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Comment by theboywho | Hacker News Reader

Can someone please explain to me what’s special about Christmas for those who celebrate ? Is it special symbolically ? To me it feels like you get to see your family and maybe have 2-3 days off, which is something most people do many times a year, usually during the weekends.

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Christmas celebrates the birth or nativity of Jesus. The coming of the promised savior. Jesus' death and resurrection, religiously speaking, reconciled mankind with God. Jesus represents reconciliation and peace. Like the lost prodigal son who returns to his father and is welcomed with open arms.

That’s what the Christian holiday is yes, but that’s not really what a lot of Americans (including my family) are actually celebrating. It’s about getting together with family, exchanging gifts and good food, and reflecting on the year.

We do the lights and the tree, not a single mention of Jesus or God though. The overlap of Americanized Christmas and religion in the Venn diagram is much smaller than you would think.

I hope you find room for Christ in your life. He suffered and died so you can be saved.

The effect is probably more that everyone in your life makes time for it.

There’s no scheduling conflicts for work, there’s nothing to get done…except getting together and appreciating each other.

…which can be its own mission. The holidays can be stressful, but the important thing is the time we spend together.

And yes, depending what you believe there can be a lot of symbology overlaid onto it. Ymmv on the symbology.

There's no date or time which is objectively special, of course. Historical accident has simply given many societies a common period in the middle of Northern hemisphere winter in which we band together to banish the cold and darkness for a time, to remember that light and warmth will come, and to take some time (however brief) away from the constant cruel work that survival requires.

Of course, many people don't need a festival like this any more, and it's easy to forget why it's there. Various religions have piggy-backed off this practice to celebrate specific things at the same time. The Northern European cultures in particular were extremely infectious and have exported the practice to many geographic locations where it's neither cold nor dark at this time of year. For many people, the "constant cruel work" is no longer either constant or cruel. But at least in the UK we have long memories, and some things are worth remembering!

(Also, go and read "Hogfather", by Terry Pratchett. As I seem to remember Yudkowsky said, though presumably in much better wording, Terry Pratchett's death is all the reason you could need to resolve to end death forever. Hogfather, in particular, I think is one of his crowning works and I sometimes choke up a bit just thinking about the book.)

It’s just fun. I have zero religious background nor do any of my family yet we bloody love Christmas. Decorating the house, lights in the yard, seasonal food that you don’t eat at other times (you “could” but having it only at Christmas is the entire point).

It is near the new year. Usually people take day offs or save their off days for these days and combine them. From 20th of december to first week of january people relax, don't work and see family they didn't see over a year. It is more of an excuse to celebrate stuff than anything religious to be honest.

Its special for me because it is the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. (I know it probably wasn't the real date). It's a great time together with family and remember.

for me, it was having kids that made it special, I enjoyed the atmosphere, extra attention at friends houses as a kid - but the anticipation and excitement of my kids transformed a festival I didn't grow up liking. Sure, you do stuff for and with your kids during the year - but this became a two-way time - that has endured to their adulthood (not just the 'presents').

My family isn't religious, but Christmas is a day when we all exchange gifts. Many people get 2-3 days off, but rarely at the same time, especially if you have college-aged relatives that are away at school most of the year. Many people also have to work, even on the Weekend, but most places are closed on Christmas, which also makes getting together easier.

Isn't there anyone who knows what Christmas is all about?

http://blog.newadvent.org/2022/12/watch-linus-christmas-spee...

Its mostly that, and the fact that you live up to a day where family comes together. Also knowing that everyone around you is kinda doing the same, like a common moment.

For non religious people gift giving is fun.

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