Christmas: If/When did it become secular/commercial?

This year is one of family for me. We have just lost a close member of our family and its at times like this that presents and tinsel do not seem in the least important, only the people whom you share it with. I shall be making and extra effort this year to enjoy my family this year as you never know when there may be one less to share it with next year.

Christmas is so Bull**** as I've said in a previous discussion that if I hear the word again, I may puke The reasons are below 1. Christmas is Fony 2. Christmas is Fake 3. Christmas is Greedy 4. Christmas has nothing to do with Jesus 5. Jesus was not born in December 6. Why can't I sing Joy to the World in June?

In my heart it is not secular. I am rejoicing in the birth of Jesus Christ, my Savior. Everytime I read the gospel accounts and here it in the hymns it is exciting all over again. Jesus is the King of Kings!

Christmas has never been about what it was suposed to be about which was the birth of Jesus. For one thing it's not his birth day. 12/25 was a pegan holiday that the christians ask to celebrate christ's birthday on. Many of the traditional was we celebrate this day comes for the pegan celebration. Also in the bible it is said that Jesus himself said don't celebrate the day of his birth. Why do you think nobody can tell you the exact day Jesus was born?

I more or less leave religion out of all the holidays I celebrate. Except for that I pray and ask God to bless the day's events, or to protect us as we're traveling to relatives houses, as my in-laws live somewhat far away from us, and I don't like traveling long distances. I'm not trying to "diss" God or Jesus by not dragging out a bible during the event, but to me, holidays are about being with family and friends and enjoying each other. I have been ripped up and down on this site for feeling that way, and I'm sorry that it offends people- but I don't appreciate being told I shouldn't celebrate Christmas if I don't have a nativity scene, or if I don't read scriptures or sing hymns during my celebration. What is that all about, anyway?! I am somewhat religious, but I wish people would stop telling me how religious I'm *supposed* to be. especially on the holidays. It's my life, so let me live it!

It is about reliegion to me. We will eb going to Church on Christmas Eve as we always do. Not becasue we have to, I go becasue I am giving priase to God and to honor the day Jesus wa born. When I was a kid Christmas was commercial to us. It wasn't until the last few yers I ahve become Christian and taken it more seriously. I agree that kids can get gimme, gimme. I have 3 kids, my oldest is 6 and we are teaching ehr the point of Christmas, and that it isn't all about the gifts she gets.

Blame the card and toy comapanies for taking away the simplicity from the celebrations. Now everyone expects expensive gifts ansd selfmade gifts do get scorned at by some.we also have to blame ourselves for not taking out the time to actually write to the lovewd ones greetings ourselves and taking a shortcut of buying cards to speak for us. Now the life has become so fast paced that all find it easy to get out and buy something for loved ones and not create one. Industry is ready to cash in on this anmd slowlyy its just becoming another way for us to spend some money and for them to earn some.

sorry but now it's only a commercial Day, I hope that are people that think at the true sense of Cristmas , The bird of Gesù, not eat, drink, and gift... Marry Cristmas

I think Christmas became secular during the Victorian era, and moreso with industrilzation and the rise of middle classes. There were more people in the cities, and more with money to be parted with. :)

few year ago Christmas lost it's meanning

I think it became commercial when the coka cola company decided to remake Santa into what he is today. A jolly man dressed in red and white. Ever sense then Christmas became more about what you got and what you gave rather then about family and togetherness.

Christmas is named for Christ + Mass. It is based on Christian ideology and a blend of many pagan customs. I'm not a Christian per se, but I do think it's important that people hold on to their traditions. Christmas, to me, is all about the spirit of giving, and best wishes for all. It's too bad, that we can't understand that every day should be Christmas. Hey, presents are nice too. Merry Christmas. DR...

Christmas was once a religious holiday but definitely not so anymore. I believe there are a number of reasons behind this holiday becoming the hollow shell of what it once was. Though i`m a very openminded individual, I have to say that the philosophies of secular humanism have helped to corrupt the original meaning of the holiday. I also have to give a lot of credit to the industrial revolution and the influx of products that created the consumer-oriented enviorment in which we currently reside. I believe that in this day in age it is nearly if not completely impossible to avoid the rampant consumerism that has been attached to most every holiday in the judeo-christian sphere. I note also that it is only in the west(mostly) that religious holidays have been corrupted by the multinational corporations that stand to profit so much from our "gift giving cheer" and use this to push products and services on us that are nothing but (for the most part) completely shallow and frivolous. I am a roman catholic and of course believe in the spirit of christmas as it was originally intended (post council of nicea) but i find it nearly impossible these days to seperate the articles of the holiday that have been artifically absorbed by the duped populace by those who profit on what was once a very solemn and spiritual holiday. don`t expect me to go all out on my christmas shopping, but expect something :)

Christmas is a season that makes everyone feel good because thats how tradition has groomed all of us to feel but frankly (and no offense meant) its a pagan thing...we have been taught and "brainwashed" that dec 25 is the the day Jesus was born. Are you sure? How come it was pictured in the Bible that at that time there were shepherds and sheeps in the meadows? How can that be? Would sheeps and shepherds go out in the snow and roam around the meadows and take in all that snow cold? Think about it. Is Christmas really what all of us think it is? Or maybe we should all ask those guys who participated in the Council of the Nicea (sometime in the 15th century) and ask them what they've done.

Christmas use to be purely religious until after the world wars. With the depression gone alot of people wanted more for their family and store owners realized that they could make a bigger profit out of it if they promoted the gimme's. That is also when Santa as we know him today became more prominent. For me I celebrate Christmas for religious reasons although I do give gifts it is not the do all or be all it is for some people.

hey this is a nice topic

i don't have any idea lol.

In china,we do not forcus on Christmas,for us the Christmas maybe is only a way busnessmen use to earn money from such kind of fashion boys.

All what i can say it's christmas is one party what we share and have happy.

Christmas for me is also about spending precious time with my friends and family and we celebrate it as a religious holiday, not only with our family and friends, but with church and prayer. However, we also celebrate it with gift giving and a tree. Why is it that anyone cares about the commercial aspect of it? I could care less.. I don't care how anyone else celebrates it and if someone else celebrates and forgets the true meaning, what's it to anyone else? People are always complaining of the 'commercials' and the 'gifts', but why don't you celebrate it and not assume that just because gifts are given, etc. (or what ever else you believe is 'forgetting' the true meaning of Christmas) that others aren't doing both? I mean no offense to anyone, but it just seems like some people believe everyone should celebrate everything just as they do...when in reality you don't know how they are celebrating.