CHRISTMAS FOR ATHEISTS...

by Dave Silverman

t just so happens that my first article in the READ-ME column takes place during the Christmas season. I've always hated Christmas, having been raised a Jew and become an atheist. I never celebrated, and I never will, because its association is so negative from my past. Being Jewish meant there was never anything to do (except Chinese food), and being an atheist led me to a great deal of contempt for the holiday. After all, why in the world is this Christian holiday a national holiday, even though we are not supposed to be a Christian nation?

While I will never celebrate this holiday, I must admit to having less contempt for it since I became an active atheist and did some research on the subject. As it turns out, Christmas, or most of it, has been celebrated for much longer than Christianity has been in existence. Almost all of the current Christmas traditions have been adopted from Pagan, Celtic, and Druidic rituals.

In fact, every aspect of Christmas except the actual god which is celebrated originated outside of Christianity. For instance:

• Christmas trees, Holly, and Mistletoe - Druids. There weren't many snow-covered evergreens in Bethlehem
  
  
• The date (December 25), singing carols, and giving gifts - Pagan. While the actual supposed birth of Jesus is unknown, it is suspected to have been in the Spring. The date was moved to coincide with the solstice
  
  
• Yule logs and stockings - Celtic. From their holiday of Yuul.

My point here is not to ridicule the Christians for adopting these traditions. Actually, if I were inventing a religion, and wanted my religion adopted by people with set ways, it would make sense to make the change as palatable as possible. I'm trying to point out that Christmas traditions, including the idea of reflection, community, and "good cheer," predate Christmas and are valid in their own right.

I still look upon Christmas as the time when the country caved in to Christians, but I can see past that and use the season (solstice and New Year) to think about what I could have done better for myself, my family, and my community. I invite all readers to do the same, and have some suggestions for next year:

1. Tell more people you're an atheist, and do it with pride and confidence

2. Attend a few meetings of the local school board.

3. Write a letter to the editor of a newspaper when an important issue arises.

4. Do more charity work, or give money to charity or a non-profit organization (like American Atheists, for example)

In short, use the season to motivate yourself to get more involved, more vocal, and more visible. While you're at it, try to become a better person.

Season's Greetings!

Dave Silverman,
NJ State Director

(In addition to his work as a State Director for American Atheists, "NJ Dave" is a professional inventor. He welcomes e-mail at dsilverman@atheists.org.)

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