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We celebrate Christmas every year - presenting gifts, drinking, singing, etc. etc. So, it has its meaning.
Tanaka Kazunari, Singapore

This period of the year was a time for celebration long before the Christians started exploiting it. I celebrate the winter solstice and would encourage everyone to follow suit.
Marc, London, UK

Christmas will always remain Christ-centred for the millions of Christians who have trusted the LORD as Saviour and who constitute the true body of Christ. England, the one country that was so instrumental in sending out the gospel light to a dark and weary world, is now, paradoxically, asking the question: "Does Christmas mean anything today?" The spiritual condition of the English is of great concern to believers in the United States. We are praying for your country and sacrificing to send missionaries to the English people so they can continue to hear the gospel: Christ died for all sinners; He rose victoriously - and He is coming again! "Believe on the LORD Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved." Hell is real, but so is heaven and eternal life is offered to all who simply believe! May the LORD work in a mighty way in your country this new year!
K. Sampson, USA

Who cares about Christmas. It used to be something religious. Who in the world is really religious and is celebrating the birth of a guy centuries ago?? Presents and holidays, that's what it means these days!
Mario Merckaert, Belgium

The meaning is still there its just in commercialised sound bites.
Bob Noswol

I decided NOT to buy, buy, buy. Instead, I truly enjoyed the meaning of Christmas: giving of yourself and your time. We don't HAVE to become "consumers" at Christmastime, instead, we can become "givers." You get out of Christmas, exactly to the proportion that you give to it... and then some!
Patti Stiewing, USA

Xmas has not lost its meaning. It has simply adapted - and quite well, I may add - to the constantly changing face of society. We still understand the reason behind this annual festival. And many still value its religious signifigence. But in a world where technology and perception changes daily, we must thank God that Xmas is still in essence the celebration of peoples humanity towards their fellow people Xmas.
Roger Robinson, UK

Maybe Christmas has rather changed its meaning than lost it. Living in Japan now I feel I can see clearly how valuable and cohesive the secular traditions of Christmas are: spending time with family, sharing, preparing, rituals, etc.
Andi-Tsuyoshi Williams, Japan

Christmas has much meaning for people: relationships, love, joy of giving, eating together, and even celebrating the birth of a child 2000 years ago and the birth of the spirit of childhood in each of us dail. Yes, it has meaning!!!
David L Gable, USA

This Christmas every Mass at my Church was packed, standing room only. For the weeks prior the shopping malls were empty. The media is reporting that gift sales were down the past three years. I would conclude that it is shopping that has lost its meaning and that Jesus is making a comeback.
Joe Giardina, USA

Yes it has and I am afraid it reflects the general decline in Christian church attendance in Britain today.
Steven Craig, Scotland, UK

I feel it is a family holiday. The true meaning has been lost to commercial greed.
Chris Anderson U K

If Mr Blair believes in the true meaning of Christmas - the birth of Jesus Christ - then he should send cards with "Merry Christmas" on them, regardless of who is receiving them. Otherwise it may suggest he's ashamed of his faith.
Jane Hicks, USA

I think today's Christmas is a holiday, because so many people are tired from working.
Eom Seong-beom, Korea

It's too commercialised. Shops have christmas stuff in September/October. It's all buy buy buy. What about all the homeless?
Paul Lockier, UK

I believe that yes Christmas is for Santa and presents but we also need to remind ourselves of the real meaning of Christmas.
Jonathan Bryson, Northern Ireland

Christmas hasn't lost its meaning - just changed it.
Michael Nolan, UK

Christmas has become hollow with the vacant false ring of over zealous commercialism. I set up a fake company myself to represent a few biking friends when we tour, and sent out a christmas message with the intention of it being false, yet it sounded so similar to "real" company greetings of yuletide.
Nicholas Frankcom, England

It's become part of the marketing machine. You lose your rational and get caught up in the need to buy, buy , buy. I think the marketeers should sense the burnout and focus in on the traditions. I'm envious when I hear the older generation talk of the simplicity of Christmas past.
Erika Morghese, Canada

Christmas is about presents, drinking, eating, parties. Where is Jesus? It is Christ's day, not ours. How many will even give a thought to Christ's birth and all it meant to everyone christian or not. I wish everyone "A Good Christmas" not just a good holiday.
J Myers, England

Christmas still brings out the best in all of us. For that reason alone I think it has not lost its meaning.
Catherine McHugh, USA

Its still fun at the year end...forgetting the past and hoping for the best in the year to come...sooner or latter more and more people in Asia will start celebrating X-mas, although they are non-christians...hence its going to a time for every one in the world to enjoy..not just by giving gifts but aslo to care for the downtroden and the homeless.
Raj, Singapore

I think Christmas has lost it's true meaning, to most people now it is just a holiday and exchange of gifts. Many of the children today only see this aspect of Christmas and do not understand the Religious aspects. It is too commercial and geared in a large part to retailers making their best sales of the year , and not caring about the true tradition of Christmas.In many areas now especially here in Canada, the season is referred to as the "Holidays" so as not to offend the other cultures and religions.
Keith Markillie, Canada

Indeed it has. What do most of us associate Christmas with nowadays? All the pop symbols: the holly and the ivy, the potbellied Santa, prickly fir trees.... Whatever happened to the birth of the Messiah and his message for all of mankind? When was the charity and the goodness of the occasion taken over by TV specials, department store sales, drinking binges and unchecked consumerism?
Shehryar Sarwar, USA

