I have been thinking about this for a long long time so i decided to hear everyones view I could.
My mother was not a church goer, she could barely read so her family bible sat unused. She did how ever have "religious" items, a creche and 2 wooden monks are what I remember most.
When she had her stroke and i went to live with my older 1/2 sister, she chunked these items. (which were among my most cherished memories) I did recently replace the monks. I am currently looking for the creche, but i digress.
My mom always had me put the baby in the manger, that was my job.
Living with my sister in her faith, the birth of Jesus was ignored, Christmas was for Santa and "stuff". It was taboo to even consider His birth, but His death is remembered weekly. Some went even further and refused to acknowledge the holiday at all, and refused to celebrate any birth. It seemed a very sour outlook to me as a teen!
I love creches, and collect them when I can, I have 2 now, a small all in one my #2 son gave me that he had found. It had been in a water globe some one tossed. The other is a clear glass one I got from a $ store at the 50% off sale.
I hope before next Christmas to have one like my mom's, it was a German one, bought when I was born there, composition, with a wooden stable and manger. I have seen some on Ebay and hope to get one.
My thoughts are, why not celebrate Jesus birth? I know the day is not specified, and it is indeed unlikely to have happened when we think it did, but it is still a joyous event. I do believe that i should not add to or take away from God's word, and at the same time, the bible says we are free to celebrate the festivals if we choose to.
How do you feel? is this a time of worship for you or is it just gifts and elves and snow?
I think I some how fall in between the too.