there are so many religions where I live and christmas is always referred to as "winter holiday" or anything other than christmas, although (orginally) the us was a christian nation.
206373
Yeah, it probably should be called Christmas vacation.  But those who are Jewish & those who celebrate Kwanzaa also have their holiday's around that time, so it COULD go either way.\n\n"Happy non-denominational religion-derived possible-holiday winter break."
449753
It has been going on for at least half a century. "Happy Holidays" is meant to be all inclusive. The people who think it is an attack on Christmas are the usual lunatic fringe, uneducated, unthinking batch of Nascar fans that you would expect.\n\nA couple of years ago I was purchasing some things in a store, there was a line of people behind me. The checker finished making my change and said "Happy Holidays". I said to him "Are you a Christian" and he said that he was. Then I said (and this is quite true) "I've noticed that my Muslim friends, my Jewish friends and my Buddhist friends, my Sikh friends  all wish everybody a 'Merry Christmas' but my Christian friends, wanting to be PC all say 'Happy Holidays'" The people in line started chatting back and forth with me and everybody agreed that this was happening to them as well.  How about you?
188102
I'm with you.  \n\nI don't think it's a sin to celebrate holidays, but they are separate from Christianity.  \n\nThe only thing the Bible tells us to celebrate is Christ's death, burial, and resurrection - the Lord's supper - and the disciples did that on the first day of the week.  (Acts 20:7, I Corinthians 10:16-17 and 11:20)\n\nGrowing up, my sister thought that Santa was more powerful than God, because Santa brought her presents.  We do need to be careful what we teach children with our traditions.
365682
You have an awesome point!!  It's ridiculous how you can't say Merry Christmas anymore because then you could get fired.  It's just crazy.  We wouldn't have this holiday if it weren't for Christ's birthday!  Of course it is a MERRY CHRISTMAS!  Jeez.  This country was founded on Christian beliefs, why now are we going to change it?  Because people are getting offended because of a lifestyle they have chosen?  I think not!  Get over it.\n\nGood question!
24862
Merry Meet!\nBecause they don't understand what you/we believe in. Unfortunately, there are so many religions, but if you research them, you will find that most religions follow a lot of the Pagan/Wiccan beliefs. Take a look at Christmas, for example. The first Christmas tree was used by Pagans as a Yule Tree in Germany. Prince Albert of Germany, Queen Victorias husband, made it popular when he set one up in Windsor Castle for his family.\nBlessed Be!
381027
Christ was never in Christmas to begin with. Christmas originated as Yule/Winter Solstice. Christians in the Middle Ages stole that holiday and created their own using all the same elements as a way to convert Pagans and called it Christmas. \n\nI was raised Christian but never once related to it. However I do enjoy religious Christmas music. But that doesn't make me want to convert back anytime soon.
538870
I don't think anyone is offended by it, but it is culturally insensitive to those who don't celebrate Christmas. How would you feel if during Ramadan everywhere you turned around someone was saying "Happy Ramadan" and you were one of the very few people not celebrating (well, it isn't really a celebration until the end, but you get my point). You wouldn't be offended, you'd just feel left out. Non-Christians are already the minority, why make them feel even more like outsiders?
645828
I am in the right country. This country was founded on the principle of "all men are created equal", not Christian domination. I do agree that "PC" has gone too far. There is no law against wishing someone "Merry Christmas", it's companies that force the issue for fear of offending non-Christians.\n\nI agree with you on the "English as the National Language" point, but the government needs to step up to the plate on this issue, or it'll never happen.\n\nOn to the God issue:\nI am a Christian. I carry Christ's teachings with me in my daily life. I don't need it printed on my money, which, I feel, is an object of lust, therefore sacreligious. America is a "melting pot". Equal right for all regardless of religion, race or sex.\n\nThomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin, two of our most prominent Founding Fathers, were Deists. Washington and Jefferson were not particularly religious but tended more toward Deism than Christianity.\n\nThomas Paine, whose writings were a powerful catalyst for the American Revolution, vehemently attacked Christianity in one of his works and refused to embrace Christianity, even on his death-bed.\n\nGod is not mentioned in our Constitution. The Declaration of Independence simply mentions "Nature's God" and a "Creator", neither of which specifically imply a Christian god.\n\nPer the Treaty of Tripoli, endorsed by President John Adams and ratified unanimously by the US Senate in 1797: "the Government of the United States is not in any sense founded on the Christian religion..."\n\nThis is the America I love, one where everyone is free to worship as they please without State interference. That is what the First Amendment to the Constitution is all about.\n\nOne last issue: the pledge. The Pledge of Allegience, as it was written in 1892, was "I pledge allegiance to my flag and the republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty, equality and justice for all." "Equality" was removed and "under God" added. Coincidence?
