Any other religions celebrating Christmas??

[tina3747]

Just curious???

Was wondering if any families do out of it being a tradition rather than seeing the religious beliefs behind it?
I'm not religious but obviously I still celebrate it just because I do. I have Jewish friends that have a christmas dinner but don't give presents to one another. Also my sons friends one being sihk the other Muslim were doing secret santa at school were both involved and had told Conor what they were getting for Christmas.
Suppose the media hype isn't always right that they want to cut down our christams trees ha!!!
Around sainsburys this morning at 6am (yes 6am!) there were Indian folks all wearing Santa hats and funnily enough quite cheery (probably laughing at us idiots spending hundreds of pounds on one day of the year!)
My friends from being young were JW's and never celebrated as children bit do now.

hope no one sees this as offensive ?! Really am quite curious!

 

[caz81]

Just curious???

Was wondering if any families do out of it being a tradition rather than seeing the religious beliefs behind it?
I'm not religious but obviously I still celebrate it just because I do. I have Jewish friends that have a christmas dinner but don't give presents to one another. Also my sons friends one being sihk the other Muslim were doing secret santa at school were both involved and had told Conor what they were getting for Christmas.
Suppose the media hype isn't always right that they want to cut down our christams trees ha!!!
Around sainsburys this morning at 6am (yes 6am!) there were Indian folks all wearing Santa hats and funnily enough quite cheery (probably laughing at us idiots spending hundreds of pounds on one day of the year!)
My friends from being young were JW's and never celebrated as children bit do now.

hope no one sees this as offensive ?! Really am quite curious!

I find the bit in bold quite odd. How do you know the Indian people were not Christian?! My husband is Indian and Christian and so are all his family. There are a very large amount of Indians who are also Christians (especially in the South of India). Someones race does not dictate their religion

 

[tina3747]

Sorry!!! Am assuming then that one was sihk as he has a Santa hat over his turban. It kept falling off !!
Really meant as a light hearted thread through curiousity!

 

[caz81]

Sorry!!! Am assuming then that one was sihk as he has a Santa hat over his turban. It kept falling off !!
Really meant as a light hearted thread through curiousity!

Thats ok! I think a lot of people dont realise quite how large the Christian community is within the Indian population I have to say I would have liked to see the guy with the santa hat over his turban that must have been quite funny!

 

[tina3747]

Sorry!!! Am assuming then that one was sihk as he has a Santa hat over his turban. It kept falling off !!
Really meant as a light hearted thread through curiousity!

Thats ok! I think a lot of people dont realise quite how large the Christian community is within the Indian population I have to say I would have liked to see the guy with the santa hat over his turban that must have been quite funny!

It was quite funny!! Another guy had snow sprayed his beard too!

Also, Im an assuming person and asking questions is better than being ignorant....
Actually... I'm just nosey!!!

 

[caz81]

Sorry!!! Am assuming then that one was sihk as he has a Santa hat over his turban. It kept falling off !!
Really meant as a light hearted thread through curiousity!

Thats ok! I think a lot of people dont realise quite how large the Christian community is within the Indian population I have to say I would have liked to see the guy with the santa hat over his turban that must have been quite funny!

It was quite funny!! Another guy had snow sprayed his beard too!

Also, Im an assuming person and asking questions is better than being ignorant....
Actually... I'm just nosey!!!

haha I think its an interesting topic and will be interested to hear if other religions do celebrate Christmas! O/t but in India there is a common view that all British people are devout Christians, my FIL thanked me for bringing Christianity to India

 

[EllaAndLyla]

We aren't religious but celebrate christmas, more as a family celebration together than anything else. For us it isn't about the presents or food, its more the family connection as many members of our family from Italy come and join us, my uncle has flown 18 hours from Indonesia this year to join us and my auntie usually comes from Holland.

