> > It was unexpected because I don't celebrate Christmas, and normally I hardly notice it passing but for my friends online wishing everyone happy holidays.
>
> [snip]
>
> > I could not have eliminated the awkwardness I felt at not sharing the meaning of the holiday, but it was minimized as best as it could have been.
>
> Personal question (but you brought the subject up on a public forum, so I feel it's fair game): why don't you celebrate Christmas?
>
> I only ask because I had a discussion the other day with somebody who couldn't understand why I would celebrate Christmas if I'm not a Christian. My reason is simply that I view it as a cultural holiday as much as a religious one; it's a part of American culture that I grew up with. I enjoy the gift-giving and festivities quite a bit, and I simply don't involve myself with any religious aspects.
>
> I also think the general message of peace and goodwill is a pertinent one, regardless of religious leanings.

I was going to reply in much the same way, but you beat me to it. I know Maryam is not a Christian, but it seems to me that Christmas, the way it is celebrated today, is as much a secular festival as a religious one. I know that my own Christmas did not have even the slightest element of Christian meaning involved. In fact, I don't think I even *saw* any overtly religious symbolism or celebrations during my various excursions around town on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day.

Perhaps if a person belongs to a different religion, they would avoid even the secular aspect of Christmas, because of its origin as a Christian festival. Although I respect this, it seems odd to me. Looking at things the other way around, Christians have no trouble celebrating Easter as a festival of their own religion, though it is named for a pagan goddess. Likewise, I see no reason why secular society shouldn't be free to appropriate the name and some of the traditions of Christ-Mass for secular purposes.

I imagine any awkwardness, such as Maryam describes, would be most likely to be present if a non-Christian was sharing the day with a religious Christian family, or vice versa. Was this the case? Or was there another reason?

As Stephen said, this isn't intended as derogatory to anybody, least of all Maryam, who is l33t and everything. I'm just curious.