Atheists and other nonchristians: what do you do when you get Christmas cards?

[Liberal]

Are you happy to be in someone's thoughts? Are you angry that someone was presumptuous? Does it make a difference if the card is a general "Seasons Greetings" as opposed to a "Merry Christmas"?

How do you respond? Throw it away? Display it on your mantle? Sigh wearily?

[Dogzilla]

I tape it to my wall with my other Christmas cards, happy that my friends and family have thought of me and took the time to send me well wishes. Then I return the thought by sending a "blessed solstice" card. Or a humorous, non-Christian Christmas card (santa and reindeer for example).

I respect others' beliefs to practice Christianity and celebrate Christian holidays. Some of my friends and family respect my belief to practice a pagan religion and celebrate pagan holidays.

I still buy presents, because I know people will be giving me presents. (That part is a pagan tradition anyway.) I still bake and give away cookies (pagan). I put up stockings for the dogs and cats (pagan). Had I a fireplace, I'd burn a yule log (pagan).

It's not a big deal.

[koawala]

Most of the ones I get don't have a religious theme to them but I still don't care for them. I get no notes or cards teling me how much people care about me for eleven months and then I get a bunch in December telling me all about peace, happiness, joy, good times...
Do people not care about me the rest of the year? To me, even without the the religious part, it seems forced and phoney,ie "I have to send cards because thats what people do." To be nice I stick mine on top of the refrigerator until Xmas day then I throw them in the recycle bin. Also, I don't send cards.

[jjimm]

It's my feeling that us atheists shouldn't really care. It may be a religious festival, but it's also a societal tradition, so I send cards happily, receive them happily, and they all go up on the mantlepiece or the wall. I might also go to Midnight Mass this year too, for the tradition, spectacle, and the singing.

[Khadaji]

I am glad that people think well enough of me that they want to include me in their thoughts for peace, love and joy.

[Bippy the Beardless]

I am not a Christian. But I believe in making people happy. So I like to send cards and presents, the end of the year is a good time to do it. Anyway Xmas doesn't have much to do with Christianity any more (if it ever really did).
Cheers, Keithy

[Hello Again]

I think, "Oh, that's sweet of them to think of me." I don't care if it says Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, or Festive Soltice for that matter. IMHO, if people are trying to be nice, you should always think well of their efforts.

And I generally chuck cards, because I don't have any place in my tiny apartment for bits of sentimental paper. I throw out cards and postcards from other times of year as well, it's not particular to the holiday season. If a card contains a letter, then I keep in in my letters box.

[Dinsdale]

I like getting cards, tho I prefer the ones that are not blatantly religious - most of those seem to come from older relatives who I am not really close to. It bugs me a little when I get such a card - especially if it has a handwritten message saying "Jesus is the reason for the season" from someone who either knows or should know of my thoughts on the issue. Of course, perhaps I am not "militant" enough about my beliefs in social/family gatherings (hard as that may be for some of you to believe!)

The fave one I've seen this year came from the guys who did our siding this year. Santa is on the ground looking up at to reindeer up on some scaffolding. The reindeer are looking confused and shrugging, and between them is the outline of another reindeer who apparently got covered up by the siding they installed.

We usually keep them out in a bowl. Too many for the mantle, and no dooway or other we feel like lining. And we check for any updated addresses, and check to see if we sent them a card.

This year we are sending cards with Poinsettas on them. I believe they say "Season's Greetings" inside. We also included a photo of the kids, and the dreaded form letter.

And we have a tree, and stockings and mistletoe hung. No crech, tho. Lights outside and other trappings. X-mas eve we'll probably attend a service at a UU church. And we love to sing carols around the piano - perhaps especially the traditional ones, as they are among the small group of songs that a great number of people are likely to know all the words to.

[FordPrefect]

I thank them <Boney M>from the bottom of my heart!</Boney M>

[pepperlandgirl]

The only people who ever send me cards are my parents and grandparents. Said cards usually contain money. So I sqeal happily, take my money, and leave the card where it fall.
Yep, I'm a horrible a person.

[dorkusmalorkusmafia]

I typically thank the person who sent the card to me. I don't poopoo their beliefs if they don't poopoo mine. I did get a wonderful Christmas Card from 2 friends that had an anagram for Christmas that basically said come over and have sex. :) It was too cute. I also get Christmas cards from a Jewish friend. The weird thing is that neither of us celibrate Christmas.

