An Atheist's Christmas

In my wanderings around the net I came across two seasonal poems by Cuttlefish over at the Freethought Blogs I thought I'd share with you:


An Atheist’s Christmas
We’ll all open presents, and cook a big dinner,
And share in traditions we learned long ago
But Christmas is different for this humble sinner,
No “birth of the saviour”, just people we know.
It has nothing to do with a babe in a manger
Or kings being led by a star up above,
But rather in family, friend, and in stranger,
In kindnesses done for the people we love.
A spirit of hope, and a spirit of giving,
A promise of peace in a troubling day,
A chance to examine the way we are living–
The courage to say what we’ve wanted to say.
You don’t need to think there’s a god up above you
To want to be good to your fellows on Earth.
To give to your friends, and to tell them “I love you”
Has nothing to do with some son of god’s birth.
For love, and for giving, we say “tis the season”
For caring, for kindness, for sharing good cheer
But why limit ourselves? I mean, what is the reason?
Why can’t we be giving the rest of the year?
This Christmas, my wish for each sister and brother,
To you, and to everyone you may hold dear;
Remember, this Christmas, to love one another—
Not only this season, but all through the year!


Here is Cuttlefish's version of an atheist Christmas card:


[front] 
As we battle our way through the line at the store 
And think to ourselves “there has got to be more” 
And wonder where “Christmas of long ago” went, 
When the meaning of Christmas was what it first meant… 


 [inside] 
It was stolen by Christians from heathens, of course— 
From Greeks and from Romans, from Celtics and Norse— 
Why, Christmas is pagan, from yule-log to tree 
To mistletoe waiting for you and for me 
The meaning of Christmas—the good stuff, at least— 
The ornaments, stockings, and “rare Who roast beast” 
Has nothing to do with a Son of God’s birth 
But rather the changing of seasons on Earth 
The nights now grow shorter, the days will grow longer, 
The rays of the sun (and our spirits) grow stronger! 
So celebrate Solstice, rejoice in the season, 
And love one another whatever the reason!

Peace and joy to all.