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.”
Don’t they just use them as kindling to light their fires for Moloch?
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.
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.
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.
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.
I’m an atheist too and Christmas to me is basically Thanksgiving with presents.
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).
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
His4ever
Wow! You’re an “atheist and other nonchristian” now! Thanks for dropping in. 
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
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.
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:
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.
My family has always done Christmas Eve. There’s just something very special about the nightime and the chill in the air.