Should Western Buddhists Celebrate Christmas?

[garro]

I quit being a Christian in my early teens, but still continued to enjoy Christmas. My reasoning for doing so was that it was an important part of my country's culture and that that time of year had been a period of celebration long before Christianity arrived on the scene. I also felt that many of the festivities at this type of year have little to do with Christianity anyway; not that I have anything against Christianity. Living in Thailand for a few years means that I hardly mark that time of year at all except to phone my family back in Ireland.

My dilemma is that I have a growing son and don't know whether or not to introduce him to the idea of Christmas presents and Santa. I loved this as a child. My son is a product of two cultures, and I want him to see the best from both. My family are eager to exchange presents, and all that jazz, and that if we visit the old country at that time of year that my son celebrates it with his cousins. I am in two minds. Does a Buddhist have any business celebrating a Christian festival and should Buddhist parents lie to kids about a Santa that dosen't exist? Has anyone else faced this dilemma?

Edited November 23, 2008 by garro

[Raesum]

garro , There are no hard and fast rules on this one. Thai (Buddhist) hubby lived in Australia for many, many years and always celebrated Christmas with his son if he was in town. No harm in introducing both sides to your son.As for presents from your family to him-No doubt they don't have daily contact with him and would like to express themselves to him by way of presents. Whats the harm? Its one way of their communicating with him. As you say-the Christaianity bit has gone out of Christmas in some areas but the Xmas part still lives on. You say you also enjoyed that time of year-just like myself being non Buddhist join in with some of the Buddhist ceremonies. By the way, my husband even used to dress up as Father Christmas for his son and now does it for the grandchildren(who live in Aus). He has now got a costume here in Thailand and will do it this year for neices babies-who of course are Buddhist. I'm sure the smiles and fun will outweigh the fact that Christmas is a Christian celebration. I think that the more children are aware

of our multi-cultural world-the good bits that is-the better

[garro]

garro , There are no hard and fast rules on this one. Thai (Buddhist) hubby lived in Australia for many, many years and always celebrated Christmas with his son if he was in town. No harm in introducing both sides to your son.As for presents from your family to him-No doubt they don't have daily contact with him and would like to express themselves to him by way of presents. Whats the harm? Its one way of their communicating with him. As you say-the Christaianity bit has gone out of Christmas in some areas but the Xmas part still lives on. You say you also enjoyed that time of year-just like myself being non Buddhist join in with some of the Buddhist ceremonies. By the way, my husband even used to dress up as Father Christmas for his son and now does it for the grandchildren(who live in Aus). He has now got a costume here in Thailand and will do it this year for neices babies-who of course are Buddhist. I'm sure the smiles and fun will outweigh the fact that Christmas is a Christian celebration. I think that the more children are aware

of our multi-cultural world-the good bits that is-the better

Thank you raesum for the wonderful post. You make a lot of sense.

[Raesum]

Actually I think you answered it your self when you said "My son is a product of two cultures". Easy!!

[JimsKnight]

Well buddhism is a philosophy first and a religion second (if at all) so celebrate away

[camerata]

Ajahn Chah said if there's a problem with Xmas in Thailand we can simply call it Buddhamas.

[Xangsamhua]

My heritage is Catholic. My wife's is Buddhist. We don't really have much time for Christmas, except for the eating part. From a critical Christian perspective Christmas is a pretty dodgy event - imaginative stories about the nativity and events leading up to it (Matthew's account quite different from Luke's), weird carols, etc. - but the kids like the Santa bit and it's nice to see them enjoy it. It's also good that families get together at Christmas. However, in our case all that happened in a western country. I doubt we would have done anything had we been living here, unless there was pressure to do so, and then you're not so much "celebrating" as just falling into line.

If it seems right for you and your family to celebrate Christmas in Lopburi, why not go ahead and do it, but you're lucky, really, if you don't have to do it just because that's what everyone else does and your kids want the same as all the others.

[Brucenkhamen]

If I were like you living in Thailand (assuming you have no plans to leave soon) I wouldn't bother with Christmas, nor with introducing it to my child.