[lost4life]

Originally posted by koawala
Most of the ones I get don't have a religious theme to them but I still don't care for them. I get no notes or cards teling me how much people care about me for eleven months and then I get a bunch in December telling me all about peace, happiness, joy, good times...
Do people not care about me the rest of the year? To me, even without the the religious part, it seems forced and phoney,ie "I have to send cards because thats what people do." To be nice I stick mine on top of the refrigerator until Xmas day then I throw them in the recycle bin. Also, I don't send cards.

Really, you get no notes or cards for the whole rest of the year?

[Urban Ranger]

Since Christmas is originally a pagan holiday, what difference does it make? Besides, it is thoroughly secularised, like you Christians are supposed to eat turkey.

[Interrobang!?]

I say thanks. I appreciate the thought.

It doesn't make sense to me to expect that Christians would send non-Christian cards to me, as I don't send Christian cards to them. I figure that the cards are intended to reflect the sender, not the recipient.

[JessEnigma]

When I get cards, they're usually part of a Christmas present, so I say thank you, naturally. I usually hang up the homemade ones because they look pretty, but the rest end up randomly all over the house. As I do celebrate Christmas in secular fashion with the rest of my family, I don't mind cards, not even the religious ones.

I'm more annoyed about religious cards I get on my birthday. All of them come from members of my dad's church and most are terribly impersonal. I don't even think most of them even really know who I am. But that's another story entirely.

[Barbarian]

Christmas is religious? :eek:

[Podkayne]

Er, what exactly is the point of this thread? Is it some sort of oblique reference to Dinsdale's pit thread? Or did you think that us poor atheists need a thread to prove how normal we are, and you did us a service in opening it? I mean, really, did you expect people to say that they throw away Christmas cards on principle?

I find it hard to believe that this is something you're honestly curious about. It seems more likely that you're just trying to make some sort of a point, and I wish you'd just make it.

Or, maybe I'm just being paranoid. 'Tis the season to feel opressed by the religious majority.

[Kn*ckers]

I'm with Barbarian on this one - I celebrate Christmas as a secular holiday, and I'm happy to receive cards from friends and family - I find it comforting and cheery to know I'm in their thoughts. I also send cards. Even if I didn't [i]celebrate[i] Christmas, I wouldn't be offended.

I have Catholic relatives, so I often receive cards with very religious themes, but it doesn't bother me to get a card bestrewn with Marys and Jesuses.

Season's greetings,
Kn*ckers

[Jonathan Chance]

Put them up on the fridge. It's enough that someone thinks well enough of me to take the time.

[Liberal]

Originally posted by Podkayne
Er, what exactly is the point of this thread? Is it some sort of oblique reference to Dinsdale's pit thread? Or did you think that us poor atheists need a thread to prove how normal we are, and you did us a service in opening it? I mean, really, did you expect people to say that they throw away Christmas cards on principle?

I find it hard to believe that this is something you're honestly curious about. It seems more likely that you're just trying to make some sort of a point, and I wish you'd just make it.

Or, maybe I'm just being paranoid. 'Tis the season to feel opressed by the religious majority. The only thread I see from Dinsdale in the Pit is one that I haven't opened. So, yes, you're just being paranoid. :)

[Eats_Crayons]

I stick 'em to the fridge and then toss 'em out after New Years like everyone else. I see it as a basic wish of good tidings from friends, whether they say "Merry Christmas", "Happy Hanukkah" (a few weeks ago), "Season's Greetings" or "May the Force Be with You."

[BMalion]

Don't they just use them as kindling to light their fires for Moloch?

[Shade]

overdue media cartoon (http://overduemedia.com/archive.aspx?strip=20021219)

What Barbarian said.

I'm athiest (in the uk) and I send and receive christmas cards and presents as the sort of thing people do at this time of year. And, I rather think most of the UK is with me.

It was a pagan festival originally, and we have to exchange gifts and remind ourselves which old friends' addresses we still have at some point, don't we?

After all, most christians don't do anything very religious at christmas.

I've had more people ask me if christmas is a problem due to being vegetarian that due to being athiest.

The ironic thing is I rather like the religious cards I get.

[Derleth]

I, too, celebrate Christmas as a secular holiday on the level of Thanksgiving: A time to be with the family and do the traditional things (which, in my largely nonpracticing/atheist household, doesn't include churchgoing). I gladly accept cards and such, even those that are undeniably from the religious perspective. I view it as a nice gesture on the part of the sender.

