Does the world celebrate Christmas

Answer 1

Christmas is a Christian holiday, so the countries which practice Christianity will celebrate Christmas, others do not, like the Muslim or Buddhist countries.

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Many non-Christians living or working in Christian communities observe Christmas as a holiday in a non-religious manner, out of respect for their wider community, just as many Christians respect the holy days and festivals observed by other religious groups within their community, or by friends in other communities.

Also, in most Christian communities, the observance of Christmas - like other holy days - is compulsory in that these days are not considered normal working days, and courtesy applies everywhere to the observance of and respect for non-working days and other celebrations by those to whom these days are not personally sacred or relevant.

It's about good manners, and living harmoniously and happily within one's close and one's wider community. One needn't believe in the reasons behind the holy days of others to share the enjoyment of those whose faith gives them joy in the celebration of that faith.

That sharing can be expressed in many ways; in my mainly Christian community, at Christmas, the exchange of small gifts and other expressions of goodwill between Christians and non-Christians is commonplace, just as gifts and good wishes are exchanged at other times of the year between friends and neighbours. Children, in particular, take great pleasure in this kind of cross-cultural celebration.

If anyone doubts that a joyous celebration can be embraced by those not directly committed to the culture or faith concerned, we have only to look at the celebrations which take place internationally each March, when people everywhere from small towns to huge cities discover a little Irish heritage when they turn out to mark the day of a beloved and benevolent saint in churches and clubs and pubs, in cathedrals and in the streets. New York, I believe, still has the biggest St Patrick's Day march in the world, and from sheer noisy enthusiasm to quiet observance by the faithful, it's a stunning day for all, everywhere.

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