I am a Humanist (atheist), and always happy to join in any celebration by any religion, where it involves, happiness, family and food.
Before I married, my parents would 'do' Xmas day in their small council flat, for my brother and his wife and children, me - and when I got engaged my fiancee and his siser & widowed Mum. Not sure how we squeezed round their small dining table!!! In the afternoon we would also be joined by various Aunts and uncles.
Following the first xmas after the birth of my first child my Dad solemnly presented me with the large dish for cooking a turkey and I was told, it was all too much for them and I would now be expected to do this at our house.
Did so over next twenty years, and as we eventually had six children it was an exciting time. 25th December was also my parents wedding anniversary, so double celebration. Children would have their father christmas sack of pressies during the night, but were not permitted to open the pressies under the tree until Nanna and G.pa had been brought to us (usually around 11 ish).
Would have various extended family join us in afternoon. Never felt the same for me after my Mum died.
This is the winter solstice, so most religions have customs and celebrations involved to ' bring back the sun'.
My mum was a practicing Jew, my Dad was an athiest jew!!! <Mum always insisted we could not switch on the lights on the xmas tree until the Hanukah candles had burned out (where these coincided with xmas, which it often does).
so many of what are thought off as Christian beliefs come from much earlier like Saturnalia, etc. Anyway, I thought that research had shown that Joshua (jesus) was probably born in Spring, not mid-winter!!! Romans were good at adapting their own religious practices to those of conquered peoples.
