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Buddhism & Christmas.............

DazzaDazza Explorer
edited December 2010 in Buddhism Basics
Hi everyone,

Just wondering what the thoughts are of Christmas celebrations from a Buddhist perspective. Do Buddhists celebrate Christmas? Or take part in the giving and receiving of gifts? Would be good to hear peoples views. Do you as a practising Buddhist celebrate Christmas? Many thanks

Dazza

Comments

  • Ficus_religiosaFicus_religiosa Veteran
    edited November 2010
    I think it's utterly unimportant whether you celebrate Christmas or not :) I do for the sake of my family, I have no bonds to Christmas myself
  • SimonthepilgrimSimonthepilgrim Veteran
    edited November 2010
    This conversation comes round every year - deserves a celebration, don't you think?
  • SherabDorjeSherabDorje
    edited November 2010
    It's an entirely individual choice. It's just a cultural thing. If people live in a Christian culture and it seems to be something they want to do, or their children want to do, then there's nothing wrong with it. It's as individual as any cultural choice can be. Taking part in giving and receiving gifts is entirely appropriate if it's a cultural thing.
  • BrigidBrigid Veteran
    edited November 2010
    Even though I haven't been a Christian for many years I still love the idea of Christmas in the seasonal sense; the snow, the holiday from school for kids, the decorations and coloured lights, the music. I have wonderful Christmas memories from my childhood. The first thing that pops into my head when I think of Christmas is coloured lights in the snow and how still it would get at night at that time of year. We used to skate outside at night at the park and I remember it being so still and the stars sparkling so brightly and the only sound you could hear was your skates on the ice. One of the best sounds in the world. A cold nose but everything else was warm because we were in snowsuits. I love Canada.

    Yeah, I still love Christmas. Can't help myself.

    Even though my folks are Catholics we don't actually get a tree or buy presents anymore except for the little kids in the family. We do have a tradition though that I started about 7 years ago. Every Christmas morning I make Eggs Benedict for me and my parents. Real Hollondaise, nice and lemony. It's the only thing I know how to cook.....

    Sorry. Was that too much information.....?
  • sukhitasukhita
    edited November 2010
    Except for me, everyone in my family are practicing Hindus. But still, the family celebrates Christmas "day" with great enthusiasm = fake plastic :D christamas tree, decorations, fairy lights, presents galore, and great food. It's not so much about 'Christianity' but just a convenient seasonal time of the year to celebrate. The celebrations continue onto the next day, 26th, my birthday. I simply join in and go with the flow - except for the wines, beers, and whisky ;). This is a great time to 'bond' with the family, have some fun, and relax.
    Brigid wrote: »
    ..... The first thing that pops into my head when I think of Christmas is coloured lights in the snow .....
    No snow where I live. Here it is a hot, humid, summers night... but still enjoyable. We get to watch Christmas coloured lights in the snow on the telly, though ;).
  • CloudCloud Veteran
    edited November 2010
    What I always found to be funny is that despite my parents being Christians, Christmas was never about anything religious (never about Christ) in my family. From what I gather that's not a unique situation either. Seems hardly more of a "holy" day than Easter anymore, seems one of any faith could celebrate it as long as they don't add the religious stuff back in that's been so distanced over time.
  • SimonthepilgrimSimonthepilgrim Veteran
    edited November 2010
    For some of us, Christmas is a many-sided festival. Among the decorations and the twinkling lights, we always have a crib, which has always been (in our family at least) a reminder of the homeless and their plight. To me, the Christmas legend of a "bastard born in a back street" is symbolic of the deep message that the God of the Christians was born among the anawim, the poor and the disinherited, unlike so many religions (including Buddhism) founded by princes or the privileged.
  • B5CB5C Veteran
    edited November 2010
    I enjoy the secular side of Christmas. Heck it will be the first time that there will be two Buddhist at my family Christmas dinner. My cousin has been a Buddhist since 1995 and there is me.
  • SpockSpock
    edited November 2010
    Christmas is all about who you're with at the time.

