Christmas Article: The Joys of Giftmas

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posted by katiemariie

I really enjoy the Christmas season. I love the movies that get played every year. I love the Christmas music radio station. I love the lights. I love the snow. I love the togetherness. I love the Claymation. I love wrapping presents. I love unwrapping presents. I love making cards and presents for my friends and my teachers. I love going to the mall and finding the perfect gift. I love going shopping with my friends. I love the classroom Christmas parties that are against school rules. I love going to Petsmart with my mom to get stocking stuffers for my cats. I love waking up early on Christmas morning and being too excited to go back to sleep because you know how much everyone is going to love their gifts. I love not eating breakfast and going straight to the candy in my stocking. I love reading the book my sister got me right away. I love watching my cats play in the discarded wrapping part.

However, I do not love Jesus. I don't hate Jesus. I am not a Christian and I have never met him so I have no reason to love him. I feel it is disrespectful to Christians for me to celebrate part of the holiday. This is why I have come up with Giftmas. Giftmas is Christmas for non-Christians. Giftmas is Christmas without church, the nativity, or Silent Night. Giftmas stands for Everything Christmas has come to stand for, but minus the religious stuff. There is also no egg nog for Giftmas, because egg nog is gross. Gift activities include Giftmas caroling, knitting Weasly sweaters, decorating a synthetic (aluminum optional) Giftmas tree, watching Giftmas movies, eating Giftmas cookies and pudding, dressing up your dog in a Giftmas sweater, going Giftmas shopping, getting drunk at the office Giftmas party, and spreading Giftmas cheer.

Celebrating Giftmas has opened the doors to celebrating many other religious holiday non-religiously. This year I hope to celebrate Funuhkah, Leaster, and Feed.

fishypup, irena83 and 12 others like this

blguerriero1 its this kinda "giftmas" attitude that makes me extremely sad

teenpop16 Yes, there is egg nog,yummy!

cressida Leaster? What are you combining with Easter? Maybe it could be Eggster or Chocoster.

katiemariie Less religious or least significant holiday to atheists. The last one playing off of Easter being named the most significant Christian Holiday.

Cinders Here here! I think Jesus was a swell dude. I... don't believe he's the son of God. I do, however, believe in the Christian spirit of charity and love, which is more often preached than it is practiced. However, on December 25th, no matter who you are, one who celebrates Christmas or one who celebrates Giftmas, you really understand that spirit of love and charity. I embrace this Christian tradition for the values it stands for, not for the religious event that just happens to fall on the Pagan Yule. However, this does not mean that I begrudge any religious Christian who celebrates the joys of the birth of Christ! More power to you! But in a sense, we're celebrating different holidays that fall on the same day. I'm celebrating Yule/Giftmas, you're celebrating Christmas.

Spotty_Vision21 Funukah, hm? I think I'll stick with my Hanukkah, but whatever makes you happy.

ImAnEasel @blguerriero1: No offence, but it makes me happy. What makes ME sad is Christians and Catholics moaning at Atheists, saying that they have no right to celebrate Christmas. Christmas, to Atheists, is about happiness, families being together, everyone being equal, the joy of opening presents and tucking into a Christmas dinner and much more. Not about the birth of a myth. But, for some reason, people seem to value the second meaning over the first meaning. But it doesn't annoy me as much as people saying happy holidays, instead of merry Christmas. THAT is what I REALLY cannot stand! It makes it sound like a cheesy summer, not a cheerful Christmas... I've digressed, haven't I? XD @Cinders: Your point about Christians' charity and love attitude being more preached than practised is very true! It made me smile.