No, Christmas still has profound meaning for many. If it means only a warm greeting or a gesture of kindness to a stranger, then that's part of Christ's message wether you are Christian or not. Besides, the essence of Christmas is to love children as God loved his Son and all his children...it's the love of a parent for a child and the love for mankind...that transcends religion.
Brigitte Lawson Chan, Canada

Like many others, Christmas is probably the only time that I think of religion. To make this *very* special time of year into a homogenised PC American 'holiday' would be a terrible loss to the UK. Blair should know better. As the political head of a Christian country he should be wishing everyone a 'Happy Christmas', regardless of the culture or creed of the recipient. Likewise, I'd expect to be greeted a Happy Hannukah by a Jew. Unto your own self be true. Don't fall into the Politically Correct trap.
Dave Robertson, USA

Christmas means different things to different people. To Christians it is a celebration of the birth of Jesus but it would be wrong to expect those who hold sincere beliefs in other religions to celebrate in the same way. To them it is simply a holiday time and we should respect this and not try to force the Christian festival on them.
Neil Tonks, UK

When Christmas greetings become politically corrected to include all religions I think that Christmas has lost its meaning. I mean Christmas is supposed to be Jesus' birthday and that is what we are supposed to celebrate and so it seems mad to try to include other religious beliefs into a Christian holiday.
Gideon Stargrave, UK

Unfortunately, for many Christians, Christmas never gets past the Nativity, to see the wonderful gift of redemption that comes from Jesus' birth, death and resurrection.
Douglas Stevens, USA

Christmas is now an international celebration of family based goodwill. As other faiths are drawn in, the christian aspect will be diluted.
Jim Stephenson, UK

Christmas has not lost its meaning for those who have taken time to prepare. The world itself has always had a hard time getting the real meaning of Christmas...Even the first Christmas many years ago in Bethlehem. Christmas has meaning to those who have found significance in the Child of Bethlehem. As for the rest it has been an excuse for crazy shopping and parties.
Rev. Timothy Wagner, USA

It's hard to say. I know many people for whom Christmas has not lost its meaning: the celebration of the Messiah's arrival on earth. On the other hand, for many people Christmas is a festival of family and love, and just giving gifts. Their Christmas has not lost its meaning either, because they celebrate what they think the "meaning" is. I guess the answer to the question lies in the answer to another question: what's the meaning of Christmas? Pagans might think that the meaning was lost when Christians appropriated it for themselves. Christians will think that it's lost when they see the commercialism, atheism and paganism. Non-Christian Christmas-celebrators simply don't even understand the issue: "isn't Christmas about gifts and family?" I for myself think that a majority of the population has lost "it."
Atilla Vekony, USA

I am a British person living in the US, and this is what I get to see for the Christmas holiday:
* People being pushed out of the way, trampled on, shoplifting, all to get the latest gift.
* Angry people shouting at each other causing violent eruptions.
* Overindulgence, overspending, debt.
It is no longer a time of piece and goodwill to all people, although that is what sitcoms would have us believe. It is a time of mass exodus. Is Christmas a religious holiday? Not any more, except for the cultish christians who push their religion rather than allowing people to make their own choices. Greed? Yes. Remember that Coca Cola used to use Santa as their marketing gimmick which is why the guy is dressed in red.
Paul Askew, United States

End the Hype - Make Christmas meaningful!
Judith Croasdell, UK

I think our Christmas season has always had non-Christian connotations and has also been a general time for celebration and for thinking of others. However, I do think that some of the giving of non-material gifts such as kindness and friendliness to others has been lost with the increased emphasis on shopping.
But I think Christians are right to use this time to remind people about the birth of Jesus Christ, as I think that is one of the most important events concerning the most important person in human history.
Jim Snowden, UK

Yes, without a doubt it is now just a commercial bun fight. Many years ago there was an advertising slogan "Don't take the Christ out of Christmas", referring to the awful use of "Xmas".
Today's youngsters see Christmas as an excuse to indulge themselves and stuff the rest. A generalism I know but sadly it is increasingly accurate. Enjoy it. But spare a thought for others.
M. Brimacombe, Devon, UK

I think Christmas for most people now is simply a holiday. There is nothing wrong with that...
Jim Long, UK

I think the public media has trivialized Christmas and well who can blame them. The true meaning of christmas has not been lost to those who truly celibrate it. I would not advocate any changes however, but it does seem a shame sometimes if all that people really celbrate is the recieving of presents and over indulgence.
Jon Broughton, UK

Even for many non-Christians, or non-practising Christians, Christmas is more than just a holiday. It does bring people together. There is an underlying spirituality, despite the commercialisation. Christmas is still special for me, even though I don't believe in the Biblical story of Christ.
Anne- Marie Stevens, Bath, UK

If Christmas means Santa and presents, yes. If Christmas means the birth of Jesus, no. The belief in the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ can not be taken from the hearts of those that believe. December 25 is a day of recognition. As long as the Christians believe, Jesus will remain the reason for the season. The non-Christians are not the ones required to keep the true meaning of Christmas. It is the duty of every Christian to speak of the goodness of our Lord and Savior. God does not force us to worship him. Let's keep this day in our hearts as the beginning of the Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. I hope my day to day living can bring someone to believe.
Hosea Pipkins, USA

It's time we gave Yule back to the pagans. Since we don't know exactly when Jesus was born, except that it probably wasn't in the winter, we can move our religious celebration of the Nativity (Christmas) to any time of year. Let the Yule observances be held without any pretense of religious meaning - they lost the real meaning a long time ago anyway.
James Castro, USA

Christmas has different meanings to different people.
Karl Bollon, England

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