"You Don't Keep Christmas?" Experiences

My sophomore year I had a class with all freshmen. I hadn't met any of them before and when some of them found out I didn't celebrate Christmas, several wanted to talk about my belief. One girl asked me if I even believed in God. When I said "Yes," she said, "How can you believe in God and not celebrate Christmas?" Continuing, she asked "Don't you like to get presents?" I told her and the others that if they really celebrated that holiday for God, then they wouldn't care about the presents. Several then admitted to me that Christmas was now just about getting presents.
— Kara

I was in ninth grade in biology class and it was getting near Christmas. Someone (I believe it was the girl sitting across from me) asked me what I was getting other people for Christmas. Instead of discreetly handling the situation, I opted to launch into a proof of the pagan origin of Christmas and of Christ's real birthday. She couldn't believe I didn't keep Christmas and suggested that I didn't believe in the real Jesus. I tried to prove to her that Christ's birthday was in the fall, but her eyes quickly glazed over and I got nowhere. So much for my ability to convert others!
—Josh

I've had many different responses when I tell people that I don't keep Christmas, but one of the most amazing was "Well, if you don't keep Christmas, you are Jewish!" Even after trying to explain that I wasn't Jewish, the person said, "I don't care. You're still Jewish." To this person I am still the "Jewish girl."
— Becky

I was once asked why my church didn't choose another day to celebrate Christ's birthday since we don't believe it occurred on Dec. 25. I responded that we don't need to celebrate the day He was born but rather what He did when He lived here on earth. The day He was born doesn't give me salvation; following the instructions He gave us when He lived does.
— Ashley

When I get asked why I don't celebrate Christmas, I ask the person, "Why do you?" After hearing their response, I explain that all we generally know is what we have been told by our parents and ministers but that I have personally researched this and proven to myself that I shouldn't celebrate Christmas. I then ask them if they have really studied the subject. The usual responses are "No" or they don't say anything.
— Josh

If you'd like to know more about why these young people don't observe Christmas, read our free booklet Holidays or Holy Days: Does it Matter Which Days We Keep?, available at www.ucg.org/booklets. VT