Whenever the holiday season strikes, I can’t help but feel cheery and joyful at the sight of Christmas trees, ornaments, Christmas treats, drinks, decorations and fun gifts. I genuinely can’t help it. This has always been my response to Christmas joy and cheer. I have grown up to be a non-believing atheist who identifies as a bisexual woman. My relationship with religion has been a clear mess because of the orthodox, homophobic and misogynistic beliefs promoted by the same. But, this doesn’t affect my love for Christmas as a festival.
Christmas continues to give me the same happiness and joy. But, does this mean that I have no other choice but to give in to religious customs and traditions? I know a lot of us, especially people from the LGBTQIA+ community, suffer from this awful dilemma every year but the answer is easy, you don’t! You can celebrate Christmas without the traditional and religious elements.
Are you wondering how to celebrate Christmas without bringing in the religious factor at all? Well, here are some simple and easy ways in which you can keep the Christmas cheer and joy alive.
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6 Fun Ways To Celebrate Christmas Without Any Religious Aspects
1. Keep The Decorations Going
Decorate the house with your favourite decorations. Bring home a beautiful tree and decorate it with lights and your favourite ornaments. This can help unleash the Christmas spirit and get the cheerfulness flowing in the best way possible. I go to the market every year to find one new and gorgeous ornament to add to my existing collection.
2. Christmas Special Treats Are Always Fun
Just because you have a hard time relating to the religious aspects of Christmas, it doesn’t mean that you let the holiday treats like gingerbread and holiday special drinks like hot cocoa and eggnog fade away. Continue to get together with your loved ones, dress up in red, white and green, and make these special treats.
3. Family Gatherings Can Bring Positivity
Holidays are the best time to catch up with your family. If you are not a religious family then your family gatherings can be more about spending time together than celebrating the birth of Jesus. You all can go for dinners together, exchange gifts, play games or do some kind of fun activities together, etc. You can make the Christmas holidays an annual family reunion to strengthen familial ties. I am also well aware of the fact that a lot of members of the LGBTQIA+ community aren’t close with their families so, don’t worry, this can also mean your chosen family i.e. your friends, fellow community members, neighbours and just people who make you feel loved!
4. It’s A Jingle Party
We all love a good Christmas party, it’s the perfect occasion to eat, drink and meet up with your friends, colleagues or family. This is probably one of the most popular aspects of Christmas. And there is nothing intrinsically religious about Christmas parties. So it’s just a good excuse to dress up your best and dance and mingle. Sounds incredibly fun, doesn’t it?
5. Gift-Giving Is A Big Yes
Honestly, the most exciting activity of Christmas is exchanging gifts, and it doesn’t have to be abandoned to have a secular Christmas. Come on, there’s nothing about Christmas presents which is inherently religious. It’s just an opportunity to gift your loved ones something good which will make them happy. You can also make these fun by arranging secret Santa groups with your best friends and close family members.
6. Christmas Shopping Is Always Amazing
Christmas shopping is the least religious aspect of Christmas. There’s nothing the least bit religious about Christmas shopping, so if you’re someone who enjoys the sights, sounds and smells of shopping at Christmas time, you can do so without worrying if you’re giving in to a popular religious celebration. Get dressed and shop away.
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Celebrating Christmas can just be an annual tradition for you to bond with your loved ones. So if you have a difficult relationship with religion and its aspects, you don’t have to deprive yourself of the joy attached to the festivals.