What Christmas Means to This Atheist
Yes- I call it Christmas with a capital C
I write this snuggled next to my sleeping dog, a heating pad warming my toes, and a fresh Christmas tree lit with colorful lights and ornaments reflecting memories of the past back at me. In the coming weeks, carefully selected and wrapped gifts will appear underneath. We will take the kids to visit Santa, encourage them to make wish lists, visit the light show at the botanical gardens, drink too much hot cocoa, and bake too many cookies. We will drive through neighborhoods to ooh and ah over the bright adornments of houses and neighbors trying to outdo each other.
In short, we will do all the normal Christmas things.
We will not attend a midnight mass or a Christmas Eve church service. We won’t be retelling the nativity to our kids, though we will probably watch a Charlie Brown Christmas, so they will hear the tale regardless. We will likely field questions about all the manger displays, explaining the significance of Christianity to many of our friends and family, even though it is not a belief that we share.
We will teach our kids to be respectful of others and careful with their beliefs, especially as they figure out this crazy world for themselves. We will teach them to honor traditions and appreciate the myths surrounding the holidays, explaining that to some, these myths are real and important. It will be a fine line to walk- being raised by atheists can easily be seen as “other,” and loudly proclaiming a lack of faith can still be dangerous in certain circles.
We will extol the virtues of not getting hung up on terminology. To accept a Merry Christmas or a Happy Holidays in the spirit in which it is given- a greeting during this festive season and not a political or spiritual attack.
We will remind our kids that not everyone celebrates Christmas. That there are countless different religions and celebrations in this big, diverse world, and to listen and look out for those who are overwhelmed by the enormity of these celebrations.
Our atheism is not Atheism. We are not condemning those who believe. We do not want to impose our point of view or morals on others. We simply lack faith in one more god than most people- at least here in the United States, where monotheism is the norm. It is not talked about on a daily basis in our household. We live our lives just like everyone else and hope to continue to do so.
Christmas, to us, is full of magic. It is a celebration of the innocence of childhood when all things are still possible, when magic is real, and fairy tales are truth. It is about showing our children the world as it could be- a world full of joy, love, and caring for those who need it the most.
It is honoring traditions passed down through the generations by baking cookies and pizzelles. Enjoying a homemade meal on Christmas Eve of spaghetti and Grandma Gum’s marinara or the green chili perfected after living for a few years in Pueblo. It’s spending Christmas day sipping wine and nibbling on cheese plates and veggie platters, wading through the discarded wrapping paper. And it’s letting the dog and cats feast on bits of turkey and cheese, welcoming them into our traditions like the family members they are.
It is preparing for the coming winter with a celebration of nature in the guise of trees and garlands. And being grateful to be alive at such a time that we don’t have to worry about freezing or starving and that these preparations are for show and for fun.
Above all else, Christmas is about love for us. It’s a time to shower each other with affection, experiences, and — yes- gifts. It’s a time to remember that the world is not always fair, but that we should not become jaded and instead strive to help our fellow humans- no matter their creed, color, or any other distinguishing factor.
From this atheist to anyone reading, may your season be filled with peace and love.
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