I suppose it depends on the family rather than the religion. Like in Russia, christmas was banned after the 1917 revolution and it wasn't until 1992 that it was re-considered, so for example one Russian family may have decided that they were to carry on without celebration whereas another family living on the same road might be all for it I know it's not religion but you get my drift lol

 

[smokey]

I have a fair few jewish and muslim friends that do "celebrate" christmas in a way, they decorate their homes and give presents and take part in most of the festivities.
To me christmas (how its done these days with comercialism) isnt anything to do with religion.
Obviously there is the side of christmas that they dont observe such as the religious side with midnight mass and baby jesus and such but when it comes to putting on silly santa hats they are there along with the rest of us

 

[summer rain]

The Asians you saw could have been Pakistani also; as there is a large Pakistani Christian community. You haven't offended me but just because someone doesn't personally celebrate Christmas at all; doesn't mean they want to chop down all the christmas trees or ruin Christmas for everyone else-most of the stories about 'winterval' or 'not doing Christmas things in order not to offend [insert religious minority here-but its usually Muslims 9 out of 10 times] are either made up or its some pen pushing jobsworth at the council who assumes Christmas stuff will offend Muslims because of their own prejudices and stereotypes about them. Most Muslims and Jews I know do not celebrate Christmas at all; many sects of Christianity don't celebrate Christmas either or celebrate it in a completely different way to how it is typically celebrated in the UK (and often on a different day as well-for many traditional Orthodox Christians January 6th or 7th is Christmas day). We used to know a Greek orthodox family and they did very little on their Christmas; but Easter was a huge celebration. Yet they have nothing against Christmas whatsoever. I think there is far more to integrating into society than celebrating one day a year or not. xx

 

[ShanandBoc]

As a Jehovahs Witness and christian i do not celebrate christmas as its non biblical Nor do i celebrate Easter but we do celebrate Jesus death ( as instructed in the bible) on Nisan 14....usually this falls the week before or after Easter long weekend

I have detailed reasons here

https://www.babyandbump.com/general-chatter/833343-o-t-christmas-santa-bible.html

 

[tina3747]

The Asians you saw could have been Pakistani also; as there is a large Pakistani Christian community. You haven't offended me but just because someone doesn't personally celebrate Christmas at all; doesn't mean they want to chop down all the christmas trees or ruin Christmas for everyone else-most of the stories about 'winterval' or 'not doing Christmas things in order not to offend [insert religious minority here-but its usually Muslims 9 out of 10 times] are either made up or its some pen pushing jobsworth at the council who assumes Christmas stuff will offend Muslims because of their own prejudices and stereotypes about them. Most Muslims and Jews I know do not celebrate Christmas at all; many sects of Christianity don't celebrate Christmas either or celebrate it in a completely different way to how it is typically celebrated in the UK (and often on a different day as well-for many traditional Orthodox Christians January 6th or 7th is Christmas day). We used to know a Greek orthodox family and they did very little on their Christmas; but Easter was a huge celebration. Yet they have nothing against Christmas whatsoever. I think there is far more to integrating into society than celebrating one day a year or not. xx

Yeah that's what I meant about the xhrismas tree thing, it's very easy to assume through media hype Asian folks all want to chop them down because that's what they tell you!! It's always x council saying they don't want to offend not x from the Hindu/sihk/mulslim community saying "were offended"!! I've never met or spoke to any person of any non Christian religion that has been offended and the people I spoke of earlier just proves that they don't! I wasn't incinuating you have to wear a Santa hat and sung jingle bells to prove you don't give a toss ha!!
My curiosity is not really about those who don't because of thier religion because obviosly important to them to not celebrate the religious side of it. Christmas is so commercial now that I suppose the majority that do celebrate on such a big scale are not religious in the first place!

 

[tina3747]

As a Jehovahs Witness and christian i do not celebrate christmas as its non biblical Nor do i celebrate Easter but we do celebrate Jesus death ( as instructed in the bible) on Nisan 14....usually this falls the week before or after Easter long weekend

I have detailed reasons here

https://www.babyandbump.com/general-chatter/833343-o-t-christmas-santa-bible.html

My friends never celebrated whilst we were young, or birthdays obviously but they decided to not carry on with the religion as they grew older and left home. Coincidently, thier dad who was devout jw at one stage left too which amazes me as he really loved being jw from what I remember.
So in your celebrations, do you have lots of food , give presents or is it more spending time with fellow jw within kingdom hall?