[EasyPhil]

I'm an atheist and I am just happy that someone thought enough of me to put a card in an envelope, put a stamp on it and mail it out.

[Washte]

It is quite nice to receive cards, from anyone for any reason IMHO. It does not bother me to receive Christmas cards that say Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, Seasons Greetings... Humbug for that matter. It was a nice thought. Cards are displayed until after the holiday season. At which time they are taken down, and special ones are kept. Others are thrown away.

IF it is obviously done out of social obligation to conform, the thoughts behind them are lost completely, and the card is discarded.

I do like to give cards, though not clearly Christian oriented. The ones preferred do tend to be traditional, however, not jokey ones. I will only give a jokey card if the person is completely against anything Christiany.

I've worked with myriad cultures and religions here in the UK, it has caught me unawares as to ettiquette or correctness. For example, Muslims. I was worried a few Muslim friends would feel left out if not included in the card receiving. So I found some nice wintery cards and gave those with wishes for a peaceful new year. They appreciated the thought behind them.

[filmore]

I'm an atheist too and Christmas to me is basically Thanksgiving with presents.

[ratatoskK]

Atheist here -- Christmas cards are a nice thought from friends and family, I like receiving them and I also send them. I don't mind if people send me religious cards, they are just being thoughtful, and actually I like Renaissance artwork, if it's that kind of painting. The ones I send are non-religious (this year they say PEACE).

[Knowed Out]

Athiest here...I put mine in a pentagram pattern on the floor, open a sheep's throat with a knife, and say my prayers to Satan as the black candles burn and Type O Negative plays in the background.

[SandyHook]

I really don't make much of a connection between Christmas and Christanity. Christmassy kind of stuff is just what you do this time of year. A tradition of society and/or a connection to when you were just a little tyke and all was well with the world.

Other than a quick scan I don't pay a lot of attention to them.

But it does sort of piss me off when people send "Seasons Greetings" cards. If you're that afraid of insulting (or whatever) someone you shouldn't be sending them out in the first place.

[Tanaqui]

My family smiles and puts them over the fireplace. Most of the ones from my mothers side of the family and friends are secular. Our family & friends have good taste, so it's really quite enjoyable opening them. This Christmas, we got one from a cousin with a lovely painting of penguins on a snowy landscape. We also got a beautiful one with a picture of a lone tree covered in snow in the middle of this huge, rolling snow plain. Most of the years, they are along the same lines. I have absolutely no objection to these.
We also get ones that are about peace & love in general, usually without reference to any supernatural entities. Pictures of doves and things like that, y'know? I enjoy those as well. Certainly we could all do with a little peace!

My grandmother (who we are really quite close to) determinedly sends us very Christian themed cards, often with the idea of "Jesus protect you even though you haven't come to The Light yet, my dears" as a sort of subliminal message. She's been sending these cards to my family for the last 30 years as far as I know! You'd think she give up by now, but no, she keeps trying to convert us. This annoys me slightly, but I don't get angry about it or anything. She's my grandmother, and I love her. God knows that for a devout Catholic of a certain age, she is extremely understanding, tolerant, and non-judgmental. So I try to put up with the proselytizing Christmas cards with the same understanding and tolerance.

[angelicate]

I'm athiest, and this year they're stuck up on the wall, next to the stockings, near the christmas tree.
Like many others have already said, I don't celebrate christmas as the birth of christ, but as a nice, traditional holiday. I also send out christmas cards, but they never have a religious message inside.

[Liberal]

I'm curious as to whether atheists could celebrate the birth of Jesus in a secular manner much in the same way that they might celebrate the birth of anyone they consider to be a statesman or teacher, like Dr. King, for instance. I assume that most of you are aware of the Atheists for Jesus (http://www.atheists-for-jesus.com).

[lynn73]

Originally posted by SandyHook
I really don't make much of a connection between Christmas and Christanity.

Uh, what do you think Christmas is about? It's about celebrating the birth of Jesus so yeah I'd say it has everything to do with Christianity.

[Liberal]

His4ever

Wow! You're an "atheist and other nonchristian" now! Thanks for dropping in. :)

[Siege]

Libertarian, at the risk of being labelled an "atheist and other nonchristian", I thought I'd share my solution since I have some friends who are devout Christians and others who, shall we say, aren't. I have two sets of cards, one explicitly Christian, one not. The ones which are explicitly Christian are only given to Christians. This year's, by the way, are special. They were created by a very dear friend of mine when he was a Fundamentalist Christian. E-mail me your address, and one will be on its way to you.