    Last year I spent it with my best friend's family and had a lovely time.....posh cheese, champagne, port, mince pies and too much protein (I only started being a veggie again in April). Had a lovely time :) Other years I've spent it alone....the roads are generally empty so if the weather is ok its a great time for the bike.

    It was a Pagan festival long before it was adopted as a Christian one, and fine to enjoy as long as we don't over-do the drink...unskilled behaviour and all that.

    Metta :)
  • JanineJanine
    edited November 2010
    I celebrate Christmas with my family. I have no reason not too. I focus on generosity and spending quality time with people I love.

    It was originally a Pagan festival, celebrating the pending return of spring and summer. The Christians didn't like that and hijacked it as celebrating the brith of Jesus, which actually wasn't really in December.

    I personally would have gone more with the Pagans and give thanks to nature.

    I'm certainly grateful for the life I have, despite it's troubles. I'm also in awe of this wonderful planet and nature. For that reason I celebrate.
  • JanineJanine
    edited November 2010
    Spock wrote: »
    Christmas is all about who you're with at the time.

    Last year I spent it with my best friend's family and had a lovely time.....posh cheese, champagne, port, mince pies and too much protein (I only started being a veggie again in April). Had a lovely time :) Other years I've spent it alone....the roads are generally empty so if the weather is ok its a great time for the bike.

    It was a Pagan festival long before it was adopted as a Christian one, and fine to enjoy as long as we don't over-do the drink...unskilled behaviour and all that.

    Metta :)

    Ahh, you beat me to it.
  • MountainsMountains Veteran
    edited November 2010
    Brigid wrote: »
    ...the holiday from school for kids

    And some grownups (well, more or less) as well! :) I'm off to Belize on 30.12 for a week lolling around in the sun. I *love* Christmas!
  • PietroPumokinPietroPumokin
    edited November 2010
    i celebrate christmas and enjoy celebrating it even though i am surrounded by the stink of ruthless consumption of presents even in my own home. but that's the way it is!!!!!!!! i like the idea of giving gifts but obviously in modern days & the rich western world gift-giving is way over the top. i SHOULD read up on winter solstice celebration because that seems to be what this time of year is truly about, though i suppose jesus WAS a sweet little babe. BUT i would also like to FORGET about such little babes as jesus and siddhartha cause i am tired of glorifying these saints that have been dead for millenia, even if their tall and golden shadows that cast themselves over our minds still are relevant to us since we ourselves are still so blind to our buddha and christ nature which lie eagerly within us i would still like to forget about them. SO perhaps this year i would like to forget about jesus & research what it means to be celebrating life and the earth and friends and family and love at the time of winter solstice. what i WOULD ALSO like to do is to CREATE all my gifts, and create at least one for EVERY ONE I CHERISH. not that i am against spending a little money THOUGH I HAVE NONE but creating gifts, naturally, is more rewarding. because if i CREATE the gifts, i will truly be a kris kringle. and maybe i can go up to aslaska and kidnap some eskimo children and make them my elves....
  • JeffreyJeffrey Veteran
    edited November 2010
    Celebrate Dharmamas! Or Festivus hehe.
  • CloudCloud Veteran
    edited November 2010
    Wasn't that the made up holiday from Seinfeld? Was watching a special the other night about holiday specials on sitcoms (top 30 or summat).
  • JeffreyJeffrey Veteran
    edited November 2010
    Festivus is from Seinfeld....

