It's about Christmas

I myself was not born in a temple, and I came into this path with the intention of becoming a monk myself. Therefore, I lived like a part of the world until my 3rd year of high school. When I was a kid, I had cakes baked for me and got presents because it was Christmas. I loved fishing, so I fished every day until my 3rd year of high school. After I decided to become a monk, of course, I stopped fishing, and I haven't participated in anything other than Shinto rituals such as the first visit or relationships that are inevitable at Christmas.

When it comes to my kids, does my friend's house of course celebrate Christmas? So the kids were expecting it too, but they said, “There's no Santa. Think about it, there's no way that an unrelated person, not your father or mother, your grandmother, or your uncle or aunt, will give you a present even though they haven't done anything for that person. There are no such people in the world. That's why Santa isn't here,” he said. The kids seemed convinced. Furthermore, he said, “Christmas is a Christian day to celebrate the birth of Jesus, so it has nothing to do with us.” It seems that they are even more convinced.

I remember saying that it is disrespectful for Christians to treat days that are cherished in a funny way.

When I was little, I didn't do Christmas because my house was a temple. I remember feeling sad when my grandmother told me that. I feel like the mother prepared Christmas cake and tree because she felt sorry for her children after all. Santa came too (^^)

Christmas in Japan has almost no religious meaning, and Buddhism does not deny other religions, so if it's a birthday celebration, isn't it OK to celebrate anyone's birthday regardless of religion?

If Buddha and Christ were friends, I think they would celebrate each other ^ ^

Jesus is a great man, so I don't think it's a problem to celebrate his birth even if the denominations are different.
Until now, and even now, there are so many people who have been saved thanks to Christianity.
Mother Teresa wouldn't exist without Jesus.
I'm thankful for that.
Let's all celebrate.

It's definitely not because it's an opportunity to eat cake at one of the few temples.

What cake should I make this year? (^^)

I read it.
There was a time when I was celebrating Christmas too. When I left college and worked in Tokyo, she was a Christian, so of course I went to church on Sunday and Christmas Eve. I still remember seeing everyone solemnly and quietly celebrating the birth of Jesus at church.
Also, when I was abroad, I went to church and I remember that solemn ceremony in a church with Gothic architecture.
After all, Christmas is a religious act for Christians. Japanese people celebrate some kind of festival, but is that really OK? It makes me think. Halloween is like that too...
In Japan today, I feel like they are doing everything because they are incited by the commercial profit principle. It continues with Valentine's Day, White Day, Halloween, and Christmas. The fact that Jesus, a religious person, was born, preached his religion to so many people, was saved, and then burdened with human sins and executed by crucifixion is still precious.
I think it's a good idea to accept that honestly. Also, I think it's good to celebrate.
However, after all, I think it's important not to get too carried away by the profit principle of the world.
I hope you also have a feeling of gratitude and spend precious time with everyone in your family.