CJ

[Liberal]

Actually, I already e-mailed you about the Poly matter.

But don't worry about being labelled anything other than a loving and wonderful human being. Not from me, anyway. :)

[Siege]

Rats! I meant to add a smiley after that first sentence -- it was tongue in cheek.

Knowed Out, are you sure you're an atheist?;) Oh well, each to his own ritual. :ducks and runs:

[Podkayne]

That's very sensitive of you, CJ. Above and beyond the call.

And, okay, Lib, sorry to go all godless commando on ya. ;)

Jesus isn't an important enough figure to me for me to go out of my way to celebrate His birthday (even though, of course, December 25 wasn't His birthday. :) ). I don't really celebrate MLK day, either, FWIW. On the other hand, I do enjoy taking one special day each to exchange presents and good cheer with loved ones. I doesn't have to be any particular day, but my family has a habit of getting together on the December 24 (we celebrate on Christmas Eve) so that works for me.

[Liberal]

My family has always done Christmas Eve. There's just something very special about the nightime and the chill in the air. :)

[gazpacho]

Receive them? Heck I send them. But I am late this year so we will do what we do every year write them while waiting in the airport to fly home for Christmas.

[Podkayne]

Yep. Cozy. I have a confession to make: I think Christmas Eve services rock. Darkness and cold outside, warmth and candlelight inside the church, Christmas hyms, and no Communion. Christmas Eve is the only time I happily attend church with my family.

[Giraffe]

Me, I shriek and drop them. Anything even vaguely holy burns my skin. It's really quite unpleasant. The last time I went to a church wedding, as soon as I walked in the door, the holy water started boiling and a booming voice from behind the altar intoned "Get out! GET OUT!!".

So I left.

I tell you, being an atheist is no picnic, what with all the evil.

:D

[lynn73]

Originally posted by Libertarian
His4ever

Wow! You're an "atheist and other nonchristian" now! Thanks for dropping in. :)

Nope, fraid I'm still a Christian. Was just looking at the thread and decided to comment.

[TWDuke]

Originally posted by His4ever
Uh, what do you think Christmas is about? It's about celebrating the birth of Jesus so yeah I'd say it has everything to do with Christianity.

Like Valentines Day is all about St. Valentine? It seems to me a holiday can be about different things to different people.

To me, Christmas is an opportunity to express appreciation and affection for friends and family, and Christmas cards are one way of doing that.

[Lobsang]

Originally posted by Libertarian
Are you happy to be in someone's thoughts? Are you angry that someone was presumptuous? Does it make a difference if the card is a general "Seasons Greetings" as opposed to a "Merry Christmas"?

How do you respond? Throw it away? Display it on your mantle? Sigh wearily?

For me it is such an established part of life that I don't think twice about it.

Heck, most of the people that send me cards are either not religeous at all, or only slightly religeous, sending cards and the whole palava is so established for them as it is for me that everyone sends cards to each other.

In fact! I suspect the religeus issue didn't even enter their/my heads when cards were being bought/written on/sent.

I would go so far as to say I didn't used to be aware that christmas was a religeous thing.

[Lobsang]

I wasted a joke oportinity by posting that load of obvious drivel.

[Cessandra]

Um, I never was an atheist, and I'm not really agnostic anymore (thankfully -- I always hoped that was just a transitional thing because I really *wanted* to believe in something) but, I generally do not appreciate Christmas cards for the same reason as koawala.

I mostly only get cards from my family, and they pretty much ignore me the rest of the time. Or worse, they ignore me and then yell at me for supposedly ignoring them. They never even call me, and then when I call them (maybe once a month), I get a lecture for not calling more often. Then at Christmas or on my birthday I get this sappy pre-printed card with nothing handwritten but their names. It makes me feel very sad and unloved.

So, yes, I have thrown away all but one of my christmas cards this year.

[Thylacine]

I am always happy to be in people's thoughts but the fact is that nobody who is close to me would ever send me one as my difficulty with the season is known. That tends to mean I just get them from old neighbours and distant relatives and I have no objection to finding out those folks are still alive somewhere.

I usually respond with a brief note and a picture of the cat or something. The cards sit on a shelf in their envelopes until I find and toss them a year later when I want a spot for the next years supply ;-)





Nothing from great-aunt Myrtle yet, I wonder if she included me in her will...?

