Atheist Christmas

This essay from Alex Charlton, 18 years old, argues that Christmas can be celebrated by believer and non-believer alike in the spirit of giving and charity.

Christmas is fast approaching, and many people around the world will be wondering what they should take from it, and why they celebrate it. Given that Christians only make up a third of the world’s population, I would expect that most of the people who celebrate Christmas aren’t Christians. Should this be so?

For Christians, Christmas is a time to remember the birth of Jesus Christ, and his alleged sacrifice to the world. Christmas also has pre-Christian roots, and is celebrated on the 25th of December because it corresponds with the pagan winter solstice. It’s easy to see why different cultures have Winter festivals. In agricultural societies, Autumn heralded a time to harvest the crops that had been toiled over through Spring and Summer, and as Winter drew in, and the days got shorter, lights and decorations made the dark nights cheerful, and food kept away the cold.

But is there anything wrong with non-Christians celebrating Christmas? It might be suggested that we should celebrate some other, more secular holiday, such as Yule, or Winterval. However, Christmas is part of the rich tapestry of our culture. It’s often pointed out by the religious that western culture was built on Christian values, who then object that Christmas is being hijacked by secularists. The people who think that Christmas is being hijacked don’t seem to consider that you can have the giving, the goodwill, and the celebration without the supernatural woo. Indeed, Christmas has been largely divorced from Christianity, due to the widespread secularisation of the developed world.

Frankly, we should recognise religious traditions, not because they are true or sacred, but because they remind us of where we have come from, and how far we’ve progressed, since the first time a family huddled together around a fire and told each other heart warming stories to stave off the harsh Winter weather. We should be allowed enjoy the beauty of Christmas, just as we can enjoy the beauty of religiously inspired works of art. The beauty is real, even if the object of inspiration is not.

For non-Christians, Christmas is about giving: giving your time and love to your family and friends, giving to the less fortunate, and giving cheer for the wonderful life you have! Spare a thought for all those people who are worse off than you, and consider how you could help them in some small way. Over the centuries, Christmas has become something more than a celebration of Christianity; it has become a more inclusive symbol of charity, and camaraderie, which is why there’s nothing wrong with rationally celebrating Christmas, or with taking the best from Christmas and applying it to life.

Another quandary that freethinking parents have is whether they should lie to their children about Father Christmas. Of course, this is a decision people have to make for themselves, but I don’t see much wrong with playing along. In the long run, by lying to your children or siblings about Father Christmas, you’re teaching them several valuable lessons: don’t take everything people tell you on face value, and remember what it’s like to be a true believer, how you criticize evidence against your beliefs but hold onto dubious evidence that supports them. Mystical thinking is often the norm in society, and people need to be taught how to discern and debunk it.

There is an all too familiar view of atheists as nihilistic, or depressive, or selfish, and celebrating Christmas may be a way to counter such stereotypes. The fact that God doesn’t exist doesn’t mean that life isn’t worth living, or worth living morally. If this were the case, then would atheists take the time to buy gifts, and show their affection for their loved ones? No. The fact that atheists want to celebrate Christmas should challenge the accusations leveled at atheists.

In summary, there’s nothing wrong with celebrating Christmas as a non-Christian, or even as an atheist, not just because Christmas is a pretty secular holiday anyway, but also because Christmas is founded on principles that we can all celebrate: peace on Earth and goodwill to all. The beauty of Christmas is something we can all enjoy. Further, it isn’t inconsistent for freethinking parents to use the Father Christmas myth to teach their children the importance of rational thought and criticism. Finally, the interest that atheists have in Christmas falsifies common atheist stereotypes, and this should help raise the consciousness of those who think that atheism presents a gloomy view of the world.

I hope that this essay has helped young freethinkers to better understand the role of Christmas for unbelievers, and challenged the popular notion that Christmas is the preserve of Christians. To the readers at Young Freethought, may I wish you all a merry Christmas, and a happy New Year.

The views expressed in this article are those of the author and don't necessarily reflect the views of Young Freethought's editors.