WHAT TO SAY AT CHRISTMAS TIME IF AN ATHEIST.

 I am an Atheist and although I do love the festivities of Christmas time, catching up with friends especially when they're on holiday. I used to love decorating the house and gifts but really just used fairy lights and pretty bows, things like that but now I don't as I don't have the space nor energy. As I get older I query more with saying "Merry Christmas" when I'm not religious and don't believe in religion. I wonder if I need or want to say it, and what to say instead, if anything.

I don't begrudge people believing in religion or celebrating it and using what ever terms they like to. Without sounding like the Grinch, I got to thinking about it today after a lunch with friends, where we had a brief discussion about what to say if you are an Atheist. I turned to Google to look for some ideas for alternative sayings.

The religious reason Christmas is celebrated is because "The festival of Christmas gets its name from the term Christ's Mass, or a mass performed in honour of Christ. It is at this time that Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ".

I am happy with just saying "See you next year" or "Have a great day on Friday" using the week day of the week that Christmas falls on, as I still want to use some manners and not be rude. These are some things I found on the internet.

American Atheists has rankled some churchgoers with billboards in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and Raleigh, North Carolina, that say, “Go ahead and skip church! Just be good for goodness sake. Happy holidays!”

"Is it that time of year again?" 

"Thank you!" 

LOVE THIS ONE!
"Have a wonderful Saturnalia!" 
Noun: 
- the ancient Roman festival of Saturn in December, a period of general merrymaking and the predecessor of Christmas. 
- an occasion of wild revelry or indulgence.
Plural noun: 
- Saturnalias "a saturnalia of shopping""Bah, humbug!"

"Happy Christmas."

"Thanks, you too."

"Joyous Yuletide".

"Merry Kwanzaa and a Happy Hanukkah". Kwanzaa is a week-long celebration held in nations of the Western African diaspora in the Americas. The celebration honours African heritage in African-American culture, and is observed from December 26 to January 1, culminating in a feast and gift-giving. Ḥanukkah is a Jewish holiday.

I really like "Have a wonderful Saturnalia" however I know if I use it I'll forever be explaining it which will drive me nuts. I think I'll stick with being polite and say "Have a great day on ________", and "See you next year".

What would you and do you say? Let me know."Have a wonderful Saturnalia" everyone xx