Why is Christmas a holiday?

[Disgustipated]

Can the U.S. really claim to have separation between church and state when Christmas is a paid federal holiday? I think not. All the government offices should be open on Christmas. It's on a Sunday this year, but assuming it wasn't, then the offices should remain open. Religious holidays should not be federal holidays. The ones I have a problem with is Christmas and Easter. Why are the liberal groups not suing the government over this? The only reason I can think of is they don't do it because it benefits them. No one is going to complain over a paid day off. But it's the principal of the matter. I would like to see Christmas stricken as a U.S. holiday.

Yes I'm in a grinchy mood. Deal with it. Feel free to show me the error of my logic. Show me that having Christmas as a holiday doesn't violate the separation between church and state.

 

[NBAfan]

Majority of America is Christian, so it would seem to be the culture norm for a holiday.

Easter always falls on a Sunday, so you can't complain about that.

 

[Skwink]

Why are you looking for reasons to work more?

 

[Behind The Mask]

Christmas isn't a Christian Holiday in my eyes so I have no qualms with enjoying some splendor every 25th of December.

 

[Joecoolyo]

Majority of America is Christian, so it would seem to be the culture norm for a holiday.

This basically.

78% of the population is Christian, it's easier just to call it a day off rather than have that many people miss work.

 

[MjM]

Really? This thread on Christmas?

 

[SS-18 ICBM]

Besides, is Christmas as it is celebrated today even that religious anymore?

 

[stormerne]

All the government offices should be open on Christmas. It's on a Sunday this year, but assuming it wasn't, then the offices should remain open. Religious holidays should not be federal holidays.

That sounds like someone following a religion called Shouldism!

 

[aronnax]

Moving passed the whole practical reason that America has a lot of Christian people, Christmas is by itself a cultural and traditional holiday of Americans in a secular sense as well.

 

[Maniacal]

Why not? There is a huge emphasis on family gatherings right now regardless of religion and it has developed its own non-religious culture around it (Santa Clause). Seasons Greetings, Merry Christmas, and Happy Holidays all work (government should remain secular, but decorations in stores don't really matter that much and what individual people call it matters even less), especially since it isn't actually the birthday of jesus).

 

[GoodGame]

In all honesty they could repackage Dec 25, 1776 as an observance of George Washington crossing the Potomac Delaware river to attack the Hessians as reverence for a symbolic national victory at a time when it was seen as necessary for morale. So it could be considered a patriotic holiday date.


Really no reason to insist that revelers need a decorated tree or a Christ mention if you believe the above is enough, which also keeps the separation of church and state as well.

 

[Disgustipated]

Why are you looking for reasons to work more?

Work is good for the soul. Damn, I'd make a good commie.

 

[Kraznaya]

we should ban the pagan rite of christmas like our colonial forefathers

 

[GoodGame]

we should ban the pagan rite of christmas like our colonial forefathers

Pretty Puritan, really. And against freedom of religion, as well.

 

[emzie]

For the same reason my wife and I celebrate Christmas, despite not being Christians.

 

[History_Buff]

Yeah, I gave up on my Christianity a long time ago, but Christmas still seems like a good a holiday as any. Particularly falling so close to new years, it provides a great excuse for a week or two off for school and office folks.

And if you can look past all the idiots crying about a 'War on Christmas', it's not really a Christian holiday anymore anyway. It's got plenty of secular activities to do: gifting, trees, winter sport, shopping sales, not working.

Besides, half the continent would be shut down anyway as the Christian's all booked the time off work; in most cases I doubt your employer would mind you working Christmas day in exchange for some other day off.

Would you be any happier if the Federal Government revoked the Christmas holiday, and proclaimed a Festivus one in it's stead?

Easter is a bit sillier, but it's a Christian majority continent, so good luck changing it. Stupid argument, but there it is.

 

[ZeletDude]

Majority of America is Christian, so it would seem to be the culture norm for a holiday.

Easter always falls on a Sunday, so you can't complain about that.

Christmas isn't a Christian Holiday in my eyes so I have no qualms with enjoying some splendor every 25th of December.

Both of these basically.

 

[Disgustipated]

A Festivus holiday would be more acceptable.

And yes, I do have to work on Christmas, so maybe that's why I'm grinchy. But, I do get paid double for it being a holiday and all. I'll just think of it as Festivus pay.

 

[History_Buff]

Wait, you have to work on Christmas day? What the hell do you do? If it's not fire fighter, police man, paramedic or soldier, I'm going to be confused.

 

[Disgustipated]

see my location, that should explain all. My city doesn't exactly shut down on Christmas.