I bloody love Christmas.

I once, as a plucky undergraduate, took part in a pantomime based on the Nativity story, up in Newcastle-upon-Tyne - the slogan on the t-shirts was the one above. And I think we all agreed on the sentiment. Although I preferred my one: "An eye for a why-aye leaves everyone blind drunk."

[As guitarist in the band, I was less enamoured with the mandatory wearing of antlers in the band pit; a sartorial albatross that continues to haunt me.]

So, that's why I followed the career path of the musician, rather than joke writer.

But being brought up within a religious household, as I was, does lend the Christmas period with a lot of weight (water-retention, sure) and resonance that affords all involved with a sense of community. One of the hardest parts of gradually changing belief systems was reconciling my genuine love of the festive period, the community and the traditions, with my own lack of belief in the begged question.

And there's never been a satisfactory answer to 'how can you, as a heathen atheist, honestly enjoy the festive period?'

Thankfully, here it is.

The Atheist's Guide to Christmas is the logical follow-up to The Atheist Bus Campaign - and is also a completely charitable initiative, with the full book advance and all royalties going to the admirable Terrence Higgins UK HIV Trust (especially relevant as an atheist charity of choice given the egregious harm regrettably propagated by the infallible papacy recently over condom usage).

The book is split into vignettes from leading writers, thinkers, scientists and psychological illusionists, numbering 42 essays in total (and it doesn't require too much Deep Thought to figure that one out). It's the perfect length of essay, too - the sort of short, sharp and hopefully sweet fusion of erudition, irreverence and (importantly) a platform.

Having just recovered from the TAM London event last weekend, it was a pleasure to see so many familiar names heralding the good cheer in spite of their godlessness. Ariane Sherine, Ben Goldacre, Simon Singh, Phil Plait, Sid Rodrigues, Robin Ince, Brian Cox, Neil Denny and Graham Nunn all made appearances (some brief, some epochal, all welcome) at TAM.

And, like TAM, I had reservations about the book. The idea of uniting under a common banner, parading in the same uniform, and singing from the same hymn sheet - well, it's all a bit of a mutual back-slapping session, isn't it? Thankfully, both book and weekend dispelled my anxieties - the cats continue to refuse to be herded, blessedly.

I don't want to get into every single essay here, but each one is a joy to read - really! I know I'm too much of a wee young whippersnapper to be genuinely curmudgeonly, but it is really heart-warming to read such a differing collection of views, united under a mutual appreciation of social cohesion, togetherness, family reunion, and drink. Mainly drink.

And I apologise if this isn't the most seasonal of posts. I pre-ordered the book the day it was announced on Twitter (in June!); and I'm writing this mostly in a cafe in Wimbledon in the midst of a gloriously autumnal morning in October. Mmmmmmmm, festive.

Special prize for most idiomatic essay goes to the bally rally of Richard Dawkins as he brings the Wodehouse down, lovingly donning the Woosterian blazer.

Funniest essay has to go to Nick Doody, for his satire on the scientism of measuring Christmasism throughout the ages. My appreciation of this can be testified by all unfortunate patrons of Le Pain Quotidien, who had to endure my sides-splitting throughout. Readers of this site will appreciate the injokes and satire of media devastation of scientific research.

For anyone interested by the Atheist Bus Campaign, Graham Nunn has a great article on the background of the campaign - having eagerly followed the press exploits of the buses, it was nice for me to read more of the 'inside track' - to get all cutting-edge and pretend that I watch The Wire.

Matt Kirshen really does bring value for money to the book; how many texts can give such deep theological and epistemological musings on the relevance of the Judaistic kestrel tradition? Not many, that's for damn sure.

Oh, and did I mention that Simon Le Bon has an essay in it? No? Well, he does.

A special mention must go to Phil Plait and Derren Brown, for some of the most thoughtful, and pleasant essays on the subject I've read. And Sid Rodrigues closes the book with one of the most inspiring stories in there; there's so much more to this subject than just refutation, debunking, or cynicism, and it's to the credit of the contributors that this shines unabashedly through. They are thoroughly good role-models for their views and various causes.
There isn't a single case of a thoughtless invective, or pejorative diatribe in this book.

Robin Ince paints a great image when mentions his growing "bookshelf of good intentions"; we have a similar taste in furniture. But I recommend that this book doesn't end up there.

Preconceptions are for shedding, books are for reading, and Christmas is for celebrating. Families, friends, spirits (Holy or solely chemical), traditions, or religion. Doesn't matter: just relax and enjoy your life.

[Here's a link to my review of The Atheist's Guide to Christmas on Amazon, Phil Plait's review, and the official page with book excerpts for anyone collecting these, or something]

This post originally appeared on The Cavalcade of Whimsy, but has been updated for The Lay Scientist.

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