12.04.2009 – I’m an atheist…and I like Christmas!

There! I said it! And I’m not at all upset about it. I do like Christmas, and it doesn’t really matter why. Though, this wouldn’t be much of a blog entry if I didn’t go into it anyway would it? So here goes. 

It’s probably just because of cultural reasons that I feel this way. I was raised with the sights, sounds, and smells of the Christian holiday, and every December, I almost literally crave all of those things. It’s the ‘warmth’ of the season. The family get togethers that happen so infrequently throughout the year. The seasonal specific foods. And the many other things that go on this time of year that really separate it from all other times. 

I realize that most of those things are just aesthetic. But for me, I don’t need the supernatural elements that the ‘origins’ of this season claim, for me to be able to enjoy, embrace, and celebrate this time of year. Yeah, I could call it a Solstice Celebration or something of that sort. But then, it seems to lose that cultural history that makes Christmastime a unique part of who I am. Those things are a PART of me, whether I believe the religious elements or not. 

So, I will probably be saying a lot of ‘Merry Christmases’ again this year, and not feeling the least bit conflicted about it.