A gift is a gift, not filling a request. Suggestions are taken under advisement but don't coldly mean person will get that specific thing. My kids chose their laptops for college as these were necessary supplies needed in today's colleges.
Christmas tends to be cheaper and more whimsical.

Because of the way Earl's question was worded, I voted no to Christmas presents for Athiests. They may certainly receive gifts at Christmastime..

I'm not at all sure of this, but I think Santa Claus and big gala parties and lavish gifts was started by an athiest movement. Soon it was all accepted as part of the Christmas tradition and Santa became St Nick..

I was born into the Catholic religion but, like TX, I have grown away from the orginized part of it. I still have my undying faith and pray every day and talk to God often, but all of the hoopla escapes me. And, I can't get to church easily anymore anyway.

Oh, the gift idea originated with the 3 Kings bringing gifts to the baby Jesus at the Manger

And Druids and tree. (kinda Celtic like me)

I said yes, atheists should get Christmas presents, if you want to give them one.

I was raised a Roman Catholic, but I consider myself an atheist now. (I like to think that I'm a nice atheist, and not one of those atheists that's constantly trying to ruin Christmas for everyone else by complaining about Christmas tree displays. The Constitution says "freedom OF religion, not freedom FROM religion. Everyone can pray (or not pray) if they want to and wherever they want to. Anyone tries to stop you, they're violating your Constitutional right to worship)

I celebrate Christmas. I dont do the church part (parents do, one is Catholic, other is Methodist), but I decorate the house and am pretty much the one who does most of the shopping so that my parents and I have something to open up on Christmas morning.

If I didnt do the decorating, our house would look pretty boring every year. My tree has patriotic ornaments and red, white and blue lights on it. (started that in 2001) I was thinking of not putting up a tree this year, or putting up a smaller tree this year because the MS is really bugging me lately, but I'm getting it out early and decorating it slowly.

I like buying and giving presents to people, and receiving them is fun too!

Also, I kind of like Hanukkah too, but I dont have any Jewish friends nearby to celebrate that with. (with that, I actually like watching and hearing the prayers and the history around it...I might not be religious myself, but I like learning about the history and the reasons for things)

Hi kitty, I agree. Christmas is getting out of hand anyway. The last few years I only give gifts of food to share. Good coffee etc. I have started to believe the commercialization of it all has taken away the meaning. gift giving is up to the individual. It isn't suppose to be about the presents anyway. ginnie

Just curious.....What does it take to change a person born and raised Christian to an Athiest?

This is not a religion comparison question!!

I give a gift because I love that person, not because of their religion. It is a gift from me, not my religion or because of my religion.

Hi Sally, I don't know. My son was raised with church. At 15 he got re-baptised in a lake of his own accord. Now at 37 he is an athiest and has lost his faith. I am heartbroken, as sometimes faith is what we hold on to when things get very difficult in life. He doesn't have that now, to help himself through a depression. I don't know how to help him eithor. I can't believe there is nothing out there. The universe is too spectacular not to believe in something. I study science, and the more I know the more faith I seem to have. It all fits so perfect, and us being here is such a miracle, I for one, have to believe in God. Maybe not a religion question, but it makes you think about why a person believes as they do. ginnie

I give gifts because I love to give them. I don't give a hoot what religious or spiritual beliefs the receiver has...it's a totally selfish act on my part.

Christmas, Easter and Halloween were originally pagan feast or celebrations. There are different names for them, but I'll bet you all have sung about Yule logs, right? Pagan. The pumpkin on Halloween? Pagan. Easter bunny? Symbol of fertility
Pagan.

Back in the 3-4 century, Pope somebody decided the whole world MUST be Christian, and took away the Pagans traditions. They weren't happy about that, so the Pope allowed them to resume, but with different names.

There is also no proof that Jesus was born Dec 25, most think it occured in the spring.