 

[ShanandBoc]

As a Jehovahs Witness and christian i do not celebrate christmas as its non biblical Nor do i celebrate Easter but we do celebrate Jesus death ( as instructed in the bible) on Nisan 14....usually this falls the week before or after Easter long weekend

I have detailed reasons here

https://www.babyandbump.com/general-chatter/833343-o-t-christmas-santa-bible.html

My friends never celebrated whilst we were young, or birthdays obviously but they decided to not carry on with the religion as they grew older and left home. Coincidently, thier dad who was devout jw at one stage left too which amazes me as he really loved being jw from what I remember.
So in your celebrations, do you have lots of food , give presents or is it more spending time with fellow jw within kingdom hall?

Well we celebrate being together with family and friends, give gifts etc at any time of the year but if you are asking how do we celebrate Easter we commemorate it exactly as the bible instructs us to do by passing unleavened bread and wine and remembering what Jesus death means and that it made way for the only hope for mankind. The public are welcome as they are to any of our meetings, in fact we go around giving out invitations in the lead up to the Easter period

As far as Christmas goes, as its a public holiday and most are off work etc we usually get together for a BBQ, go on holiday as most do. I usually catch up with mt non JW family on boxing day for lunch. We just dont do any of the christmassy things if that makes sense lol and no we dont spend the day at the kingdom hall, the kingdom hall is for worship, weddings, the yearly memorials (jesus death)

 

[marley2580]

I'm atheist and OH is agnostic and we celebrate christmas. It's just a good excuse for getting together and exchanging presents etc.

 

[EstelSeren]

I'm Norse pagan and OH is agnostic. We celebrate during the Christmas period as yuletide covers the same dates. Norse tradition includes celebrating with gatherings, feasting and presents for 12 days (from 21st December until New Years) but, as that could get rather expensive, we celebrate on December 25th the secular version of Christmas, although we also mark the start of the period (solstice) and New Years at the end! Having the major celebration on 25th December is also easier as it's the social norm and is how we've always done it when we were children!

Beca :wave:

 

[smelly07]

the whole christmas and poppies and england flags..etc etc.......all those rumors and stories are probably started but race hate groups...minorities.......and if things have become to PC thats no ones fault but the people who run this country.
Most people i know from different religious backgrounds will celebrate the day somewhat..(not including any JW i know though)..........i dont celebrate christmas due to the religous background its totally down to giving and spending time with family which i guess people of other religous backgrounds see it as to.

 

[OmarsMum]

I'm Muslim & I live in a Muslim country, but we have Christmas trees up in all malls & public areas those days. All shops are covered with red for almost a month. I didnt see any Muslims offended or complaining. In fact many practicing Muslims (including us) take their kids to see Santa in the mall & take pictures.

It's not somthing new, I'm 33 yrs, & I still remember my parents taking us to see Santa 30 years ago. I still have the pics.

I took Omar to see the trees & Santa when he was 1 month old, & last year, & I'm planning to take him on Sunday to see Santa & then we're planning to dine out.

When he goes to school he will celebrate with other kids during Christmas.

 

[Midnight_Fairy]

My friend is a JW and celebrates xmas too

 

[sophxx]

My oh is a Muslim we celebrate Christmas as a nice family time we rake lo to see Santa and exchange gifts and celebrate with our family. Just like we do at eid. I couldn't imagine us not celebrating Christmas x

 

[Becci_Boo86]

I'm a JW and i dont celebrate xmas but my brother and younger sister do as they arent. so we respect them and we still come up to visit my parents and my sister will have her tree up in her room. but she wont push anything on us she respects us and we respect her and my bro and his family too xx