The winter solstice is the real reason for the season and I see no reason why it should not be "celebrated"--no deities involved. However, if anyone tries to fool her/himself into thinking that Xmas is about Jesus, they are delusional. While fundies might celebrate Jesus, the vast majority are into the holiday for presents and getting together.

I personally keep to myself during the holidays for personal reasons, but I don't mind enjoying the festivities around me as long as they are in an inclusive style, not excluding anyone who do not believe.

For me, I have memories of childhood Christmases and there was no religious test in order to enjoy them. Maybe that was because one of my grandmothers was atheist.

When I got older, engaged to be married, my dad died on Christmas morning, just before my fiancé and I were due to go to his parents house for my first time joining them for Christmas breakfast and to open presents. His family wanted to pray for me, and I said, "Oh, please don't, I'm a heathen, haha!"

Well my life was hell after that admission. During my 29 years of marriage, I'd do the gift shopping, cooking, decorating, etc, but my in-laws would invite my husband and kids for Christmas dinner, while requesting I stay home. Same for Thanksgiving, etc. Because of my non-belief, since I wasn't going to thank God for the turkey, I was excluded.

So, I get a bit triggered when holiday events are overtaken by a requirement to believe a myth is reality, instead of just enjoying the spirit of the season.

All that below! Happy Yule!

I love a party, be it Saturnalia, Solstice, Christmas, Winter. keep up the 5000 year traditions, just change the names, no belief is necessary.

The christians copied these pagan celebrations, so why not celebrate just don't do the stupid religious part.

After 30 years of learning about the harm and violence from religion + being married to an Iranian wonmen, who from her childhood thought religion (in her case Muslem) was silly and being on sites like this and tons of reading I've become an anti-theist. I can't even stand to hear all the religious nonsense. Luckily, I have a public classical station - yourclassical- which has a lot of different genres (so far with no religious themes) so I can tune into this source to keep my senses during this time of year.

I ignore the proselytizing aspect and enjoy the good intentions most people have. It helps that I avoid celebrations with people who might go too far with the Mr Jesus stuff.

I do nothing for the holidays here because I live alone. Bring children into this picture and you might change this to include them. If not you may regret it later. Even so, I make sure that nobody remains indoctrinated into false beliefs about a Jesus birthday. You have gifts and exchange gifts. Fine. Let people be happy.

I love a ton of well-wrapped presents under my tree (including many for the dog!), the lights inside and out at a Very Grey time of year, and my family has a few stocking suffers to exchange but give to charities substantially as our main "gifts"...mine are Heifer International and Smile Train, my brother and his wife choose St Jude, and so on.
So doing good and feeling festive, why should extraneous "religious" stuff have anything at all to do with it?
Only if you let it......

To celebrate the lengthening of the days, in the Northern Hemisphere is natural, a tradition found in most cultures far older than Christianity, and well worthwhile. The rest is tat which is best just ignored.