If we had to decide in 2017, would Christmas still be a National holiday?

fuzzybuddy

fuzzybuddy

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Even in the 1780s, Christmas was hotly debated as being a National holiday. Now, today with gay marriage, do you think Christmas would still be made a National holiday? It is only a sect of one religion, which considers it a holiday. It has nothing to do with our Nation's history. If we had to decide in 2017, would Christmas still be a National holiday?
 

Given the argument you make, probably not. Jewish holidays are not given that status. Easter is not even considered a federal holiday. But then again, many still consider this a "Christian" nation. Right or wrong, that would preside, I think.
 
Darn right. It's one of the most fun days on the planet. For everyone religious or not.

And comes at the right time in the dreary winter months.

And from an economic point as well. Businesses thrive at Christmas. When else is someone going to get you a gift.

Dont knock it. Get a piece of it. Enjoy. Joy to the world.
 

Camper6 said:
Darn right. It's one of the most fun days on the planet. For everyone religious or not.

And comes at the right time in the dreary winter months.

And from an economic point as well. Businesses thrive at Christmas. When else is someone going to get you a gift.

Dont knock it. Get a piece of it. Enjoy. Joy to the world.
Click to expand...
I agree!!
 
I think that Christmas, the birthday of Jesus, would certainly not be a national holiday. I also believe that we would have a different pledge of allegiance, different wording on our money, etc... I'm not even sure if God or Irving Berlin would be allowed to bless America in this day and age.


Santa Claus on the other hand has a big lobby in Washington and could probably insure that the commercial aspects of Christmas would be preserved as a national holiday.
 
We could always celebrate Yule instead. Christmas has nothing to do with the birth of Jesus who was not born in Dec., but in the spring. Early church fathers decided to celebrate Jesus' birth in the winter to compete with (and eliminate) the pagan celebration of Yuletide. People may find a winter holiday useful. It's something to brighten up the cold months, so why not have a holiday?
 
America is, and always has been, a Christian nation. Even our folding money is inscribed with, "In God We Trust". I can't imagine changing that to accommodate a few Grinch's .
 
You got there before me, Chic. Replace the "religious" holidays and instead celebrate the natural movement of the Earth around the Sun.

1. The Winter solstice on 21/22 Dec.. (Yuletide) instead of Christmas.
2. The vernal equinox in March instead of Easter - probably named after Eostre, the Germanic Goddess of Spring. Note that the date of Easter is
still determined by the Equinox and the full moon.
3. The Summer solstice (well, why not)
4. The Autumnal equinox in September (Harvest festival)
 
I'm sure the big corporations would rather there were no national holidays to interrupt commerce. So no, I do not think that Christmas would be a day off work if a decision was being made today but I am sure the trappings of Christmas would continue - decorations, cards and presents, special foods to feast on and dress up outfits to wear.
 
Capt Lightning said:
You got there before me, Chic. Replace the "religious" holidays and instead celebrate the natural movement of the Earth around the Sun.

1. The Winter solstice on 21/22 Dec.. (Yuletide) instead of Christmas.
2. The vernal equinox in March instead of Easter - probably named after Eostre, the Germanic Goddess of Spring. Note that the date of Easter is
still determined by the Equinox and the full moon.
3. The Summer solstice (well, why not)
4. The Autumnal equinox in September (Harvest festival)
Click to expand...

That's what the Druids did.

Get with the program.
 
I don't care what they call it, but I love Christmas. It's my favorite holiday next to Halloween. I love shopping for and giving gifts to my family. I love the tree and all the decorations. I don't celebrate it as a religious observance but more as a family one. I would not like to see it taken away from us.
 
fuzzybuddy said:
Now, today with gay marriage, do you think Christmas would still be made a National holiday? It is only a sect of one religion, which considers it a holiday. It has nothing to do with our Nation's history. If we had to decide in 2017, would Christmas still be a National holiday?
Click to expand...

What in the world does gay marriage have to do with Christmas being a national holiday or not?? Gays celebrate Christmas just as much as anyone, I suspect.

No, Christmas would definitely not be a national holiday if we had to decide today. We might have been founded as a Christian nation, but are gradually moving away from it. I like Christmas, but would equally like to celebrate winter solstice just as well. Maybe it wouldn't be so commercialized. I would like to see cycles of nature celebrated rather than religious ones. Who is to say which religious traditions should be national holidays? It is such a subjective thing.
 
For me and mine only, Christmas is about one thing only not the material hoopla. It is a religious event if one chooses that to celebrate, their personal choice not forced on others. No, I have not felt it should be a national holiday for long time.
 
We were not founded as a Christian nation. Wasn't the separation of church and state part of the Constitution from the beginning?
 
Separation of church and state in the United States

"Separation of church and state" is paraphrased from Thomas Jefferson and used by others in expressing an understanding of the intent and function of the Establishment Clause and Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States which reads: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof..."More at Wikipedia

Is "Separation of Church and State" in the Constitution?

If the Constitution does not say "separation of church and state," how can this statement be true? Explore the answer and its impact on religious liberty.
https://www.thoughtco.com/separation-of-church-and-stat

Where in the Constitution is "Separation of Church and State ...

Misleading talk of "separation of church and state" obscures the true meaning of the First Amendment.
thepublicdiscourse.com/2010/10/1920/



Separation of Church and State Is Not in the U.S. Constitution

Contrary to popular belief, the phrase "separation of church and state" is not in the U.S. Constitution.
https://www.christianpost.com/news/separation-of-church-and-st


 
Uptosnuff said:
What in the world does gay marriage have to do with Christmas being a national holiday or not?? Gays celebrate Christmas just as much as anyone, I suspect.
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My thoughts, exactly.

And to answer the OP... no, I don't believe Christmas would be a national holiday if that had to be decided now.
 

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