Another humanist Christmas!

It’s quite a myth to suggest that humanists don’t enjoy this time of year. Many celebrate the holiday as a time for families, nostalgia and fun. There are so many people out there (about 17 million according to a recent survey) who are not religious, do not believe in the nativity story and yet are happy to participate in decorating trees, sending cards, buying presents, leaving a drink for Santa and a carrot for Rudolph.

Is this hypocritical? I have heard some Christians express such a view (and some humanists). However, in cultural terms we tend to follow and practice the customs that our parents and the previous generation enjoyed. We are accustomed to all of the festivities at this time of year and I grew up celebrating and having a wonderful time at Christmas but not acknowledging that it was a religious festival.

As a historical perspective this merging of festivals and beliefs occurred with the arrival of the Romans and the attempt to convert the indigenous population to their polytheistic religion – hence the references to Minerva at Bath and the surrounding local springs. When the great Empire converted to Christianity they again tried to ensure that all under their rule practiced the new religion. They were indeed successful but only in part; the pagans of the time refused to change their holy day Sunday, to the Christian Saturday. This is why we have Sunday as our ‘day of rest’ – it should actually be Saturday. They also could not change the practice of the winter solstice and winter celebrations and therefore the birth of Christ was deemed to be mid-winter to ensure a religious holiday and a time for sacred observance. This is also why Easter never falls on the same day, it follows the pagan ideals of having a feast day in accordance with phases of the moon. Easter dates are not Christian in origin but pagan.

Other cultural practices have also been equally influential in the winter celebrations. A huge number of the British population continue to celebrate, to meet families, send cards to people with whom we don’t want to lose touch, decorate trees, and to enjoy the days of eating more luxurious food. These particular customs are indeed inherited from the Victorians and not any religious teaching. Indeed members of the Jewish, Hindu, Muslim and other faiths take part in some of these customs because of the traditions of the society in which they live, especially if they have children in the education system. This does not mean that they lose their religious or ethnic beliefs or identity but are merely enjoying the activities of the season.

What is being celebrated therefore is the tradition itself; the cultural heritage and the nostalgia. For some this will be with a reference to religion but to others it will mean something quite different. That’s why this humanist believes that it is perfectly all right for anyone to celebrate at this time of year, and hopes that others enjoy it too.

Happy Christmas! Yuletide Greetings! Happy New Year! Winter Solstice Greetings! Seasons Greetings!

Have an enjoyable time and celebrate it in your own particular way.