How I celebrate Christmas as someone who isn’t very religious

Christmas as a British person has become less about Christianity and more about festive culture. When the days get shorter and the weather gets colder, enjoying the little things and the precious time you have with your family makes the question of whether non-religious or people from other religions should celebrate Christmas futile.

Christmas time is such a special time for everyone and the little traditions and aesthetics of the holiday makes living so much more meaningful. Since I was a kid, Christmas was always made special by my mum, my aunties and my grandparents. My mum’s tradition of making us watch The Snowman or Santa leaving our presents on the porch because of my grandma’s fireplace protector aren’t religiously traditional; however, for me they have so much meaning because I associate them with my wacky family and being at university makes me miss their quirky traditions. Seeing these little traditions relived by my younger brother when he gets excited to open his advent calendar or to make wish-lists for Santa make me feel like a kid again.

Gift giving is my favourite part of Christmas; wrapping presents in cute wrapping paper and signing the gift cards as from Santa for my friends and my family makes me feel warm inside. Every year, as my life and social circle grows and changes, new traditions come along. Last year it was Christmas karaoke and watching Christmas films with my friends online and this year, who knows?

But one thing is for sure, whether you are religious or not, Christmas traditions should have some impact on you, whether the only tradition you have at Christmas time is buying a Gingerbread Latte or whether you are very religiously traditional, Christmas is such a special time for everyone.