How many Non-Christians Celebrate Xmas?

Well who is "they"? Does "they" mean non-Christians?
 
In your church, in your home, with your family, on your lawn, on your car's bumper, these are all appropriate places for the religious display of your choosing. Heck if a store really feels strongly about wishing everyone who enters regardless of religion a merry celebration of the birth of the diety of a single religion, that's fine, it's their business, and I just won't shop there, which is my business. But public schools and publicly-owned property belong to me too. And I do not approve of religious displays of any kind on them. Just because once upon a time in this country minorities were not respected and were marginalized doesn't mean that needs to continue. I can't boycott my own government like I would a store.

or schools are not allowed to have nice Christmas pagents anymore...and all of the many new trends that are starting to replace the old Christmas trends they are taking away our Christmas Holiday from us Christians
Perhaps the removal of some of the "publicness" of Xmas isn't so horrible? Just another way to look at it...not as an attack but as a blessing in disguise. Wouldn't Xmas be better....if LESS frenzy, media and retail attention, were paid to it? Wouldn't that force people to actually think about the "true meaning"?
 
Aside from that,
I personally could care less what pageant my daughter does at school...in fact I'd be annoyed at having to explain the birth of Jesus to her right now because I'd prefer to do that if and when "I" feel she's ready to truly understand and grasp the concept of religion and myth and all that. And right alongside I'll be explaining about Buddha and Allah and all the rest, as much as I know [] My daughter attends a publicly funded..secular school attended by Muslims, Buddhists, Jewish children, and those are just the religions I know of for sure lol! I should make the call when it comes to religious education...not the school.

I went to public school as a kid.
My kids went to Catholic grade school and then public high schools. 
I did not get religion in school...but yet we had Christmas Plays, skits etc. It was called Christmas season, and we sang things like OH CHRISTMAS TREE...nothing that was religious.  That I got in church.
That is the same with my kids...but they went thru grade school and got religion classes there. So I agree that they should not teach religion in school.
THAT SAID,,,its the Christmas Season that is celebrated,,,or WAS celebrated.  Now we are taking Christ out of it.   Okay that make you happy and that makes me not happy.   So be it.

ORIGINAL: cakana

I do take offense in people trying to take Christmas away from us Christians though. I absolutely HATE the fact that many places are taking the name of Christmas OUT of the holiday greeting.

My sentiments exactly Dyan []

Well, don't look at it as excluding Christmas, maybe take a different perspective.  Consider that its including all the other holidays.  I think thats a much more constructive, positive way to look at the whole "seasons greetings, happy holidays'' phenomenon, which I happen to agree whole heartedly with...

In terms of whether or not there should be christmas celebrations, plays, decorations, tress, etc, in schools, this is my take...

I teach English as a second language to immigrant children, and children of immigrants.  I try to incorporate a multicultural education into my teaching as best I can with the demands of the administration and the curriculum.  I do not decorate my classroom with christmas things, but I do not feel deprived because of this.  Instead, I would decorate with winter type things.

In terms of teaching/celebrating... I plan to teach my children about all of the holidays in December, including but not limited to Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, The New Year, Three kings day, etc.  as I will teach/have taught about Ramadan, Chinese New Year, Id al-fitr.  I tend to breeze over the religious mentionings, as that is not my place nor my interest to teach them, and instead, focus on the cultural aspects.  My children add a lot of richness to our studies, and deserve to learn about the cultures of each other, and the culture of their new country.  Never would I push a celebration or holiday upon them, or insist that they participate, or practice such a thing at home.  They learn about it because its what they love, learning about and being exposed to other cultures.  For us, it has little to do with religion, and everything to do with diversity of culture, belief and celebration.

**ETA:  My school has Santa Claus come every year and hand out gifts to every child (and we have a very diverse population, literally children from all corners of the world, many new arrivals to the country....).  Is it nice that every child receives something special?  Sure.  Should it be done in a more neutral way?  Maybe...  Is it harmful?  Im not entirely sure.  Do I agree with it 100%?  no.

Right...we always are free to make choices,...esp in how we do or do not, allow the social whims or pressures of society...to affect our daily mood.

 I tend to breeze over the religious mentionings, as that is not my place nor my interest to teach them, and instead, focus on the cultural aspects.  My children add a lot of richness to our studies, and deserve to learn about the cultures of each other, and the culture of their new country.  Never would I push a celebration or holiday upon them, or insist that they participate, or practice such a thing at home.  They learn about it because its what they love, learning about and being exposed to other cultures.  For us, it has little to do with religion, and everything to do with diversity of culture, belief and celebration.

I agree to this whole heartedly. In a way that is what it was for me in my school since it was public school. I suppose back then most of us were from the same culture,,,but different religions.  No one took offense to any of it..they had fun and enjoyed the love and sentiment.  Of course it was different with my kids as they went to private schools. 
But what I am trying to say I guess is taking the word Christ OUT of this holdiay.
It IS and always has been  Christmas.  We sing Christmas carols. We put up a Christmas tree. We purchase Christmas presents and send Christmas cards.  It is the Christmas season. There is so much more.  So why can't it be called what it always was???   Why do we NOW have to change the name to Holiday Tree? Holiday carols?  Holiday presents etc etc. etc.?   

a little late to this topic, but....
 