511971
WoW! It's unbelievable how some get so angry over this question.! I don't actually care what it's called; winterval or otherwise. I know it's not popular, but...here goes anyway.....\nDecember 25th, according to the Bible, (which is the ultimate and true word, on this subject and all others,) This date, has Pagan origins, and was declared to be Christ's birthday, by humans. The truth, which as Christians, we should be seeking, is that Christ was actually born in the Fall of the year, (Feast of Trumpets and Feast of Tabernacles Holy Days, are the time of the year when Christ was actually born.) Dec. 25th is the date that Mary was Immaculately conceived, BTW)\nMost people dont want to hear this; it's too hard to change some beliefs. BUT God does tell us to worship in Spirit and in Truth...soooo.... I guess it will be offensive to some! That's the way the Christmas cookie crumbles!\nThese facts about Jesus' real birthday have absolutely nothing to do with being politically correct...They were Biblical and true, before all this nonsense about stuff like that. \nAnyone who seeks the truth about Jesus' birthday, can read it in the Bible; those of us who know that December 25th is not His birthday, have already proved it to ourselves, and find comfort in knowing the truth that Christ has allowed us to know. \nIt's not about taking away a "religious" holiday....It's fine with me if people celebrate Dec 25th, no matter what it's called...but....in reality, since it's not Christ's birthday, it's just a tradition, a fun one perhaps, once you get thru all the hassles involved with shopping, the greed of the merchants, the expectations of what you're going to receive, the stress, not to mention the bills and the cookies that didn't turn out, and the commercialism! \nSo...call it anything...doesn't matter anyway...and I hate to be a party pooper..but Christ doesn't belong in it to begin with...\nWhy not just call it a WinterFest, and be done with it ? That's all it is, anyway!!!
115592
Most Christian and other religions holidays came from the Pagans.  Christmas was Yule, the celebration of the rebirth of the sun.  Christians took the holidays and turned them into something else to denounce the old ways and elevate them above their roots.  It is from the pagan traditions that the Easter bunny and eggs came about, not from Christian.
2753
Christmas is about the birth of CHRIST.  without Christ, there IS NO Christmas.  The holiday has gotten out of hand.  Christmas is a celebratory holiday that we celebrate BECAUSE Christ was born - it's as simple as that - no Christ, no Christmas - It is a religious holiday, not a federal, made-up holiday.
11464
The state I live in was founded by a group of people (The Pilgrims) who wanted the right to have religious freedom. I knew a few Muslim families when I was growing up. They were a hard working, law abiding, kind and generous people. It is unfair to judge a religious group based on what a very small percent of them are doing. Having said that, I will say this about the controversy this past December in regards to Christmas. It comes across as not wanting to offend other peoples religious beliefs but, at the same time, it appears to be heading in the direction of denying Christians their rights. The controversy this past December about changing the name of the Christmas Tree to Holiday Tree is one example. Department stores who sell Christmas gifts, toys, and decorations telling their employees they can not say Merry Christmas only Happy Holidays is another example. As an example (no offense meant toward anyone): If one of my children's teachers said to my child Happy Hanakah or Happy Kwanza, I would interpret it as a sign of good will, not a reason to hire a lawyer and sue.
425890
THANK YOU! This is the biggest gripe I have with Christmas. It sickens me to hear that it is "that time of year again to give give give to your local charities!" BS!! People starve during the middle of summer too....try helping out your fellow man all year long, not just when its "that time of year." \n\nBut then again, Im an atheist, What the F do I know about morals and living a righteous life?
378475
Because they're uninformed people who don't understand that Christmas was never even started for the birth of Jesus. His b-day was in a completely different season, and the Christians took the holiday from Pagans and gave it their own meaning and name. You probably know that, that's just for people who think Christmas actually has anything to do with Christ.
180499
Christmas is fixed because the Catholic church fixed it.  and it is totally the wrong time of the year, but they did it anyway.  \nEaster should be linked to the Jewish passover, as Jesus was the ultimate passover lamb.  This should be fixed by the Jewish calender, which we don't use.  A Rabbi should know.\nChristmas is definitely a pagan holiday, but the passover is a feast initiated by God in the Old Testament.  We really have communion and can do it anytime.
393323
Atheist are just like anyone else in American, Christmas is a time for family gifts and fun. \n\nIt doesn't have to be religous.
588431
YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT!!!\nIt is not a pagan holiday and non-believers have NO RIGHT to celebrate or to try and change this Holiday to suit there needs, for it is 'OUR' (Christians) religious Holiday after all.\n\np.s. James P.  All of the founding fathers were Christians.  Furthermore; the observation of a Federal Holiday has nothing to do with govt and laws but merely that the majority of the public (claim to be Christian) want the Holidays to be observed.  (hence when it is deemed a Federal Holiday, people are not forced to work on those particular days. i.e. Martin Luther King Day, Easter, July 4th, Kwanzaa, Good Friday, etc.  they are preserved for a myriad of faiths and observances! So, they should not be changed for any reason.  I just find it ironic that so many faiths outside of the Christian faith celebrate this Holiday.  You will not find a 'true' Christian that observes another faiths holiday!