I followed christian beliefs and therefore I had no christmas tree which most christians misunderstood they were always saying "Why don't you have a christmas tree??" and when I told them why they would look at me with shock and amazment.. Now, I am Pagan and love a tree this time of year!! I just stick to Happy Holidays as appossed to merry christmas or Happy Yule cause you never really know if someone is christian, Pagan, Jewish, atheist, or any number of things to say Happy(Merry) Yule, merry christmas, or just KISS my ass hell I don't know might offend someone.. So I just stick with happy holidays if I say anything at all.. I don't really get offended by someone saying merry christmas to me, what bugs me about it though is most people anymore assume that christmas is everyones major holiday!! Yule I am just now learning about so at this point I can't tell you more than that so, get back with me next year on that I will have more for you then.. |
| No | Dec 22nd. at 5:38:12 pm EST |
| Courtney (TN) | Age: 18 - Email |
|
The only thing that gets to me this time of year are of course all the advertisements and all of the really crappy music playing everywhere. I think that if the world wouldn't treat Christmas like such a big deal and just leave it alone it would be much more special and a lot less annoying. As far as people celebrating and wishing me a Merry Christmas, I don't mind. I think that Christmas, at least in my family, isn't at all about religion; but taking a break and spending time with family, friends, and neighbors, and celebrating winter being halfway over. Lets face it, we really don't have much of a choice when it comes to celebrating Christmas. I mean we can't not give gifts to those who give to us, it's just traditon and there is no way to avoid having to participate. I've tried. |
| Offended Hmm | Dec 22nd. at 7:45:27 pm EST |
| sloopz (Bonnybridge, Scotland) | Age: 17 - Email |
|
Deep insside myself i am offended as during these times you are "required" to celebrate them even though it isnt the belief of some religions. It is unfair to make religions follow the christian religion as that is the main. If we sent a card to someone saying Blessed Yule people will dismiss it as they are rought up in the christain faith at school. I think it also unfair that I cant take the pagan relgous days of my work as they do not class it as a religion or belief. Well for yule i sat and meditated as i have been poor the last few days. |
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