I suppose being from a mainly atheist/agnostic family the Christmas traditions are somewhat different. It is mainly a celebration of family and friends.

I suppose being from a mainly atheist/agnostic family the Christmas traditions are somewhat different. It is mainly a celebration of family and friends.

I'm not sure Christmas traditions have really become different within either families or society, solely because of agnostic/atheist beliefs. I was startled to read in the newspaper that Christmas is enthusiastically celebrated in Indonesia, despite that country being the largest Muslim country in the world. Besides, some of the original Christmas traditions, which have continued, have also been adapted from pagan sources, such as celebrating Christmas at Yuletide, at the Northern Winter solstice, despite attempts at Christmas in July parties in the Blue Mountains.

Even specifically Christian referenced traditions, such as the Nativity scenes at shopping centres still continue, though less obviously. Even the secular carols played at our shopping centres sometimes manage to include a few religious Christmas carols, without the non-PC verses.

Although, as you say, it is mainly a celebration of family and friends, for families like your own, whose beliefs are agnostic/atheist, Christmas traditions can be just as much about history and heritage, as well as personal values, and religious beliefs. I've amended the thread to be more inclusive, and thank you for pointing it out.

Your husband is atheist?(i think i remember you saying that) does he go along to the church services?

I agree it does seem Christmas has become a celebration in many countries of the world whether they are mainly christian countries or not.

It seems to be a tradition to play backyard cricket in Australia on Christmas day. Though it is usually very hot.

For backyard cricket you need someone to organise the team and being excused from the washing up. Never me.

Your husband is atheist?(i think i remember you saying that) does he go along to the church services?

My husband has been agnostic rather than atheist. He went to church last year at Christmas with me, since he had just finished a course of radiation therapy for cancer, the day beforehand. Normally, when I attend church, he uses the opportunity to ring up his brothers and sisters, so everyone is catered for.

Oh I see. I have never been to a christmas Church service. I did go to a service once however since I was staying with my auntie and thought it would be rude not to go.

On the US front there's lots of stuff most folks probably already know about overseas, mainly from movies and the like. On Christmas Eve the little ones can tune in to the TV and see NORAD (North American Air Defense) track Santa's sleigh as it goes around the world. Typically they describe it as a sort of "sleigh craft featuring 9 Reindeer, one with a red navigational beacon (Rudolph). Apparently it started as a joke back in the 50's or 60's when some kid called NORAD by accident and wanted to know where Santa was. One of the operators and NORAD told him they had Santa on radar and were tracking him in from the North Pole, etc. Usually they'll sortie some fighters to "escort" him through friendly territory.

As traditions go it really varies from family to family but generally speaking we typically open up gifts in the mornings here. If you have a family with kids you may wake up to find them parked under the tree asleep where they were trying to catch Santa in the act (guilty as charged). Most families have some sort of Christmas dinner in the early evening, typically turkey or ham, but just about any sit down dinner meal will suffice. We've had pot roast, roast beef and potatoes, lasagna, and even duck before. When time permits my family engages in a few board games, but it's very rare that we're all off at the same time (I have to work all day on Christmas for instance, so I won't get to see anyone until that night). Of course the little kids are all hopped up on sugar from the candies in the stockings and having run amok like lunatics after a raid on a coffee shop, so they zonk out earlier than normal. There's wrapping paper carnage all over the floor. Someone is going to step on a Lego and cry out in pain. Dad will be in the recliner sleeping off the turkey shock.

Pretty standard stuff!

Here we have something similar on Christmas eve morning news shows here. When I was about 6 I thought if they are mentioning it on the news. Santa Claus must be real.

It is standard for an elderly relative to faint due to the heat at Christmas. Well it happened 3 years in a row(2007-2009).

It is standard for an elderly relative to faint due to the heat at Christmas. Well it happened 3 years in a row(2007-2009).

Yes, that was an El Nino period, with record bushfires and hot temperatures in 2009 - 45 degrees C in our backyard. In days of yore before air conditioning, elderly relatives used to have a siesta as a post-Christmas dinner tradition. My poor grandmother, in particular, deserved it. Whilst - you guessed it - I washed up. This year, now that I am over 65, I hope to qualify as an elderly relative, who really shouldn't be cooking or washing up in Australian heat, anyway.

It turns out that getting those silver coins in those Christmas puddings used to mean that the person who got them was to be named the king or queen of Christmas which entitled them to order people around. At our place it didn't necessarily apply to the Christmas dinner washing up, though. And in the end, as I was told then, it just meant you might be lucky through the year, especially if you didn't swallow what we used to call a trey-bit.

According to the Daily Telegraph this custom has all but died out. But you can still get pudding packs from the Royal Australian Mint, which is in Perth.

We will probably listen to Carols in the Domain, which is on TV this weekend.

This year it is going to be 30c(in perth) which is much better than previous years. So at least no elderly relatives should be fainting. Though this year I think there is only one or 2 elderly people coming to Christmas dinner at my aunties house.