I am what you can consider half jewish - my mother was jewish and my father Irish Catholic (both deceased).  I was raised Jewish, although a more cultural Jew rather than religious.  But bottome line is I was never batpized and consider myself Jewish.  My husband is Catholic.  We do celebrate Christmas, mostly the commercial aspect of it though, with the tree, all the decorations, gift exchange, big Christmas Eve and Christmas dinner with the in-laws etc...  Part of me sometimes resents the pressure to get involved in all of this every year, but part of me enjoys it. 
 
As far as the recent issues that have come up with removing Christmas from schools, stores etc.., I am not sure why people care so much.  No one is stopping anyone from practicing anything in their homes, church or whatever.And who cares whether the cashier at Walmart greets you with Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays. For those who this makes Christmas less meaningful, they are missing out on the whole point of Christmas which has nothing to do with Walmart or shopping or spending money!

ORIGINAL: houndlove

Well who is "they"? Does "they" mean non-Christians?

In your church, in your home, with your family, on your lawn, on your car's bumper, these are all appropriate places for the religious display of your choosing. Heck if a store really feels strongly about wishing everyone who enters regardless of religion a merry celebration of the birth of the diety of a single religion, that's fine, it's their business, and I just won't shop there, which is my business.

 
Why not?  Does the fact that a store says "Merry Christmas" make you any less Buddist?
 
I actually like displays of religons of all kinds.  Religon seems to be a taboo topic in many areas of our society, and it shouldn't be.  There should be more classes in public schools dealing with different religons so that students have a greater understanding of world religons when they leave HS.  Religon is a huge part of many cultures and is definately intermingled with current events.  One of my favorite classes in college was "Philosophies of Eastern Religion."  I loved it.  We studied Hinduism, Buddism, and Taoism under a Hindu prof.  I wish we had some kind of introduction to those faiths in HS.

Why not?  Does the fact that a store says "Merry Christmas" make you any less Buddist?

 
I agree with this thought!  I dont know much about most of these religions...and what their holiday greeting might be IF any...except I have been wished "Happy Hanukah" more then once...and smiled and said "thank you!" It was nice that they wished me any  nice greeting that they felt happy to wish people.  Its a nice custom!  To take offense is sad!
Its becoming a sad world.

Plus, if you think about it, there are religious secs that do not celibrate ANY holidays, not even birthdays.  Therefore, even saying "Happy Holidays" could offend them.  I mean, how far should this be taken?

well, i am officially muslim, but me and my family always celebrate christmas. for me it is not so much a religious holiday though as it is a family holiday. my mom's birthday being on christmas eve of course helps with that []
 
as for the whole christmas vs holiday thing. i am an outsider to this phenomenon. but i really think it doesnt matter much. i wouldnt take offence either way. i think this is just a shift in the culture of christianity. there are aspects about christmas that aren't only not christian but are in fact "pagan" (not in the devil worship sense...) even celebrating the birth of christ on the 25th is not christian at all. the 25th december was a roman holiday. not a christian one. so all in all i just think that all those little things about christmas - the christmas tree, the christmas cards etc.- are just things we are used to and would like to keep. they dont really have much to do with the ACTUAL meaning of christmas.
 
ok, now being neither american nor christian i feel i have said enough about that.
with that sentiment:
merry christmas everyone (or whatever you want to call it [])

What's wrong with just saying "Have a nice day?" That always applies. I used to work at a store in an area that had a lot of Mennonite and Amish, and several were our customers, and they do not celebrate any holidays. "Have a nice day" is never offensive, works for everyone, and applies all year round. That's what I'd always say to all my customers regardless. Seems to be a pretty easy solution for living in a diverse, pluralistic, officially secular society. Wishing everyone a great day, no matter if that day is their holiday or not, their birthday or not, in December or not seems to have no down-side whatsoever.

There should be more classes in public schools dealing with different religons so that students have a greater understanding of world religons when they leave HS. Religon is a huge part of many cultures and is definately intermingled with current events. One of my favorite classes in college was "Philosophies of Eastern Religion." I loved it. We studied Hinduism, Buddism, and Taoism under a Hindu prof. I wish we had some kind of introduction to those faiths in HS.

 
I feel the same way and would really like to take a college course on the different religions and their history.  I went to Catholic school until HS, so my knowledge is very limted to the Catholic teachings.  With all that's going on in the world and the lives that have been lost over the ages because of religous beliefs, I'd really like to understand it more.  I also think that it should be a part of the curriculum offered in schools (ha! - probably a fat chance of that ever happening [:@]). 
 
As for anyone feeling ostracized or marginalized, I just don't understand how my celebrating Christmas, and maybe giving you a Christmas greeting, would be offensive.  I don't get offended during the Cinco de Mayo celebrations and I'm not Hispanic.  I find it festive and any reason to drink a margarita and eat nachos is a happy time for me [].
 

What's wrong with just saying "Have a nice day?"

 
Because we say that every day of the year...whether we mean it or not,,,whether we care if the person has a nice day or not. 
Whats wrong with having "special" times of the year?
 
Curious,,do you wish for NO holiday to celebrate like this? No day where your company will give you the day off to celebrate,,,such as Christmas,, Easter,,,even Thanksgiving which is getting away from the religion part of it?  Do you wish for no present? No cards or greetings?  No celebrations? No lights on your homes or in stores? No Christmas trees or decorations? No Christmas cookies? I grew up with this...it was such a special time of the year. My kids grew up with this and it was a special time for them also. They are grown now,,, but its still a special time of the year for them. It brings back wonderful memories and traditions...I'm sorry that there are people out there that can't or won't enjoy them.
Have a nice day!