I'm really starting to get into the Christmas spirit at the moment. That may sound strange coming from an atheist but then I always have to laugh at the news stories this time of year talking about "The war on Christmas" or the furore over using Happy Holidays instead of Happy Christmas. Really it's just another example of christians, particularly American christians trying to rewrite history by suggesting that if it weren't for their pokey mythology then people wouldn't have any reason to celebrate in December. Of course this is bullshit.
I've said it before but I'll say it again, there is nothing new or original contained in christianity. Every holy day observed by christians can trace its roots to some earlier tradition. Here in Ireland, St. Brigid's day is celebrated on the 1st February on the same day as the old Celtic holiday of Imbolc. Halloween is celebrated on 31st October, the same day as the Celtic festival of Samhain. Christmas of course, is a modern incarnation of the celebration of the winter solstice which can be found as far back as 3100 BCE in Newgrange. Even the trappings of Christmas such as holly and mistletoe have origins which predate christianity.
In any case, the point of this post is about sharing the love this time of year. Most of all, I love hearing Christmas songs, particularly the crooners (although that can be from playing too much Fallout 3). My favourite, however is one that was released just 3 months before I was born and has the best message of them all:
"No hell below us, above us only sky, ... nothing to kill or die for, no religion too"
I can't think of a better sentiment.
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