Lizard Posted October 3, 2005 Share Posted October 3, 2005 Today at work, my ladies were checking out the paid holidays posting. Along with the usual Labor Day and other holidays that are paid, they saw "Winter Break"..which started a very brief conversation, something like this: "Winter break? What happened to Christmas?" "Well, they had to take "God" out of it." "No, not "God." My response: "Christmas is viewed as a Christian holiday, so they removed that." "But why? Most people are Christians." My response: "I know I am!" My response: "Not everyone is "christian." We have many muslims, hindus and atheists too." "But still..it was ALWAYS "Christmas." Uhm..ok..it didn't go too much further than that. We all wanted to go home. Who knows if this will open a door to further talks. Gotta be careful at work..being the manager and all... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pandora Posted October 3, 2005 Share Posted October 3, 2005 LOL Since you are the manager, they can stick it. You're in charge! I haven't heard it referred to Christmas Break by any organization or school since elementary school. Maybe people refer to it as Christmas break in their families and such, but why are they surprised that it is called Winter Break these days? People are strange... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lizard Posted October 3, 2005 Author Share Posted October 3, 2005 Its only been the last couple of years that they made the change. I think in other schools, they don't have the list posted outside of the manager's office, so they may not have ever noticed it before. Of course, I'm gonna decorate for everything...just because I like to I'll include everyone..well..they may think it odd if I put "Happy Solstice" up..hmm..I just might do it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest aexapo Posted October 3, 2005 Share Posted October 3, 2005 I'm kinda anti-PC, and "Christmas" has never bothered me. I've always enjoyed Christmas trees, christmas food, and nice excuse to send (and get) presents. And, listening to Bing Crosby singing, "Oh, the weather outside is frightful . . . " just takes me back to a different time. The above is what Christmas meant to me growing up -- the moments when mom would pull us to the side to read "the REAL Christmas story" always seemed like a boring chore -- let's just jump to the presents! And so, this is what I keep, plus the boring title -- which means nothing to me since we often use titles and phrases for things and activities that have nothing to do with what we're doing (such is the English language), you know, those phrases that George Carlin makes a living making fun of. Plus, I also secretly enjoy the fact that my workplace Christian co-workers are surprised that I actually do the whole Christmas thing at home -- I guess they're secretly looking for an excuse to ask me to work for them so they can share Jesus with their toddlers. Naaaaaa. Now, I don't raise my hands to heaven and sing, "Noel" -- but this atheist loooooooves Christmas: the Frosty the Snowman, Rudolf the Rednose reindeer, and the Santa Claus is coming to town version. The Christians can keep the "Angels we have heard on High" one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lizard Posted October 4, 2005 Author Share Posted October 4, 2005 Yup..that's what Christmas was to us growing up too..sans the "real story"..never heard that at home, though mom would sing O Holy Night, slightly off key..and usually plastered.. Frosty, Rudolph..a couple of my faves..though I do like all the Scrooge movies too. Love the idea of "what goes around, comes around." Love the tree and pretty lights..snowmen every where. Cool thing is, my new principal has said "Yes" to the Christmas stuff..which of course cannot include nativity scenes..but can include the reindeer and Santas and stuff.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike D Posted October 4, 2005 Share Posted October 4, 2005 Christmas is one of those things that doesn't bother me as an atheist, I say leave it alone. I like Christmas, in fact it's actually one of my favorite times of the year. I personally don't see it as a religious or Christian holiday (and I am not sure I ever did even when I was a Christian), as much as an American holiday. I mean really, isn't that really what it is? Oh I know, you get a few diehards who tell us not to get too caught up in the commercialism and remember the "reason for the season", but when it comes right down to it, how many people (Christians included) really take that to heart? IMO not many, aside from maybe the few who make the trek to church on Christmas morning. I would say for the majority of America, Christmas is about shopping, buying, traveling, spending quality time with kids and family, dysfuncational family get-togethers, visiting old friends, drinking, football and gorging yourself on great food. And that's what makes it great. Maybe it's just because I have alot of good memories from the past during Christmas, but I don't mind any of it, even down to cheesy manger scenes on public property.... it's part of the charm! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fweethawt Posted October 4, 2005 Share Posted October 4, 2005 Call it Christmas, call it X-mas, call it Solstice, but I call it -- VACATION! I usually try to save two weeks of my vacation time for the end of the year. And now that I think about it, I have exactly two weeks left. And since you were nice enough to post this little reminder for me, Lizard, I think that I'll schedule it shortly. Ever since the kids were born, I've always made it a point to be home around the holidays. Especially christmas and new years day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dead_hobbit Posted October 4, 2005 Share Posted October 4, 2005 I think the whole "Winter Break" naming in order to be PC is a bunch of (liberal) crapola. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lizard Posted October 4, 2005 Author Share Posted October 4, 2005 Call it Christmas, call it X-mas, call it Solstice, but I call it -- VACATION! I usually try to save two weeks of my vacation time for the end of the year. And now that I think about it, I have exactly two weeks left. And since you were nice enough to post this little reminder for me, Lizard, I think that I'll schedule it shortly. Ever since the kids were born, I've always made it a point to be home around the holidays. Especially christmas and new years day. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> We're off during that time too, Fwee..I love it! Glad I could help to remind you about this "most wonderful time of..the year!" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fweethawt Posted October 5, 2005 Share Posted October 5, 2005 We're off during that time too, Fwee..I love it! Glad I could help to remind you about this "most wonderful time of..the year!" It is the most wonderful time of the year. It's eat, drink, and be merry time! Try that for two weeks, baybah!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Asimov Posted October 5, 2005 Share Posted October 5, 2005 I think the whole "Winter Break" naming in order to be PC is a bunch of (liberal) crapola. Why do you put that in brackets? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dead_hobbit Posted October 5, 2005 Share Posted October 5, 2005 Why do you put that in brackets? <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I was making a little joke. But seriously, this is another example of "tolerance" run amok. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Asimov Posted October 5, 2005 Share Posted October 5, 2005 I was making a little joke.But seriously, this is another example of "tolerance" run amok. IMO, tolerance does not mean "nice". Tolerance means you don't kill people for being dumb...er...different. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amethyst Posted October 5, 2005 Share Posted October 5, 2005 I haven't heard it referred to Christmas Break by any organization or school since elementary school. Maybe people refer to it as Christmas break in their families and such, but why are they surprised that it is called Winter Break these days? People are strange... IIRC, my company just calls it a "holiday break." I don't care if you want to call it Christmas, Solstice, winter break, or whatever. To me, it's a good excuse to spend time with my parents and grandma, get a few days off from work, and eat good food. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dead_hobbit Posted October 6, 2005 Share Posted October 6, 2005 IMO, tolerance does not mean "nice". Tolerance means you don't kill people for being dumb...er...different. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I agree that is how tolerance *should* be. But recent events (ban those pigs! blasphemous ice cream! etc.) prove that some haven't quite grasped that idea. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Neil Posted October 6, 2005 Share Posted October 6, 2005 I've never really minded ever calling it "Christmas break". To me, Christmas is so commercialized and generic that it bearly resembles anything even remotely Christian. Even I celebrate Christmas. I like exchanging gifts and spending time with the family. I like the festivities and the decorations. The irony of Christmas is that the Christians have it all wrong anyway, so I really love it every time one of them asks me, "How can an atheist celebrate Christmas?" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ouroboros Posted October 6, 2005 Share Posted October 6, 2005 It is funny that Christmas is more about Santa Claus then Jesus anyway, so the question is "How can a Christian celebrate Christmas?" And if you take into the account of all the lights, christmas tree, all the food etc. All of that is from pagan traditions and not from Christian tradition. So what we really celebrate at X-mas is winter soltice, and the renewal of the year. We're celebrating that the Day won of the Night, and the days will become longer again. That's the reason why the picked Jesus birthday at that time, because pagans already celebrated "rebirth". When else could Jesus have been born, except on the pagan rebirth celebration. Proves that God is connected to pagan traditions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest aexapo Posted October 6, 2005 Share Posted October 6, 2005 The irony of Christmas is that the Christians have it all wrong anyway, so I really love it every time one of them asks me, "How can an atheist celebrate Christmas?" <{POST_SNAPBACK}> How to answer the idiots, "By good old materialistic over-indulgence for me and those I hold dear -- just like the other 95% of Americans who aren't going to spend that day (or the night before) flagellating themselves before an altar to prove how much they love Jesus -- even if they do." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vixentrox Posted October 6, 2005 Share Posted October 6, 2005 In the military we had Holiday parties. Christmas is so secularized anyway that it's barelly even a religious holiday any more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amethyst Posted October 7, 2005 Share Posted October 7, 2005 In the military we had Holiday parties. Christmas is so secularized anyway that it's barelly even a religious holiday any more. Good point. To me, the "call it Christmas" hoopla is all about people trying to grasp onto something that is dying anyway. They just don't want to let it go, so it probably won't fade away until they do. In 3 or 4 more generations, nobody will remember what it was about anyway, and Christianity will only be something that really old people believe in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HadouKen24 Posted October 7, 2005 Share Posted October 7, 2005 Eh... people have proclaimed the death of Christianity before. It was practically the theme song of the 19th century in Europe. It's still around. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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