The real meaning of Christmas?

[ProfessorDavey]

There was an interesting poll released a few days ago looking at what the British public find most important about Christmas.

Respondents were asked ‘Which, if any, of the following would you say make Christmas an important time of year to you?’ and were given 12 options and could select as many or as few of the options that they felt were important to them.

The options were:
Celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ
Attending a religious service(s)
Upholding family Christmas traditions
Spending time with family
Spending time with friends
Putting up Christmas lights and decorations
Watching Christmas television
Having time off work to relax
Eating Christmas food and/ or drinking Christmas drinks
Giving presents to friends/ family
Receiving presents from friends/ family
Being cosy indoors during the cold Christmas weather

Overall the most important was ‘Spending time with family’ selected by 76% of people, followed by ‘Giving presents to friends/ family’ selected by 63% (note not receiving presents which was only selected by 39%). The least important were ‘Celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ’ and ‘Attending a religious service(s)’ selected by just 22% and 15% respectively.

No doubt some posters will claim that this simply reflects the fact that most people in the UK aren’t actively religious. But hold on – the poll also asked about religious affiliation too and remarkably members of the mainstream Christian denomination also didn’t see the religious side of Christmas as particularly important.

So for CofE members:
‘Celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ’ – ranked 10th of 12 options
‘Attending a religious service(s)’ – ranked bottom in importance
 
So for Catholics:
‘Celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ’ – ranked equal 4th of 12 options
‘Attending a religious service(s)’ – ranked 10th of 12 options

For Church of Scotland
‘Celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ’ – ranked 10th of 12 options
‘Attending a religious service(s)’ – ranked bottom in importance

For Methodists
‘Celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ’ – ranked 4th of 12 options
‘Attending a religious service(s)’ – ranked 10th of 12 options

There are also results for other denominations but the numbers are too small to be meaningful (20 people or less)

Full details here.

https://humanism.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/Results-for-British-Humanist-Association-Christmas-OMNI_511-02.12.xlsx

In only one case did over 50% of the Christian respondents see one of the two religious options as important - ‘Celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ’, selected by 55% of Catholics.

So it isn’t just the non religious who see Christmas as increasingly secular, a majority of Christians do too.

[Hope]

So it isn’t just the non religious who see Christmas as increasingly secular, a majority of Christians do too.

I think you have hit the nail on the head here, PD.  I suspect that most people - religious or otherwise - see the modern Christmas as increasingly secular - commercialisam has taken over, and even the staunchest Christians will probably feel that it is no longer what it is meant to be.  The advantage for them, in a way, is that they can celebrate it throughout the year. 

Of the 12 options given, I probably wouldn't have chosen any.  It is so much more than just celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ. 

[Anchorman]

Wot Hope said. We can celebrate the Incarnation any time - just as we celebrate the Resurrection each Sunday. Christmas is just a focus, that's all. (And a chance to watch Doctor Who)

[ProfessorDavey]

I think you have hit the nail on the head here, PD.  I suspect that most people - religious or otherwise - see the modern Christmas as increasingly secular - commercialisam has taken over, and even the staunchest Christians will probably feel that it is no longer what it is meant to be.

I agree that Christmas has become more secular - but the poll is not consistent with 'commercialisation has taken over' - sometimes I think that Christians fail to understand that non-religious or secular in relation to Christmas is not synonymous with commercialisation.

Actually the most important elements as indicated by the polling suggest anything but commercialisations. The most selected being:

Spending time with family
Giving presents to friends/ family
Eating Christmas food and/ or drinking Christmas drinks
Putting up Christmas lights and decorations
Being cosy indoors during the cold Christmas weather

In many ways coming full circle - with Christmas seen as a time to bring good cheer to our most loved ones at the darkest and cold mid-winter time. How very pagan - how very non commercial.