    I think it goes something like this except in the house :D

    <object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/8I5BGsK5ZAU?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/8I5BGsK5ZAU?fs=1&hl=en_US&quot; type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>
  • BrigidBrigid Veteran
    edited November 2010
    Cloud wrote: »
    Wasn't that the made up holiday from Seinfeld? Was watching a special the other night about holiday specials on sitcoms (top 30 or summat).
    I think I watched the same special as you, Cloud. Hosted by Jane Lynch? I think it was something like, "The Funniest Holiday Moments on TV" or some derivative. I hadn't heard about Festivus until I saw it on that special. Wasn't a Seinfeld fan, believe it or not.
  • CloudCloud Veteran
    edited November 2010
    Yeah that was it! :) I was never much of a Seinfeld fan myself, though I've probably watched 20-25 eps. over the years anyway. It's been surrounding other comedy shows that I've been watching, like Two and a Half Men and My Name is Earl.

    Soooo, how you doin' Brigid? :D
  • BrigidBrigid Veteran
    edited November 2010
    Lol!! Good, Cloud. Really good. (We have a rainfall warning in effect this afternoon. Still no lasting snow. *sigh* But now that I had the side of the house re-landscaped I won't have to worry about my apartment flooding again and I can enjoy the rainfall like I used to.)

    How are you? lol :D
  • CloudCloud Veteran
    edited November 2010
    Really good too. :) It's been raining here all day long, but I don't care. The sun's always shining somewhere.
  • SimonthepilgrimSimonthepilgrim Veteran
    edited December 2010
    Cloud wrote: »
    Really good too. :) It's been raining here all day long, but I don't care. The sun's always shining somewhere.

    It's shining where you are, Cloud, just above the rain.
  • LadyFire713LadyFire713
    edited December 2010
    Spock wrote: »
    Christmas is all about who you're with at the time.


    It was a Pagan festival long before it was adopted as a Christian one, and fine to enjoy as long as we don't over-do the drink...unskilled behaviour and all that.

    Metta :)

    ;):uphand:
  • MountainsMountains Veteran
    edited December 2010
    Ain't that the truth? I try to think of it as a mid-winter festival of life. Hard with all the "CHRISTmas - Gift of God" lawn signs everywhere around where I live, but I do the best I can :)
  • LadyFire713LadyFire713
    edited December 2010
    I think we all do mountains....

    I really like the "Mid-Winter Festival" idea, i'm the same way. I love Christmas, and although i'm not particularly fond of Santa, i LOVE snowmen, and snowflake decor. I love the lights, and sparkly ornaments, so on and so on. Its nice to celebrate winter, since here in Arizona, we don't get much of one :)
  • ChrysalidChrysalid Veteran
    edited December 2010
    Richard Gere told Lisa Simpson that it was fine for a Buddhist to celebrate Christmas, I can't think of a higher authority in life than The Simpsons, so that's good enough for me.
  • MountainsMountains Veteran
    edited December 2010
    Aw c'mon... I've been stuck in the snow in Arizona. There's *plenty* of snow to be had. You just have to truck it in in certain parts of the state :)
  • LadyFire713LadyFire713
    edited December 2010
    Aha!! I suppose i should I should have been more detailed. We dont get much of a winter in central Phoenix!

    While I agree i can easily find snow 3 -4 hours away, i suppose i like the thought of snow much more than i like snow itself. Make Sense? Haha.
  • Ch-an_noobCh-an_noob
    edited December 2010
    Christmas is pretty awsome!
  • SteadyBlueSteadyBlue
    edited December 2010
    Do I enjoy the Christmas season? Yes I do. Love it.
    Do I admittedly enjoy receiving the odd gift or two? Yes I do.
    Am I obsessed with and attached to receiving said gifts and material things? No.
    Do I delight in the generosity and giving gifts to others? I really do.
    Do I enjoy seeing other people all happy around the holidays? Of course.

    I don't see a lot wrong with Christmas from that angle.
  • zenbikerzenbiker
    edited December 2010
    Great post, SteadyBlue! That's my take, too. :)
  • SimonthepilgrimSimonthepilgrim Veteran
    edited December 2010
    The promise of midwinter Christmas is that Summer will return, just as the threat of midsummer is the return of Winter.
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