What 'that holiday' means to me.

[rcfozzie]

I’ve had a lot of time to think lately, what with my back issues and not being able to do much, and I’ve been mulling on what that Dec. 25th holiday means to me. Having *finally* come to terms with and accepted myself as an atheist, I’ve had little desire to celebrate the christian holiday (even though I understand that it’s roots go far deeper

Comments

[fogbear]

Good for you, Randal! I got to that point earlier this year, and was able to just relax and enjoy Xmas rather than feeling resentful and resisting. In part it's because I have bad associations with this time of year (my dad died on December 28, my mom on February 6, but she was very ill at this time), but after more than 15 years, I needed to reclaim it for myself. I realized that it's about gathering with family and friends during the longest nights of the year. The fact is that the Xtians appropriated yet another pagan holiday for their own purposes, and you don't need to believe it.

Big solstice and new year hugs to you, fellow non-believer.

[rcfozzie]

Thanks, Jason.
I'm glad you were able to come to terms with your issues this year - and considering the importance of those issues - that had to have been a welcome feeling.
Big hugs to you, too.

[wooferstl]

i totally know how you feel. i think we all go through a resentful period especially how "unchristian" we as a group get treated by so-called "christians". But once we can get beyond all of that and just use it as the solstice and a reason to decorate and put up lights and reconnect and celebrate friends and family, then we're all the better. Glad you got there and glad you can rise above the madness.

Woofy holiday hugz!

[rcfozzie]

Exactly.
Thank you, Woofer. Hugs to you, too.

:o)

[huxbear]

Wow, man! What an awesome post -- and an even MORE awesom *awareness*... :o) [[snuggs]]

I got to the "Yeah, whatever...live and let live" place, re: Xmas this year without even realizing it... Even up to last year I was still having that knee-jerk "GOINK!" reaction (this emoticon is a "goink!" reaction --> @_o ) and usually INFORM the "offensive greeter" ( ;o) ) just where they'd gone wrong in life and what the REAL origins of the festivities (both historic *and* mytho-religious) and blah blah blah... ;o)

Yeah. I got "Wow, what a Grinch!" a lot. ;o)

This year I just didn't react and it hasn't bothered me at all for some reason... My "moodiness" and wanting to rip people a "new one" has been about hypocrisy and "fake'ness" this year... Still big issues for me... :oP

Maybe we're just growing up, eh? ;o)

Re: :o)

[rcfozzie]

Yup - reading your Oleta Adams post yesterday I got the feeling of "wait just a damn minute... I wanna celebrate something too!" @_o - All my thinking and stewing over this finally made sense and came together.

Thanks, buddy.

(did you see my 'goink'?)
LOL.

Re: :o)

[huxbear]

I did, indeed see your "goink"... ;o) I was tempted to say something salacious like "Not yet, but I hope to in the future... ;oP~~~ " but I thought that might ruin the seasonal spirit for anyone but me... ;o)

Have a great week, man!!! [[cuddles and tummyrubs]]

[greatbearmd]

I can get into the secular bits of the holiday, decorating the house, watching silly TV specials, and, most importantly, sharing our good fortune with others and treating ourselves to a nice dinner. There are "cultural" aspects of some religions that I can partake in, mostly food, of course, lol, but not have anything to do with the actual belief system. And no one will stop me from celebrating a particular holiday (or ignoring it, for that matter) in my own way.