As we live in farangland we'll definately be celebrating Christmas, it has nothing to do with religion and everything to do with family and unfortunatelty commercialism.

However I don't want to introduce the convcept of Santa Claus, I don't want to lie to my child, so unless the wife vetos that we'll be having xmas without Santa Claus.

[denissr]

Actually Christmas is at least a duel celebration. The birth of Christ for Christians, the Santa, presents and Christmas decorations for the secular community.

[Carib]

Garro, look at the way Thai people, most of them which are Buddhist, celebrate Christmas.

Decorations everywhere , trees in the mall`s, Santa galloping all over the place...commercialism almost unavoidable.

It has become a universal thing, presents/ lots of food, and the real reason is not there anymore. Christianity maybe around somewhere but waaaay back in the background, if at all. So is it really a Christian thing ?

It is just another selling and buying occasion, an excuse for a party and a day of. Is that worth not telling anything about it? There will be questions one day anyway, better tell it yourself.

[chutai]

Does a Buddhist have any business celebrating a Christian festival and should Buddhist parents lie to kids about a Santa that dosen't exist?

The only onus on a Buddhist is to respect the culture and traditions of the country where one lives and practices. Apart from which, Christmas is usually no more than a spendthrift holiday for most in the west, so celebrate it if you wish; there's no harm done.

As for the Santa Claus story, there's no need to either promote nor deny it to kids. More, Chok-dee I reckon.

[Samuian]

who asks?

[rockyysdt]

Having become a huge commercial event, it seems to have little Christian relevance to most.

I value the time off and the gathering of the family, but I dislike the decadance of the ever escalating cost and waste of senseless gift giving and the judgment from receivers should these be considered insubstantial.

It starts with children and escalates into adulthood adding to the numbers who have succumbed to spiralling commercial enterprise out of control.

My sister in-law celebrates Christmas in a non commercial way. She mans a mobile food kitchen feeding the poor and homeless.

[bankei]

I have the good fortune of never having been a Christian, neither has any of my family or wife. But I taught my kids about santa and give them presents. To us it has nothing to do with Christianity - it is just a holiday period.

[rockyysdt]

I have the good fortune of never having been a Christian

Just out of interest bankei.

Why do you say it's a good fortune?

[bankei]

I see a lot of ex-Christians carrying around some mental baggage!

[lagoona2099]

I quit being a Christian in my early teens, but still continued to enjoy Christmas. My reasoning for doing so was that it was an important part of my country's culture and that that time of year had been a period of celebration long before Christianity arrived on the scene. I also felt that many of the festivities at this type of year have little to do with Christianity anyway; not that I have anything against Christianity. Living in Thailand for a few years means that I hardly mark that time of year at all except to phone my family back in Ireland.

My dilemma is that I have a growing son and don't know whether or not to introduce him to the idea of Christmas presents and Santa. I loved this as a child. My son is a product of two cultures, and I want him to see the best from both. My family are eager to exchange presents, and all that jazz, and that if we visit the old country at that time of year that my son celebrates it with his cousins. I am in two minds. Does a Buddhist have any business celebrating a Christian festival and should Buddhist parents lie to kids about a Santa that dosen't exist? Has anyone else faced this dilemma?

Hi garro, imho I think you should celebrate Christmas with your son. I think it's good to expose your child with western culture besides christmas is quite a interesting festival don't you agree? Besides, like what Raesum have mentioned there is really no hard and fast rule here but most importantly is to enjoy the festival!

Just my 2 cents. Cheers.

[mahtin]

If he were in the West his peers would soon disillusion him about Santa.

What he wants is a present. Give him one, and enjoy!

[rockyysdt]

Merry Christmas to all.

After all, the meaning of Christmas is "Peace on Earth & Good will to all Man".

[garro]

Merry Christmas to all.

After all, the meaning of Christmas is "Peace on Earth & Good will to all Man".

Yuletide greetings

[Xangsamhua]

Best wishes for the season to all and may the new year be bountiful.

Xangsamhua

[camerata]

Happy Buddhamas, everyone!