[Q.N. Jones]

I'm agnostic. I send Christmas cards and enjoy receiving them. I was raised by parents that can best be described as atheist fundies. They send Christmas cards. We snort, snicker, and roll our eyes at the especially religious ones we receive, but it's not a big deal.

I think it's nice that once a year, people I know take the time to write me a note and maybe send me pictures. It's a nice way to reconnect with people I haven't heard from in a few months, or who I regret having lost touch with. I don't have friends who just drop a card in the mail--every one I've received has a personal note inside. That takes time and to me, the effort speaks of caring. I don't see the point in being cynical about it.

[Kyla]

I'm Jewish, and I've gotten a couple Christmas cards from Dopers/LiverJournalers this year, and I am just touched that they thought of me. I don't send cards out, but I like getting them. I like to send out cards and tchotchkes at random times throughout the year.

[Persephone]

I'm Pagan, but I do keep quiet about that within my family, really. Not that they wouldn't understand (my mom & sister know, and they both think it's exceptionally cool), but I just don't want the rest of my family feeling like they have to treat me differently because of my beliefs. I celebrate the holidays the way I always have--spending time with my family, exchanging gifts, and snarfing down food until I explode. But I also do my own private Yule thing now.

As for Christmas cards, I'm with the majority of folks here. I appreciate that someone thought enough to send me a card, and I tape it up with the rest of them. :)

[Liberal]

Cessandra

If it isn't prying too much, why did you keep the one card?

[Osakadave]

I enjoy all kinds of Christmas stuff even though I'm Buddhist. It may be due to the secularization of Christmas, especially here in Japan.

[gex gex]

I stick em up where I can see em.

Look what I got this year:

"With best wishes for Christmas and New Year"

"God Jul och Gott Nytt År önskar"

"To wish you happiness at Christmas and every day of the New Year"

No mention of God or Jesus or anything (not sure about the Swedish one). Christmas is a secular holiday. There's a tree, I give presents, the idea of some kid who is apparently god doesn't crop up.

[Liberal]

Hmm... I think it might be reasonable to say that mention of Christ is implicit in Christmas. That's not to say that Christmas can't be secularized, but no amount of fiddling with it will change its etymology. It's from the Old English, Cristes Mæsse, or Festival of Christ.

[Witch]

I hang up my Xmas cards with my Yule cards. We share alot of the same traditions. No surprise considering the Christians "borrowed" all our Yule traditions and made them their own :D

[cherry]

I receive them happily and place them on top of the tv and send them out. I've also received this year a happy new years card from someone but not a christmas card. I think that was her way of skipping the sending out christmas card tradition.

[Derleth]

Lib: I think it's been so secularized etymology doesn't really matter at this point: Xmas is simply something to do in the middle of winter, no matter what you think about Christ.

[Violet]

It's just a fun thing to do. Some of us try to find the most irreverent cards to exchange.

I'd rather get an xmas or holiday card than a bunch of forwarded emails without any personal message to me. :p

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

[Ringo]

I smile and enjoy. Got a very nice one from a Doper yesterday. Thanks.

[TWDuke]

Originally posted by Libertarian
Hmm... I think it might be reasonable to say that mention of Christ is implicit in Christmas. That's not to say that Christmas can't be secularized, but no amount of fiddling with it will change its etymology.

And mention of St. Valentine is implicit in Valentines Day, and mention of an Anglo-Saxon goddess is implicit in Easter. The meaning of any holiday is determined more by the intentions of the people celebrating it than it is by etymology.

[Liberal]

Your points are well taken. I'm learning a lot in this thread.

[Czarcasm]

I love getting and giving Christmas cards. I feel that the ones I receive are from people that wish me to have a happy holiday, and I try to send out cards that are artistic or humorous in a non-offending way to people that I like.

[Angel of the Lord]

I guess I'm technically semi-Christian. Kinda-sorta. Eh...iffy. Meh.

It doesn't offend me. I'm glad that the person thought of me.

[kferr]

I dislike xmas from both a christian and secular standpoint. Cards get opened then chucked in the bin. Anybody who knows me well enough that they may consider giving me a present also knows me well enough that it wouldn't be appreciated.

[Persephone]

gex gex: The Swedish one doesn't really say anything specifically about Jesus or God. Loose translation is "Merry Christmas & Happy New Year." It's more like "Good Yule & Good New Year," IIRC.

When I was 18, I spent a month is Sweden, at Christmastime. I never did learn to speak the language, but I picked up a couple of things. I'm surprised I remember them at all...